Most families have at least one pet, and if you’re someone who doesn’t have a pet, you may consider having one. However, while getting a pet can be a wonderful experience, you also need to understand that it’s not just good – there will be some things you don’t like about having a pet, and you will need to make some sacrifices.
Because of this, it’s important that you know you are ready to become a pet owner, which is why we’ve put together a list of things you should know before getting a pet. Hopefully, this will help you know whether you are ready to get a pet or whether you should wait a bit.
Pets cost a lot of money
People often forget that pets can cost a lot of money. Of course, this depends on the type of pet you’re getting, birds and fish can make much cheaper pets than cats and dogs.
And there are ways to save money on owning a pet. For example, instead of spending thousands on a purebred dog, why not visit your local shelter and adopt a dog? This can be a much better option.
Even so, you will still need to make sure that your budget allows for a pet. You will need to take them to the vet, pay for their sterilization, and of course pay for day-to-day expenses like pet food. If you have a dog, be sure to check out this company that offers tailored dog food.
Pet insurance is worth it
As mentioned, owning a pet can be expensive, so the odds are that you won’t want to add any more bills to your monthly fees.
That being said, pet insurance is absolutely worth it. While there is always the chance that you will pay your insurance each month and never end up using it, it’s still a good idea.
This is because if your pet gets very sick or injures itself, those vet fees can add up to be a lot. And if you don’t have the money to pay those bills, you may be unable to help your pet. Pet insurance is, therefore, a way of giving you peace of mind that if anything bad ever happens to your pet, their vet fees will be covered.
You need to keep them healthy
Once you get a pet, you are the one responsible for their health. While your pet may get ill or injured despite your best efforts, there are at least a few things that you can control when it comes to your pet’s health.
As mentioned, you can get them vaccinated and also put them on good pet food instead of generic, cheaper food. You also need to make sure that they always have access to water. For some pets like dogs, you also need to keep them active. Daily walks aren’t just good for your dogs, they are also good for you because you will be getting your daily steps in.
Pets need attention
On the surface, it may seem like your pet only needs the basics – food, water, and shelter- to be happy. And for some pets, this may be true. However, most pets require a lot of attention.
This is especially true for cats and dogs. They need to be mentally stimulated, and they also often crave attention. If your pet isn’t getting enough attention, it could lead to them feeling anxious or depressed. So, take some time each day to pay for your pet. This is a great way of keeping them happy. You don’t have to do anything extravagant like booking your dog into a luxury resort. Something as simple as playing fetch with them will be enough to keep them happy.
It’s a lot of responsibility
You need to keep in mind that once you have a pet, your life won’t be the same. Suddenly, you will be responsible for another living creature. You can’t just go on holiday on a whim, because you will need to make sure that someone can take care of your pet.
Similarly, there are a lot of other responsibilities. Most of them have been covered in this post – things like making sure your pet is happy and healthy, taking them to the vet if they are sick, and getting them vaccinated and sterilized are all responsibilities that will fall on you.
So, if you don’t think you’re up for this much responsibility yet, you may want to hold off on getting a pet. Alternatively, you can get a low-maintenance pet like a fish to start with.
Pet ownership can be hard
As much joy as a pet will bring you, there will also be hard times. There will be times when your pet frustrates you, and of course, there will be times when your heart will break.
It can be terrifying to see your beloved pet in pain or to try to calm them down when they are anxious. Naturally, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get a pet; it just means you need to prepare yourself for the hard times. You may also one day have to lose your pet, and you need to make sure that you will be able to handle this. Dealing with grief can be incredibly hard, and most people struggle a lot with the loss of a pet.
There will be sacrifices
You need to understand that there will be some things you can no longer do once you have a pet. For example, you may no longer be able to travel as much as you’d like because you will need to make sure that your pet is being taken care of.
Similarly, you may need to make some changes to your home. For example, you may need to get rid of your beautiful white sofa because your new puppy likes to chew on things.
You will also need to make some changes to your lifestyle. For example, you may need to get up earlier to take your dog for a walk before work. Or, you may need to make sure that you always have enough dog food at home because you don’t want your dog to go hungry.
Pets are a big commitment
Pets are a big commitment, and you need to make sure that you are ready for this. They will need your time, your attention, and your money. You will also need to make some changes to your lifestyle and your home.
If you think you are ready for all of this, then congratulations – you will make a great pet owner. Just be sure to do your research before you get a pet so that you can be sure that you are getting the right pet for you and your family.
In conclusion
If you feel a bit worried about getting a pet, don’t be! It can be scary to read about how much responsibility it is or how much can go wrong, but most people would agree that it’s completely worth it once you own your pet.
The point of this post isn’t to put you off from getting a pet. Instead, it’s there to help you make sure that now is the right time for you to get a pet and that you’re ready for it. Hopefully, it gave you an idea of what to expect, which means you can now prepare yourself for everything that goes along with pet ownership.
