Are you thinking about welcoming a pet into your family? This can be a fantastic decision and bring real benefits to your home. It’s like bringing a brand new family member to live with you in a lot of ways. Most people start to think about having pets once they become an adult. It’s a great source of companionship and if you live alone it will ensure that your home feels far less empty. Alternatively, if you already have a couple of kids bouncing around, it can feel like it’s what you need to truly complete your home.
Is A Pet Right For Your Family?
First, you need to think about whether a pet is right for you and your family. Do make sure that you discuss this possibility with everyone in your family first. Make sure that everyone understands what their role will be. If there is going to be someone who is responsible for caring for the pet above others, then they need to be aware of this. If someone is going to handle the financial aspect of having a pet, then they need to understand that too.
You need to think about space too. It is possible to have a pet in a smaller home. But certain types of animals might not be comfortable in small environments. Either they need room to breathe, play and exercise or you need to make sure that you are taking them out regularly. This is all about choosing the right type of pet and we’ll discuss this more a little further down.
Can You Have A Pet In Your Home?
You also need to consider whether you are legally entitled to having a pet on your property. If you own a home this probably won’t be an issue. However, certain neighborhoods do tend to ban certain pets. For instance, rural neighborhoods will often have a rule about keeping rabbits or guinea pigs outdoors because they attract animals like foxes. So, while you can have this type of animal, you do need to make sure that you’re okay with keeping them inside your home.
If you are renting a property, then you might need to get permission from a landlord before you can bring a pet home. If pets are not allowed in the property, then this will usually be mentioned in the tenancy agreement which you should read carefully. There is often some wiggle room here about what type of pets you can have on the property and which ones are ruled out completely.
Sometimes a landlord will also grant permission for you to have a pet if you agree to pay an additional deposit or sign a contract saying you will have the property professionally cleaned before you leave.
Finding The Right Pet For You
Now, let’s think about choosing the right pet for you. There is a range of different animals to explore for pets and they all provide unique benefits. Some will also come with certain issues that you’ll need to make sure you handle the right way.
The classic choices would be:
Dog
Rabbit/guinea pigs
Cat
Hamster
Fish
There are others but they provide the same type of lifestyle as these choices in many ways. When you select an animal you have to think about a range of different factors.
For instance, a big thing to remember about dogs is that they are incredibly sociable. So, you do need to make sure that you have enough time for them and that they are not going to be left alone throughout the day. If they are going to be alone a lot then you should consider whether it’s best to get two dogs. That way, you can guarantee that they do have company. Leaving a pet alone for long periods can lead to issues with behavior and can even mean that you have an animal who is essentially depressed. So, this is definitely an important consideration that you can’t just overlook or ignore.
Hamsters are a great choice for a first pet, particularly for children. Since they’re small they are easier to handle and care for. However, they also provide a level of engagement that is a step above a fish. Kids can play and interact with hamsters which will allow them to have an active attachment to them. However, it’s important to realize that they don’t live for that long. So, it’s also a way for parents to introduce the concept of mortality to their younger children.
Rabbits and guinea pigs do require a little more time and care. They are essentially larger versions of hamsters and mice. You can keep them inside your home or outside, depending on the requirements. If you want a pet, but you don’t want it to impact the interior of your property, this is a smart choice. While you could theoretically have a dog and keep them outside, this is often deemed cruel. Again, it’s important to remember that they are highly sociable. Rabbits and guinea pigs will be fine outdoors, particularly if you buy another one at the same time.
Do You Have The Time?
One of the key considerations that you need to keep in mind is whether you have time for a pet in your life. Certain pets require more time than others. We have already discussed dogs and while it’s not a steadfast rule that they will take a lot of your time many breeds will require a couple of hours of exercise each day. That doesn’t include playtime. If you have a larger family, it’s easy to handle these time requirements and ensure that it doesn’t put a massive amount of pressure on your life.
If you are looking for a pet that you can still cuddle and play with but requires less time, then a cat is an ideal choice. Cats will essentially do their own thing, but you can still have a great deal of fun with them when you do have spare time. They can also be left at home for longer by themselves like a dog without caring that you aren’t there but will also give plenty of love and affection.
The Potential Costs
The costs of different pets can vary tremendously and it largely depends on the animal you choose. Some costs aren’t always that easy to understand or predict. For instance, you might think that the cost of a fish isn’t going to be that high. But it does depend on whether you are investing in a larger tank. Larger tanks can cost quite a lot of energy to keep powered. For instance, if you are getting tropical fish, then it’s necessary to ensure that the water is heated and filtered. Both will add quite a lot to your energy bill.
The size of your pet can alter the costs too. For instance, larger dogs are always going to eat a lot more food than other breeds so will cost more for you each month.
What About Insurance?
In terms of the main costs that a pet brings, you should definitely think about insurance costs. Again, this is going to differ depending on the type of pet that you choose. Different insurance companies also offer a variety of rates. As such, you should make sure that you are shopping around the market as much as possible. Don’t settle for the first company that you find. It’s also important to note that the cost of insurance will rise as your animal gets older and the risk of them developing issues with their health increases.
Fun Benefits
You should also think about all the fun benefits that come with having a pet. For instance, you can teach your pet tricks. You might think that this is only the case if you choose a dog. However, that’s not the case. Indeed, every animal from a fish to a rabbit can be trained in some way. It’s rewarding for you and helps your animal develop their intelligence to new levels.
You can even hold parties for your pets. Articles like How to Throw the Purr-fect Kitten Party have some great ideas about how you can do this. It’s great fun and a brilliant way to connect more with your animal as a family.
A Welcome Addition To Your Family
We hope this helps you understand everything that you do need to consider when you are bringing a pet home to live with you. Ultimately, this can be a great decision for the whole family. You just need to make sure that you are taking the right steps here and considering all the relevant factors. There’s a lot to think about so make sure that you don’t rush this decision.
Don’t forget, that a pet should never be a spur of the moment decision. A lot of people invested in pets over the lockdown and during the first year of COVID-19 only to return them once the lockdown ended. If you are getting a pet, make sure that they will be a wonderful and welcome permanent addition to your family.
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