| If you were to walk into a pet shelter or the human | | | | If you are emotionally ready to make the |
| society, you will see cages filled with cats and dogs | | | | commitment to adopting a pet, the next thing you |
| that no longer have a home. Many of these animals | | | | should do is get your home ready when you bring |
| were adopted when they were young from stores | | | | home a puppy or kitten, take some time to |
| and private owners, and as they aged, they ended | | | | pet-proof their homes. While kittens often learn to |
| up in the shelter. In many cases, this is because the | | | | use their litter boxes within a few hours, puppies will |
| person or family who adopted them was not ready | | | | require a couple of weeks of training. Prepare your |
| for a pet. They did not take the time to prepare | | | | home by using a specific room for the animal until it is |
| their homes, understand the breed they adopted, or | | | | trained, or buy plenty of puppy pads for carpet and |
| realize a pet comes with challenges before they | | | | floor protection. |
| made the decision to adopt. In some cases, they | | | | In addition to house-training the animal, you will need |
| may have accidentally stumbled upon a stray and | | | | to make sure you buy the proper items to care for |
| brought it home without considering the | | | | the animal. Regardless of their age, animals need toys |
| consequences. The truth is you have to plan ahead | | | | to play with and will need bowls for food and water. |
| before bringing a pet into your home. If you are | | | | Also be sure you choose the appropriate food to fit |
| adopting a large dog, you may need to install vinyl | | | | the animal's needs and have plenty on hand before |
| fencing in your yard before the adoption. A vinyl | | | | you bring the animal home. |
| fence will save you the effort of having to walk your | | | | Finally, you are going to need to provide medical |
| dog every day and you can just open the door and | | | | attention for the pet. Depending on where you adopt |
| let it run. | | | | from, the animal may get a set of shots and an initial |
| Your next step is to make sure everyone in your | | | | checkup before you get to adopt. Other places just |
| home is prepared for pet ownership. All too often | | | | send you home with the pet, or if you have found a |
| the kids want a kitten or puppy but they are not old | | | | stray, you will be on your own finding a veterinarian. |
| enough to understand the responsibility that goes | | | | You should make sure your new pet is healthy and |
| with it. Be sure the adults in the home are willing to | | | | then set up a schedule so your pet can be seen |
| pick up the slack until the child can care for the pet | | | | annually for a check up. It is also important to have a |
| alone. Regardless of the promises a little kid makes | | | | doctor who is familiar with your pet so they |
| about caring for a pet, the animal is ultimately | | | | understand the treatment that is needed in an |
| everyone's responsibility. | | | | emergency. |