Thinking About Adopting an Abused Pet?

Things You Should Know Before Bringing Your New Family Member Home

Adopting a rabbit, a ferret, a bird, a hamster, or even an iguana from an animal shelter or rescue means you just might be saving two lives: The life of your new pet and the life of another unwanted, neglected, or abused pet who now has the chance for rescue because a new spot at the shelter or the rescue has opened.

This sweet little rescued ferret is in need of a home. He’s available right now from Broward Ferret Rescue but you can find many more needy critters like him at peftinder.com.

Many have discovered the joys of adopting a rescued pet but the fact is, adopting a small animal or bird from a shelter or rescue can prove challenging. Before you head to your nearest shelter or rescue, there are several things you’ll want to take into consideration:

• Do you and your family have the time and the patience that is needed to care for an animal who has gone through trauma? For example, if you adopt a bird who is pulling out her feathers and who is depressed, do you have the patience and the time that is required to help rehabilitate her? Or, will you remain calm when your newly adopted hamster takes a bite out of your hand when you’re trying to pet him?

• Are you really prepared for the work that is involved with an abused pet? Or, are you adopting because the pet’s story has pulled at your heart strings? Whether you are considering adopting an abused or neglected guinea pig or ferret or another type of animal, you must be prepared to care for her her entire life and to realize that it’s a big and expensive commitment. Many small animals have been traumatized by being abandoned or left to fend for themselves and will be untrusting at first. And, there is no guarantee that your new family member will ever completely trust you.

• Do you have children? Many times shelters and rescues will advise against rescue pets, such as rabbits and ferrets, going to homes with children.

• Are you ready for the financial responsibility? Unlike dogs and cats, small animal and avian veterinarian care can be extremely expensive, and you may find it difficult to find a qualified vet. Can you afford the cost of the care that your pet may need in the long-term?

• Many times you will not know your new pet’s background and it may take considerable time for them to learn to trust you. In some cases, they may never be the cuddly pet that you expected when you adopted them. Can you live with that?

If you’re not sure whether you and your family are ready to adopt a rescue animal, consider talking with the rescue or animal shelter to determine if you can foster the pet.  Fostering will give you the opportunity to see if you and the pet are a good match and if you can handle any problems she may have.

Because many shelter and rescue pets have been abandoned, neglected or abused, it is essential that you really think about whether adopting a rescue rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, bird, or iguana is right for your family. Bringing home a pet then returning her to the shelter or the rescue will only cause more trauma in her life.

“Everyone’s pet is the most outstanding. This begets mutual blindness.” – Jean Cocteau