Your Dog Is Not Your Date

“…the girlfriend is a good cook so the dog has to go.”

Yep! You’ve probably guessed it. Somebum (as opposed to someone) is getting rid of his hound in favor of a new girlfriend. Testosterone and culinary ability take precedence over “…a good well trained dog (that) is house trained, kennel trained, and very smart…..loves children, loves to run and play….is truly the smartest dog I have ever owned.” (The bum’s own words).

This was part of yet another Craigslist ad that caught my attention, the gist of it being that the girlfriend had moved in with her dogs, including a rottweiler that didn’t get along with Patches. So instead of doing the right thing and taking a little time and effort to train the pooches to live in harmony, poor Patches had to go after three years of love, loyalty, no complaints, ready kisses, obedience and companionship. Wonder if the bum will get all that from the girlfriend? In fact, what do you want to bet that she’ll even be around three years from now?

If you’re looking to re-home a pet or are thinking about adopting one, take a look at these other articles on Purrs ‘n Gurrs:

How Not to Foreclose On Your Pet

Kids Want A Pet? Take A Test Drive First

Is Pet Adoption Right For You?

And take a look at Don’t Get A Dog for things to think about before you bring a pup home.

“A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.” ~ Buddha

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

Kids Want A Pet? Take a Test Drive First

So the kids have been driving you crazy about getting that dog, or that cute little guinea pig. First off, we all know that no matter what you say to your kids about the responsibility of pet ownership or how you say it, they’re kids and they’re not always going to remember to change the water in the bowl, or clean the hamster’s bedding or take the pup for a walk. And even if they do remember, they’re not always going to want to do it.

That means the ultimate responsibility will always lie with you, the parent. So if you’re not prepared to take on a fuzzy “child” then just keep saying “No”. But if you’re willing to consider the possibility of a pet, how about having the kids test drive their pet-parenting skills first with a virtual pet? Maybe you could draw up an agreement with your children: they fulfill their caretaking duties with a virtual pet for three months, they get the real thing.

A few weeks ago I adopted Rascal from FooPets.com, which has by far the most realistic virtual (I think that’s an oxymoron) pets online. I’ve never been interested in online games so this is all quite new to me but I’ve surprised myself by actually becoming attached to my little simulated husky. I feel responsible for him.

From a parenting standpoint you can monitor your child’s dedication to his or her pet every time you log on. There’s a care history that shows when you feed and water your pet, when you throw him a ball or groom him and so on. By interacting daily with your pet, you develop a pet-owner bond, which is shown as a yellow bar. If you miss a day, the bonding bar is re-set to zero. If you neglect your pet, then he will be taken to the FooShelter.

And that’s what I most like about this; though it’s free to adopt a pet, there are requirements and consequences. You have to take care of your pet’s health needs by grooming and giving flea treatments. You are also responsible for arranging your pet’s care if you go away. And the care of your pet is not exactly free.

When you first adopt you will be given 5,000 FooGems. These can be used to buy food, medications and things to make your pet more comfortable. Additional FooGems are earned simply by visiting and playing with your pet daily. It’s also possible to buy FooDollars but I think it’s a better test of your kids’ dedication to have them earn and make do with the FooGems. I’ve been able to feed, groom and medicate Rascal as well as create a play area for him and a mountain get-a-way by using just FooGems.

FooPets does its best to mimic the needs of a real dog or cat. In fact, in their adoption rules they state, “Your FooPet is a real creature that lives online. It will have a date of birth and a lifespan of 10-20 years, depending on how well you take care of it. It will age and act differently over time.”

Rascal is just three months old, so he has a long way to go. When he’s old enough I can even breed him, but as I’m all about rescuing the millions of abandoned and abused pets in this world, I plan to save up the 20,000 FooGems I need to get him neutered. And if I really want another virtual dog or cat, I can adopt from the FooShelter.

“Every puppy should have a boy.” ~ Erma Bombeck

Happy New Year From Our Family Of Rescues

Those of you who are regular followers will see a change today. We’ve switched our name to Purrs ‘n Gurrs! You can still get to the blog at http://saveapetblog.com but now you can also use http://www.purrsngurrs.com.

And there’s another thing….. the little guy on our header. He’s Muttley, who holds a very special place in my heart. Muttley died a couple of years ago but his story will be told, right here, very soon.

Meanwhile, here’s a short video from my pets to yours to wish happy purrs ‘n gurrs to all.

From Boots, Vinny, Coco, Timi D, Ollie, Taz, Amber, Cappy, Ditto, Lief, Angel, Trouble.

