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6 Things You Should Know Before Adopting a Pet

May 25, 2018 by Mary Telesz

a dog with his new owner who read about things you should know before adopting a petConsidering adopting a pet? Pets are wonderful additions to any family; from a single individual looking for a companion, to large families who still feel their family is a member short. Pets bring joy and love to any household, but they also come with a lot of responsibility. If you’re a first-time pet owner, there are a lot of factors you need to consider before deciding to adopt. You may be tempted to rush into this decision, but it’s important that you take your time and consider what the reality of owning a pet would look like for you. Below are the top things you should know before adopting a pet:

1. Money

While this may seem obvious to some, many people overlook the financial obligations that come with having a pet. You’ll have to provide them with food every day, toys to entertain them, and a safe place for them to sleep, etc. You also have to consider regular vet visits, vaccines, hygiene and dental care; and depending on where you’re adopting your pet from, you may have to consider operations like neutering or spaying.

Like humans, pets can also develop medical conditions. If they develop an illness or are injured, they may require treatment which can become quite costly in some cases. While these are things you can never truly plan for, you should consider your ability to cover these costs should illnesses occur at any stage of the pets life.

2. Time

Pets require a lot of your time, especially if you’re adopting them at a super young age. They need training, attention, love, exercise, etc. On top of that, they are also completely dependent on you for survival, so you need to make sure they are consistently fed, t have water, and that they are able to relieve themselves. Owning a pet is a full-time job and takes serious commitment.

Although you must consider how much available time you have to devote to your pet, it doesn’t just have to be only “serious” time. Much of time spent with your pet will involve fun and play! Pets want loads love and attention which you should be sure to give openly and happily. Time spent with your pet should be a treat, not a chore. The time and attention you’re willing to give your pet can play a role in what breed you choose, as some breeds are more independent, while others need more attention.

3. Space

dog slumped in her bed that was provided by her pet sitting serviceThe amount of room you have in your living space should play a huge role in deciding what pet and breed to adopt. Some pets don’t need a lot of space and are more suitable for smaller homes and apartments, while other pets need large spaces and lots of room outside to run around and play. You want your pet to be as happy as possible, so make sure they can thrive in the environment you’re providing.

Pets also require their own space too. They may need accommodations like a crate or bed, and they need room to move and live. If you’re considering adopting a cat, you need to consider the space you have available for a litter box. Your home will be their home, so you should make sure it’s comfortable and suitable for them.

4.Family Members Or Other Pets

You should also consider how your family members will play a role in the adoption of a pet. There are many questions to consider when taking into account your family’s potential effects on a pet. Do you have young children? Will they be able to respect and care for the pet? Will the pet be kid friendly? Does anyone in your family have allergies? If you want to ensure that your pet will be a wonderful addition to your family, you must make sure that your family members are also able to do their best to provide a happy home for your pet.

5.Where To Adopt From

Where you plan to adopt your pet from is extremely important. Are you going to adopt from a local breeder? From a shelter? Your choice of a breeder or shelter will affect the age of the pet you’re looking to adopt, how much training they will require, and how well they will adapt to your home. You should also consider your ability to train your pet, as a pet from a shelter may already have some previous training.

6. Commitment

Above all else, your overall commitment to your pet is the determining factor in your decision to adopt one. Can you fully commit your time, finances, and home space? Is your day-to-day life steady enough to accommodate a pet? Contemplate your work schedule. Will you be gone for long periods of time? Do you travel a lot? How will your pet fare during these times of your absence?

a dog being walked by an employee of a professional dog walking service in Fairfax, VAEven if you work long hours don’t let a hectic work schedule deter you from adopting a pet, there is an easy solution; hire a professional dog walking service. They provide only the best, personalized care for your dog both in your home and on walks. When they come over for a walk, your dog will receive plenty of exercise, attention, and care that you may be unable to provide every day with your busy schedule.

If you’re traveling an even better solution is hiring a professional pet sitting service. With these services, there are many different options to choose from, so that you can find the one that works best for you and your pet. Your pet can stay home and receive care from a sitter during the day (they will even water your plants and bring in your mail if you want!), or you could even allow your pet-sitter to welcome your pet into their home to receive in more love and attention.

Adopting a pet can be one of the best decisions you ever make in your life, and with these things you should know before adopting a pet, the process will be made easier. Just remember to plan ahead to make sure your pet will receive the most love and happiness “humanly possible”!

Filed Under: Pet Advice

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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