Adoption Tips: Are Pets Family Members Or Relationship Partners?

Here’s an adoption tip: think about adopting a pet as a forever thing.  If you adopt a long-living animal, like a turtle, consider the care of your pet in case you pass on first, just like you would write about care for a child in your will. I’ve always considered pets to be family members.  Maybe you don’t always like them or get along with them, but they are a part of your family.  You work together to find a way for you to get along.

In extreme circumstances, you may need to sever ties with your family member.  But that would be rare and it would only happen after you worked hard to solve your relationship problems.

Relationship Partners?

Some people consider pets to be relationship partners.  You stay together as long as things are going well between you, but if you don’t get along anymore you should move on.  The trouble with this line of thinking is that a pet is totally dependent on its human. This is an unequal relationship. Many pets form an attachment to their owners and feel despondent when they are rejected.  Because they don’t have the kinds of language and cognitive abilities that humans have, other animals can’t process these terrible feelings of rejection and abandonment. Perhaps you’ll find them a new home where they fit in better and they will be happier. But it is better to have an attitude that you will do everything you can to make your pet happy, rather than having an attitude that you’ll just get rid of it if things don’t work out.

The Decision to Adopt a Pet

Photo by Charles Roth: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-man-kissing-his-dog-2745151/

The decision to get a pet should not be made lightly or impulsively. You need to research the species and breed of pet you are getting so you know what to expect.  You also must get to know the pet before you make a commitment. Arm yourself with as much information as you can before you bring a pet into your home.

Some things to consider include:

• Is anyone in your home, or frequent visitors allergic to animals? Are they allergic to this specific animal?  If they are allergic, would medication help and would they consider taking this medication regularly? There are some cats and dog breeds that are advertised as hypoallergenic, but you should still see if a vulnerable person reacts to them. If someone is allergic, there are many species of pets that people tend not to react to.  Reptiles, fish, and amphibians could make great pets for people who are allergic to mammals.
• Know how long the animal is expected to live.  Some birds and turtles and other animals will outlive their humans.  What will you do if that happens?  If the animal you choose has a shorter lifespan, can you commit to that amount of time?  Dogs and cats can live up to 20 years. Guinea pigs often live for eight years.  Can you keep the pet for that amount of time?

Photo by Shivam Maurya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-sitting-on-concrete-bench-with-dogs-13193847/

• Try to get an idea of the expenses involved in keeping a pet.  These include food, medical care, toys, pet sitting if you go away, training, maintaining a habitat for the pet, and more.
• Besides the expense of maintaining a habitat, do you have time to keep it clean? A fish tank needs the water changed frequently.  Animals kept in cages need to have the cage cleaned regularly. I often clean my guinea pig's cage two or more times a day! Many lizards need a certain light and temperature so you have to monitor their environment and keep it safe for them.  Can you do all this?
• Do you have time to pay proper attention to the pet?  Some pets need a lot of attention and some don’t.  Some might actually prefer to be left alone a lot.  So you need to know about the needs of a pet before you adopt it. Some animals will pine away if they don’t have regular positive interactions with their humans.  Some pets want to have interactions with others of their same species. I got two pigs because I was told that they need to be with their own kind.  I also have a small community of guinea pigs for the same reason. Some pets are better off as the only one of their kind in the home.

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA: https://www.pexels.com/photo/portrait-of-a-boy-with-pet-tortoises-5264037/

Conclusion

Domesticated animals need to be taken care of for their whole life. Committing to a pet is a serious commitment for that animal.  If don’t think you can live up to that commitment, you can foster an animal, volunteer at a shelter to take care of them, or get a pet that is easier to take care of. Like a fish or a turtle. I would say that getting a pet is like getting a family member.  Things happen and the pet adoption might not work out.  If that happens, be sure that your pet goes to a good home where it will get the treatment it deserves.

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