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

Don’t Get A Dog – Or Any Pet, For That Matter

Sheba is a sweet and playful girl who would love to find a forever home in time for the holidays. You can find her as of this writing at southernhope.org.

Those of you who are familiar with Angel will understand the title of this blog. Angel was a poster puppy for the Don’t Get A Dog campaign, which promotes intelligent, responsible and caring ownership of dogs. With Christmas approaching, marketers heavily promoting the sale of pets and the kids begging for that puppy, kitten or hamster, it seems like a good time to remind ourselves of the three primary considerations for pet parenthood.

1. Can you afford a pet? Basic food and veterinary care for a dog can easily be $1500 – $2000 a year. Then what about training? Emergency medical? Licenses? Maybe a fence?  Daycare or pet-sitting? And don’t think cats are necessarily cheaper. Last year I spent nearly $3000 on just one of our cats who was plagued with chronic urinary problems. Even a hamster, gerbil or lizard can become costly if medical care is needed. And don’t forget the initial cost of cages or terrariums if you’re a new owner.

Before you fall for a soulful pair of eyes, sit down and calculate the costs for the life of the pet. If you are in any doubt that you can cover those costs, then don’t even think about getting a pet!

2. Can you afford the time? This is about as important as cost. Why would you get a dog if you’re gone for 12 hours a day? Because you want the company when you get home? Then get a cat. Or two cats. Or a gerbil. They’ll survive quite happily without you for the day as long as there’s food, water, toys, clean litter and comfy bedding, and they’ll be there to welcome you home.

It’s asking a lot of a dog, however, to be cooped up for so long and to hold his “business” ’til it suits you. And will you feel up to walking a dog before and after work every day? Are you willing to get a dog-walker, if necessary? Do you have the time to train your pet (and yourself)? An untrained animal can be very destructive, which is a major reason pets are brought in to shelters.

If you don’t have a few hours every day to feed, walk, groom, clean, medicate, train, play and whatever else necessary for your companion’s well-being, then don’t get a pet!

3. Can you make the commitment? A dog’s lifespan can reach 20 years! That’s unusual, but when you undertake to bring a dog into your home you should do so on the assumption (and hope) that he may be with you for a long time.

Average life expectancy, according to the AKC, 2008:

1. Labrador Retriever (12.5 years)
2. Yorkshire Terrier (14 years)
3. German Shepherd Dog (11 years)
4. Golden Retriever (12 years)
5. Beagle (13 years)
6. Boxer (10.5 years)
7. Dachshund (15.5 years)
8. Bulldog (7 years)
9. Poodle (12 years Standard) (15 years Miniature)
10. Shih Tzu (13 years)
11. Miniature Schnauzer (14 years)
12. Chihuahua (13.5)
13. Pomeranian (15 years)
14. Rottweiler (10 years)
15. Pug (13.5 years)
16. German Shorthaired Pointer (13 years)
17. Boston Terrier (13 years)
18. Doberman Pinscher (10 years)
19. Shetland Sheepdog (13.5 years)
20. Maltese (14 years)
21. Cocker Spaniel (12 years)
22. Great Dane (8.5 years)
23. Siberian Husky (12 years)
24. Pembroke Welsh Corgi (13 years)
25. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (10 years)

A properly cared-for cat can expect to reach 15 years of age or more; a gerbil could live for five years; ball pythons 20 – 30 years; rabbits 8 – 12 years; guinea pigs 4 – 7; iguanas 12 – 15 years. You get the picture!

And there’s more to commitment than lifespan. Commitment can mean not going on that skiing weekend because you need to stay home and nurse a sick animal. It can mean forfeiting that new HDTV to pay vet bills instead or using up a vacation day because the pet-sitter can’t make it.

Commitment is also about patiently working with Fido ’til he understands the concept of house-training. It’s about scooping the litter box every day, maybe twice a day; cleaning out your rodent’s house-quarters and replacing the bedding every week; mucking out your horses stall every day and a host of other things to keep your pet safe, healthy and happy.

So, if you don’t think you have it in you to be truly committed to your companion, then don’t get a pet!

There is an upside to this. The joys of pet-parenting are bountiful. The excitement when your pup first learns to “sit”; the laughter your hamster can bring with his antics; the soft whisper of your kitten’s whiskers on your cheek; the sense of security when your dog barks at strangers coming to the house; that special bond between you and your chosen pet.

“My husband and I are either going to buy a dog or have a child. We can’t decide whether to ruin our carpets or ruin our lives.”~Rita Rudner

Acclimating Your Rescued Pet To Its New Home

Guest article.

