If you are reading this, you are probably considering owning a pet for you and your family. Owning a pet comes with huge responsibility. Pet owners should do their research before providing a forever home for their furry friend. So, here’s a checklist of you what you need to consider before getting a pet.
1. Choosing a pet based on your commitment level
Pet owners should consider the life span of each pet for example; dogs and cats have an average life span of 10 – 15 years or above. Would you be able to commit for a long term? Besides that, dogs and cats require a lot of human interaction and attention. However, getting a pet like a fish requires less time to devote compared to other pets.
2. Financial Condition for its well-being
As a pet owner, we should be well aware of our financial condition before getting a pet. There’s a lot of pet checklist on this topic alone. A pet requires proper lodging, food, grooming, toys, neutering and veterinary care especially owning a dog or cat. Pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and birds are considered low maintenance but we need to make sure they are well taken care of based on their nature of habit.
3. Consider your living situation if it fits your lifestyle
Some of us may be living in a rented place, which generally means we have to negotiate with our landlord on having a pet. However, in Malaysia it is legal to keep pets in a landed property or high-rise buildings unless the local council has rule prohibiting this. Pet owners should know their legal rights and research more of their council rules around the area before owning a pet.
4. Health condition of yourself and family members
Before introducing a new pet to your family, pet owners should be aware of each member’s health condition. Make sure you and your family members are not allergic to animal fur. If you are unsure, you may want to spend some time at your friend’s house with pets or you can pay a visit to pet shops. This is to avoid future possibility of pet dumping on the streets.
5. Work, home and pet balanced lifestyle
All of us are very busy these days trying to balance our work life with our family and having a pet is expanding the responsibility. Especially for cats and dogs, they need a lot of attention that can accommodate your lifestyle. We need to invest our time and effort to potty train and some commands or behavioral training. Unlike rabbit, or bird types of pet requires less training. Moreover, pet owners should also do their research on pet care such as grooming, nutrition tips and safety needs. Simple research through the internet or refer to their nearest vet would be very informative for every pet owners.
So in conclusion, there is a lot of work to do before getting a pet for your family. A pet isn’t a toy or objects you can dispose of when you’re sick and tired of it. It’s a living being with feelings, intelligence and emotions. Before thinking of a pet (preferably from adoption and shelters), set your mind correctly and teach yourself and your family responsibility. See if you tick all the things in this pet checklist. If you can provide them with positivity and warmth, your pets can make your life and you home happy and fulfilled!
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