Are You Ready To Adopt a Dog or Cat?

So you’ve been thinking about adding a new dog or cat into your family, and you’ve decided to adopt. When thinking about expanding your family unit to include an additional member, (even when the member has four legs), is an important life changing event that should be carefully considered.

At The Little Guild we discuss appropriateness of placement with each potential adopter on an individual basis. In the meantime, here are some questions to ask yourself while making the decision about whether you are in fact ready to adopt.

Is my entire family on board?

When bringing home a new cat/dog they are in fact becoming a part of your entire family unit, and it’s important that everyone be on board with the adoption. At The Little Guild we require ALL members of the household to meet with the animal prior to any match being approved.

Is my living arrangement suitable & stable?

Change of living situation to a place where pets are not allowed is the number one reason pets are turned into (or returned to) shelters. Key questions you should be asking include:

• Is your rental pet-friendly for the type of pet you want?

• Does your homeowners insurance permit it?

Especially if you are considering adopting a large breed dog, make sure you’re clear on the legal ramifications and any size or breed restrictions. Do you have any plans to move in the near future, which would cause you to revisit all of these questions again rather quickly?

Both dogs and cats can be curious creatures, and there are a lot of factors about you physical space to consider. Here are several other questions you should consider when planning to adopt:

• Is there enough physical space available in your home to comfortable house the new addition?

• Is your home safe and suitable for the specific type of animal you are looking to add?

• If you’re not on the ground floor, can you keep your pet safe from falls? Is your yard fenced (if required)?

• Is access to your pool closed off?

• How close are your neighbors? (Adopting a “howling hound dog” might not be a concern in the country, but if your neighbors are a bit closer this too might be a consideration)

Are my children old enough to respect an animal?

We agree that there is nothing cuter than kids and animals together! Growing up with an animal can be one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of a child’s life. It is however important to ensure that the integration is a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone!

When you have very young children they might not yet understand some of the finer points of peaceful coexistence with a fur-family member. Some examples are: not interfering with food, possessiveness of toys (on either end of this equation), pulling ears, pulling tails, riding on the animal, the concept of personal space etc.

If you have very young children at home, you might consider creating a space for your pet that is “off limits” to kids. This could be a room, part of a room, or a crate - any quiet place your pet knows he can go when he needs some “alone time.”

Do I have the time / am I willing to make the time?

Cats and dogs need human interaction and exercise every single day to stay physically and mentally healthy. Physical inactivity can lead to obesity, depression, and unwanted behaviors borne out of sheer boredom.

If you are out of the house for long periods during the day, can you commit to spending quality time in the morning before you leave and in the evening when you come home? Both cats and dogs are social creatures that will miss you while you are gone, and will crave the attention and bonding that playtime or a walk will provide.

Am I prepared to make a LIFETIME commitment to the cat or dog I am adopting?

Despite your best and most thoughtful considerations to your current circumstances, often our lives change in ways we do not expect. When you bring home an animal from The Little Guild you are making a LIFETIME commitment to that animal.

Unexpected situations may arise where sacrifices will have to be made in order to keep your cat/dog. Are you willing to make this commitment and those sacrifices?

Do I have the financial bandwidth to provide proper care for the cat or dog I am adopting?

The addition of either a cat or a dog to your family is a significant financial commitment. One of the benefits to rescue pets is that they generally come fully vetted, spayed/neutered and microchipped - at a cost well below what those service might cost at a veterinarian's office.

The ongoing cost of maintenance includes many things though, and should be planned for accordingly. Beyond the day to day costs of food and shelter for maintaining a dog or cat the list of financial responsibilities also include:

• Equipment (bowls/toys/beds/crates/grooming supplies etc.).

• Regular vaccinations.

• Regular wellness visits with your veterinarian (including dental health). ● Possibly specialty foods and/or medications.

• Emergency visits with your veterinarian if needed.

The average cost for proper dog/cat care annually ranges from $1500 to $3000 and up, depending on the size and needs of your particular animal.

The median monthly cost is approximately $187.50, or in that range.

The financial commitment being made is far beyond the $20 bag of dog food you might think is the “only cost”. Therefore we ask all of our adopters to given serious consideration to the financial commitment being made when adding a new member to their family.

At The Little Guild we strive for an adoption success rate of 100%. The time and thought put into the adoption process lets us know that you are in fact ready ~ and we can send your new fur-baby home with you knowing that it will in fact be his/her FUR ever home.