So, you’ve rescued a pet. Congratulations! Not only have you gained a new family member, you’ve also saved the life of an animal, giving it a fresh start and a new chance at a happy life. No doubt you’ve chosen the perfect pet for you and your family, and are looking forward to bringing it home. At this point,  you may be nervous and excited. You’ll want to give your new friend a warm welcome into its new home.

Before you bring your pet home, make sure that your house has been “pet-proofed”. This will vary depending on the type of pet you have, but some basic principles apply to a variety of species. First of all, if you have houseplants, do some research. Many common plants are toxic to animals, so take care to place these where they are not accessible to your new pet. Exposed wires should be covered and tucked away; many pets love to chew on or play with exposed wires, which is dangerous to their health and the safety of your home. Make sure that any cleaning products, chemical substances, and medications are out of reach.

It’s okay to be exuberant at the arrival of your pet, but try not to overwhelm them. Using happy tones and being playful are okay, but you should try to avoid being loud and making quick or jerky movements. Even for the friendliest pet, this is a big and scary change. There are a lot of new things to get used to! Different smells, different objects, different people… a lot for your new friend to process all at once. Try to remain calm, but friendly.

It’s important that you allow your pet to get used to its new environment at its own pace. If your pet wants to hide out in its cage or under the furniture for a little while, that’s okay. He will come out when he is ready. Allow your pet to explore its new environment. Keep a close eye out, but don’t yell or startle them. They’re emotionally fragile at this point, especially if they were abused by their previous owner.

Above all, be patient. You may have to prove to your new pet that people can be trusted. Adopted pets often have a deep mistrust of humans. They can’t be blamed… it’s all they’ve ever known. Discouraging unwanted behavior is okay, of course, as long as you go about it in the right way. Using a loud, angry tone of voice or hitting your animal will only serve to confirm that distrust, and may lead to aggressive behavior that is difficult to correct. Discipline techniques will vary depending on the species of your new pet, but offering alternatives to the negative behaviors is an excellent way to get started. When your pet does this new activity, rather than the old, “bad” behavior, reward them with praise or a special treat. This kind of positive reinforcement is very effective.

If your pet does begin to show aggressive behavior, don’t write them off as a bad pet. Don’t give up on them. The emotional scars that these animals carry can take quite a while to heal. Stay dedicated. Remember that their life has been a hard one, and be understanding. Rehabilitating an emotionally or physically scarred animal is a very rewarding experience.

“A house is not a home without a pet.” ~ Anonymous

Lovable and Looking

There’s an email that’s been doing the rounds now for years. It shows a singles ad that was reportedly listed in the Atlanta Journal, which in fact isn’t true. Someone sent it to me again recently. Read it first, then I’ll give my comments.

“SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I’m a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I’ll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Call and ask for Daisy, I’ll be waiting……

Please scroll down.”

Photo is courtesy of Lisa D, of Barrie, Ontario.

While this is admittedly rather funny, please take it for what it is – a joke! I’m all for getting people’s attention when it comes to pet rescue but an ad of this sort is not likely to attract the right kind of pet parent – someone who makes an informed choice after careful deliberation.

The Rescuer’s Creed

I promise I will take your unwanted animals.
I will heal their wounds, their diseases, their broken bones.
I will give them the medical attention they need and deserve.
I will nurture their starvation and give them a warm place to sleep.
I will spay and neuter them, vaccinate them against the diseases that can harm them.
I will treat them and honor them.
I will buy them toys, blankets, balls, and teach them to play.
I will speak softly to them.
I will try to teach them not to fear, not to cry, and not to hate.
I will whisper sweet, kind, gentle words into their ears, while gently trying to stroke their fear, their pain, and their scars away.
I will face their emotional scars and give them time to overcome them.
I will socialize them, potty train them, teach them to be obedient, show them dignity, and hold their paws, and stroke their ears if they have endured too much and walk them over the Rainbow Bridge, BUT most of all I will teach them LOVE.
Author Unknown

Is Pet Adoption Right For You?

Animals bring so much joy and fun into a person’s life. Who doesn’t want a pet to cuddle and love? Searching for that perfect pet for you can take some time, and can be a daunting task. There are so many options available. Which should you choose? Don’t be drawn in by that puppy in the window… adopt a pet! Adopting a pet is a very rewarding experience. You’re not only gaining a family member, you’re saving an animal from being destroyed.

The number of unwanted animals that are put to sleep each year is staggering. (Take a look at these statistics from the Humane Society of the United States). Many of these animals were taken from homes where they were abused, or found wandering the streets without any home at all. Some ran away, some had owners who passed away and no one to take care of them. Some were beloved pets, while many have never known love or kindness.

