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Before You Adopt Give This List Some Thought:
1. When you adopt,
you need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life, no matter what that entails,
just as you would with a child.
2. Be prepared for a pet to affect other parts of your life for
as long as you have the pet (can be up to 15 years for a dog and 20 years for cat). Your pet’s well-being will
have to be considered in all kinds of decisions, including travel, social life, relocating to a new home, adopting other pets,
having children, etc.
3. Verify in advance that you’re allowed to keep a pet where you live, especially
if you rent or belong to a homeowners’ association.
4. Make any necessary modifications to your
yard and fence, if you have one, to provide for your pet’s safety and to prevent your pet from escaping.
5.
Never give a pet as a gift.
6. Choose a pet appropriate to your living situation and lifestyle. Figure
out what size, age, and energy-level pet is most appropriate for you.
7. Never adopt a pet on a whim or
because you feel it’s love-at-first-sight. Do your research and carefully consider all the aspects and implications
of adopting before you make a decision.
8. If you’re adopting a pet for your kids, understand that the responsibility is yours.
Kids, by their nature, often tire of things that were once new and exciting, and this includes their pets. You will most likely
end up being the one who provides most of the pet’s care.
9. Plan for a several-week adjustment
period during which there will be challenges.
10. Provide sufficient exercise and stimulation.
(Walk dogs according to individual need, provide playtime and appropriate toys for both dogs and cats, spend time just petting and talking to your
pet, include pet in family activities.)
What to Consider Before Adopting a Pet from the Humane Society of the United States
- Adopting a cat will enrich your world in a million different ways. Here’s
how:
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 Having a cat reduces your blood pressure and helps prevent heart
disease -
Having a cat fights depression and loneliness
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Cats provide companionship
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Cats will cuddle up with you on a cold evening
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Cats are independent and can be left alone while
you’re at work
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A cat’s mere presence will ward off unwanted
mice and pests
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Cats are comfortable in small spaces like apartments
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Cats are very clean; they bathe themselves!
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A cat’s purr is instantly calming and
relaxing
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Just 15 minutes a day of playing with you will satisfy a cat
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Indoor cats and spayed/neutered cats live long
lives, providing up to 20 years of companionship
-
Lots of cats need good homes; when you adopt
one, you’re saving a life
 
 
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