Orange County Animal Services is proud to join The Bark Report with a special column called “Paws and Effect.” This column will be dedicated to informative animal services and adoption topics such as the importance of spay and neuter programs, adopting and adapting during COVID-19, introducing new pets into your home, and tips for helping pets and people adjust during family gatherings and celebrations. Join us for this monthly column to help spread the word about helping pets in many ways!
Are you feeling ready to adopt a new best friend? That’s terrific! Pets change our lives in so many wonderful ways. However, it’s important ask yourself some questions to make sure you are prepared.
Am I ready for the commitment? Pets are members of your family that will hopefully be with you and enrich your life for many years. You’ll want to prepare yourself by considering things like how much time you have to devote to your new pet every day for things like exercise and play. While dogs usually require more scheduled exercise than cats, please remember that cats have high energy levels and social needs that make play time a must for them as well. New pets always require patience and understanding, especially when it comes to training and generally helping your new pet settle into his/her new environment. Housetraining your dog or puppy requires patience, commitment, and lots of consistency. Helping cats adjust to a new environment can also require lots of patience and experimentation.
Have I considered costs involved? Keeping pets healthy and happy is crucial. You’ll not only want to consider the costs of routine veterinary care for pets, but also consider that that unexpected medical issues may arise. Your pet might be a good candidate for pet insurance. Also, remember to factor in things like the costs of good, healthy pet food and preventative medications such as heartworm prevention and flea/tick medications. If you are a frequent traveler, you may also want to consider boarding costs for pets.
Is everyone in my household prepared and on board for having a pet? Make sure everyone in your home is ready for a new pet. It’s always good to make sure everyone understands their role where new pets are concerned. It’s also crucial to consider other pets in the home if you plan on adding a new, fuzzy family member. Slow, planned, monitored introductions to other people and pets in the home are always recommended. For introducing pets to each other in your home, here are our recommendations.
Pets make us better people – physically and mentally. But it’s always good to make sure you’re up for the challenge of being a responsible pet owner. We think you are! Orange County Animal Services works to make pet adoption easy, informative, and fun! Check out all of our adorable, available pets by visiting our website.
Thanks to all of you wonderful, responsible pet lovers out there. All of us at Orange County Animal Services send our best wishes to you and your pets in the new year!
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