Many people are under the impression that the only animals available for adoption are puppies and kittens. While it’s certainly true that dogs and cats make up the majority of the pet adoption market, you can find any kind of pet with just a bit of time, and a lot of searching. Lizards, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, even potbellied pigs… any pet that your heart desires. It’s well worth the time and well worth the effort to go that extra mile and adopt a pet in need.

First Class is a sweet female hamster who was mailed in a padded envelope marked “Do Not Bend”. She ate part way through the padding and was seen by the good-hearted mailman (who first thought she was a mouse) and who took her to a vet. She is now happy and healthy in a loving home and the two adolescent boys who thought this was such a fun prank are being prosecuted.

Pet adoption not only saves the life of an animal, it also reduces the amount of unwanted pets that end up in kennels and pounds. Most adoption or rescue centers require that the animal be spayed or neutered before release to prevent your pet from inadvertently adding to the already high population of animals without homes. This is healthier for your pet, prevents or corrects many behavioral issues, and helps to cut down on the unwanted animal population.

The first step to take when adopting a pet is to decide what type of pet you think would be a good fit for you, and find a local rescue group that specializes in that pet. If there are no rescue groups specific to the type of animal that you’re looking for, you can check local animal shelters, newspaper ads, and pet adoption websites. It’s essential that you do your research. Take the time to speak with expert handlers, and read all of the information that you can find about the pet that you desire.

All animals are wonderful, but not all animals make wonderful pets, and all pets are not compatible with all people. Take into consideration your lifestyle. How much time will you be able to spend with your pet? Would you be able to take the necessary time out of your day to care for all of your pet’s needs? Will you be able to spend quality time with your pet? It’s incredibly important that you are absolutely certain that the type of pet you are considering will be compatible with your lifestyle, and that you will be able to care for it properly.

When a person adopts an animal impulsively, they often find that once they bring the animal home, it has a different temperament than what they saw when they picked it up. What people fail to understand is that this is completely normal.  This animal has been through a great deal in its life, and this change is scary for them. It takes time, patience, dedication, and love to bring your animal out of its shell and build a trusting relationship, but it’s more than worth it.

Save a life, help lower the unwanted animal population, and make a difference… adopt a pet. If you go into this with your eyes wide open, I guarantee that you won’t regret it.

Resources:

Dog and cat adoption: petfinder.com

Dogs, cats, horses and other critters: adoptapet.com

“The purity of a person’s heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals” ~ Anonymous

Stupid Pet Adoption Tricks

On this morning’s news there was a short segment about a 62-year old woman who tried to adopt a puppy and was told she could only adopt a dog in the 6 – 10 year age range. The assumption being that she might kick the bucket before the puppy. It got me thinking….

Anyone might die at any age so, surely, it would make more sense for the shelter to discuss with prospective pet parents what provision they plan to make for such eventuality, rather than denying otherwise wonderful people the opportunity to save a life. You can designate a carer in your will and leave some money to cover your pet’s expenses. Or set up a life insurance policy for your pets and name a trusted family member or friend to care for them (Discuss it with them first, of course).

Local animal rescue groups or veterinary schools may be able to point you in the direction of groups who will ensure loving homes for your best friend. Try searching online for “pet retirement homes” and read this fact sheet from the Humane Society for some really helpful information.

In another instance of moronic, over-zealous administration, my own brother was refused a pup because he and his wife had never owned a dog before. Now, think about this. Someone who’s had a dog before can adopt another one. But every dog that is in need of rescue was once owned by someone…… who abused or neglected him! So what’s to say that the previous-dog-owner who adopted the puppy my brother wanted wasn’t one of those abusers? (Just what nitwits come up with these rules, anyway?). In the end my brother got a black lab from a breeder. Jessie is now nine, well-trained, in great health and still enjoys four-mile hikes twice a day.

I mean, I’m all for vetting (pun; get it?) future owners as thoroughly as possible and even making home visits as do Southern Hope Humane Society, who originally rescued our Angel. But don’t deny a pet a potentially wonderful home on the basis of some arbitrary rule. Instead, help the people to overcome any difficulties you foresee.

Having made my own wrong assumptions, I know whereof I speak. Let me tell you a little story….

A few years ago in Florida I was very active in pet rescue. One of my waifs was a young cat with her four new kittens. In the aftermath of a devastating hurricane season with thousands of abandoned animals needing help, finding good homes was next to impossible. My next door neighbor, who had adopted a kitten from me earlier (said kitten subsequently becoming the reigning princess in the home) told me her godson was interested in adopting. The neighbor was a little concerned that I might be put off by her godson because he’d never had a pet before and, what’s more, he was gay. “What do I care?” was my comment, “As long as he gives the pet a safe and loving home”.

