Pet ownership is not for everyone.
Owning a pet can be one of the greatest joys in life. Pets can provide companionship for the family and a trusted friend for children. But owning a pet isn't all positive. There are some downsides to consider and having a pet is not the best solution for every household. If you're adopting a pet, there are even more factors to consider.
The Cost
It's not just the adoption costs that need to be considered. You also have to consider the monthly costs of food, possible vet bills, medicine and pet supplies. Depending on the size of the dog, the average monthly cost can be a hundred dollars or more. That's not a huge amount of money, but it does add up over the course of the year. Add the several hundred dollars it generally costs to adopt the pet and factor in the unexpected illness and suddenly adopting a pet isn't just an emotional decision, it's a financial one.
The time required
Owning a pet isn't like owning a piece of furniture. Pets require lots of attention. They need to be exercised, loved and cared for to remain emotionally and physically healthy. Owning a pet that will ultimately be ignored or resented isn't fair to you or to the pet. If you are already struggling to find time to take a spare moment every day, or if your family is constantly on the go and out of the house, then owning a pet is only going to make a bad situation even more difficult. Anyone who has ever owned a pet will tell you that you should estimate how much time you'll need to devote to your pet... then double it.
The kids won't do it
Many families adopt a pet after the children promise they'll take care of the feeding, grooming and daily walks. Most parents will tell you that despite their good intentions, most of the "help" disappears after a week or two. Be prepared to be the overall caregiver of the pet and if that is a problem for you and/or your schedule, then adopting a pet is probably not the right decision for your family.
The future
When you adopt a pet, you should assume that you'll have the pet as part of your life for the next ten or twenty years. That's an issue if you're likely to be moving frequently, especially if you're renting. Would you be able to turn down your dream apartment if they didn't allow pets? What if you meet the love of your life, but she's allergic to animals? These are just some of the scenarios you might face in the future and some of them are serious enough to impact the decision to adopt a pet.
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