Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family
Terry Johnson, CVT
AAHA.org
Thinking about adding a pet to your family? A pet can be a wonderful addition, whether you’re a single person looking for a best friend, part of a family looking for a furry kid, or a senior looking for companionship. Start your search by doing some research, planning ahead, and asking yourself some questions about what kind of pet will work best for your situation.
Making a lifetime commitment
Begin by asking this question: Is this a good time in my (or my family’s) life to get a pet? Before you commit to bringing a pet into your home, consider your future plans and make sure you are ready to care for a pet for the rest of his or her life. If you’re considering a dog or cat, this could be up to 20 years. A bird’s lifespan can range from 3 to 60 years, depending on the species.
Things to consider when choosing a pet
Cost – Be aware of the costs associated with different kinds of pets. Smaller doesn’t always equal less expensive. Setting up a budget to meet the needs of your pet, and planning for possible emergency expenses, will help you be financially prepared.
Activity level – Are you active and looking for a pet who can be active with you? Or do you just want a companion to spend time with at home? Ask yourself some questions about how much time and energy you have to devote to your pet each day. This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a new pet.
Housing – All pets need safe, comfortable, and temperature-appropriate housing, which, for almost every species, will include being inside your home for at least part of the time. Where will your pet sleep during the winter? Are you willing to have a dedicated place in your home for her? Where will she be while you are at work or traveling?
Diet – Beyond your love, what you feed your pet will have the biggest effect on his quality of life. Feed him a high-quality diet consisting of species-appropriate foods to meet his unique needs. It is also important to be aware of what your pet should not eat and what can be toxic and/or fatal.
General care – Keeping your pet clean and comfortable will require some commitment on your part. Know and understand the special grooming requirements that different pets have, such as grooming, baths, nail trims, exercise, attention needs, and more.
Veterinary care – Plan on (and budget for) visiting your veterinarian at least annually for preventive care visits to keep your pet happy and healthy. Your veterinary health care team is a great resource when you’re considering a pet. They know and understand the unique health, breed, and behavior aspects of many species and can provide valuable insight and information. Also, consider pet insurance if you’re thinking about a dog or cat.
Training – You’ll find that committing to training your pet is well-worth the time and money. Whether you choose a group setting, individual training, or book training, a well-trained pet will lead to a much happier relationship for both of you.
Finding the perfect match
Once you’ve thought about these things and have begun to determine what kind of pet you’re looking for, consider adopting from a shelter. The ASPCA created a unique program to help people who are interested in adopting find the perfect pet for them. Originally developed for the Kansas Humane Society, the Meet Your Match (MYM) Canine-ality™, Puppy-ality™, and Feline-ality™ are fun, color-coded programs designed to increase the likelihood that puppies, as well as dogs and cats six months and older, are matched with compatible people.
The MYM method evaluates an animal’s behavior and interests and matches them to a person’s, or family’s, preferences. The program includes two parts: an assessment the shelter staff uses to evaluate puppies, dogs, and cats; and a survey the prospective adopter completes. After the assessment and survey are complete, both animals and prospective adopters are placed into one of three color categories: purple, orange, or green. Each of these categories are then divided into three additional categories.
The Puppy-ality assessment surveys a puppy’s:
Comfort level in a new environment
Social responses
Interest in play
Ease of handling
Tendency to guard food
The Canine-ality assessment focuses on a dog’s:
Friendliness and sociability
Playfulness
Energy level and ability to focus
Motivation (food, people, toys, internal motivations, etc.)
“People manners”
The Feline-ality assessment focuses on a cat’s:
Enjoyment of being pet and held
Playfulness
Responses to new people and things
The people version of the survey focuses on the individual’s or family’s lifestyles, helps narrow the options, and provides some information on what to expect once they’ve chosen a pet. After completing the survey, potential adoptors are given a color-coded guest pass and instructions to look for color-coded cage cards.
Shelters using the MYM programs have seen increases in adoptions and decreases in return rates. Everyone wants to be successful matching the right pet with the right person. Asking questions, doing some homework before you begin your search, and using tools like the MYM program can make the process a fun and positive win-win experience for all.