So the godson arrived to see the kittens and it was love at first sight…… though not for me! Tony (not his real name) fell instantly in love with one of the little calicos. No surprise there as she was one of the most adorable little things you’ve ever seen. However, I was aghast at Tony. Dressed from top to toe in black leather, with numerous ear piercings and a nose ring, tattoos on seemingly every exposed body part, he arrived with his cousin and very annoying and badly-behaved three-year-old niece who wanted to chase our pets all over the house. Things notched down even further when Tony told me he rented a room in his cousin’s house in a very busy section of town and didn’t have a car but rode a motor bike.

I immediately had visions of Tony having to rush the kitten to the vet in a cardboard box strapped to the back of his bike after the mini-monster had tried to flush her down the toilet. Letting my little feline charge go home with him was just not an option, even though he did treat her very tenderly and she certainly seemed to take to him. So I lectured Tony on the responsibilities of ownership, told him that his living situation was inappropriate (there was also an older child; kids leave doors open, cats go out and get squashed in traffic and so on), asked how he planned to transport his pet and generally did everything to discourage him.

To Tony’s credit, he asked if I had information I could give him. Of course, I did. And we left it that he’d think things over for a week and get back to me. I never thought I’d see him again. However….

Exactly a week later there was knock on the door and there stood Tony. In his hand was one of the most plush cat carriers I’ve ever seen. In the seven days since he’d first seen the kitten he’d had an appointment with a veterinarian to discuss cat care, had moved out of his cousin’s house into his own apartment, sold the bike and bought a car, stocked up on food, toys and everything any little cat could desire. I was utterly and completely floored and humbly gave up the kitten to his care.

It was a couple of weeks later when I saw my neighbor and she told me she wished I’d never let Tony have the cat. My heart practically stopped and I immediately feared the worst. Turns out he was driving everyone at work nuts (he worked with his godmother) because every day he turned up with more pictures and stories of his “baby” who had become one of the most adored felines of all time.

So you see, you should never label people but take each case individually. Tony continued to be a proud and devoted pet parent. One of the other kittens – another calico- went to live with a lovely lady who already had two rescues, while the mother and two males were never adopted so they are a permanent part of my family. Amber, now five, is mom; Timi D and Leif are four.

The question is not, “Can they reason?” nor, “Can they talk?” but rather, “Can they suffer?”
Jeremy Bentham

A Second Chance at Love for Little Critters

Rescue groups and animal shelters are brimming with adoptable small animals – ranging from rabbits and ferrets to birds and guinea pigs – all waiting for a second chance at love. When one small animal or bird is adopted, a space opens for another neglected or abused animal to get his second chance at love. Many of those same pets will come with their own unique set of challenges because of previous abuse or neglect.

While the individual stories of rescued animals can be heartbreaking, that’s not a good enough reason to run out and adopt a pet. Nor should you adopt from a shelter or rescue simply because the costs are lower than purchasing a pet from a breeder.

Before you decide to adopt a rescued pet, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

1.    What are the needs of the type of pet you want to adopt? A house rabbit, for example, is a lot more high maintenance and requires much more time and attention than a hamster. Parrots are like toddlers who need a lot of time and attention. How much time will you have to devote to the care of a rescued pet?

2.    Is the animal right for your family? Some small pets, such as hamsters and rabbits, are nocturnal, which means they will be most active during the nighttime hours.

3.    What is the average life expectancy of the breed you are considering? Hamsters have an average lifespan of a few years; house rabbits can live up to 12 years; and some parrots can live 100+ years or more.

4.    What is the cost of caring for the animal? Take into consideration the cost of food, litter, and bedding, where appropriate. Don’t forget your pet will also need toys to keep him occupied when you’re not home.

5.    Is there a specialized vet in your neighborhood? If so, what is the cost for a typical visit? If there is an avian or exotic vet in your area, is someone available during non-business hours in the case of an emergency? If not, where is the closest emergency vet who has experience caring for exotics or birds?

6.    Rescued pets often have ongoing veterinary needs and emotional problems. Can you afford the cost of the required veterinary upkeep? Can you cope with the emotional and behavioral issues?

7.    Are you ready for the commitment of adopting a rescued animal?

It’s important to give serious consideration to these questions before you decide what type of rescued small animal, bird, or reptile to adopt. If you’re still not sure that adopting a rescue is right for you and for your family, considering doing one of two things: First, you can sign up as a foster “parent”. This will allow you to get a sense of what it takes to care for the critter, without the long-term implications.

Second, you might want to volunteer with your local animal shelter or rescue, so you can gain experience working with and caring for a rescued pet. It will also allow you to determine if you want to undertake such a commitment.