Pros and Cons of Adopting a Pet

Getting a pet is not an easy decision. Pets require time, understanding, and training.  We all want a cuddly, warm friend to come home to, but responsibilities and costs require us to properly take care of our pets.  Carefully considering all the consequences of welcoming a new pet into the home can make all the difference in keeping your pet safe and happy. While drawbacks to having a pet may be challenging, if you properly prepare, getting a pet can be a smooth experience.  The following are some ups and downs of having a pet and will help you to decide if you are ready.

Pros

Personal Safety  Pets can be a degree of safety to your life.  A barking dog can scare away most home invaders, and medium to large size dogs provide security on late night walks. Pets in some cases have alerted home owner of dangers such as fire.

Conditional Love– Pets may have a way of calming us down, and playing at our heartstrings in a way that nothing or no one else can.

Pets empathize with you– Regardless of what pet you may get, most larger pets can sense when we are feeling under the weather or have had a bad day.  They always comfort us and are always there for us no matter what.

Improves mental health– From treating those with post traumatic stress disorder, to helping those who struggle with depression, pets are a helpful addition to combat a wide range of disorders.  Therapy dogs are a great way to show love and affection to those in hospital or home care.

Cons

Responsibility- Just like a young child, pets rely on you the owner for absolutely everything.  Not only that, if they are yet to be trained, they won’t understand your anger if they do something wrong.  Training/puppy classes should be considered when adopting a pet.

Allergies- Another drawback to pets in the home is allergies.  Especially if you don’t know what you’re allergic to, bringing a cat or dog into your life can bring unexpected hurdles which you need to prepare for.

Safety Hazards- A pet might be a fine addition to the family with young kids, however a large breed dog for example, will require extra attention and training to make sure it is safe around children.  Always a good idea to pet proof your home as well.  Puppies like to chew and eat things that way cause those expensive emergency surgeries.

Costs- Before you consider a pet, consider the average yearly veterinary costs of owning the type of pet you are looking to add to the family.  Cats and dogs for example, require several different types of vaccines throughout their first year, as well as preventative care and treatment throughout their life.  Additionally, outdoor pets are more prone to infections, lacerations, and pest infestation that require veterinary care.  Always be prepared that emergency care may be costly.  Pet insurance is a good start when looking at adding a pet to the family, especially if and when that emergency happens.  They depend on us always to take the best care of them and in return they love us forever.