Questions to Ask Before Adopting

Choosing to adopt a pet is a long-term commitment. This decision should not be taken lightly as the health and welfare of your new pet is at stake. Before applying to adopt a pet, ask yourself (and your family) these five questions to ensure you are prepared to bring a loving animal into your home.

1. Is your family on board? Bringing a new pet into your home is a big job. Feeding, training and providing exercise are all part of having a pet. Talk to your family before adopting and make sure everyone is willing to chip in and help with your new pet’s care. If you live alone, consider that you will be solely responsible for taking care of your pet. It is time consuming, but it is worth it!

2. Will you be able to afford a pet? It is really important to consider the financial responsibility of owning a pet. Dogs and cats adopted from the Tulsa SPCA are spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccinations and preventative medications and are microchipped before they head home with their forever family.  But you will need to plan on keeping those vaccinations updated year to year, as well as heart worm and parasite preventatives and the cost of normal health care issues. The Tulsa SPCA Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic and Preventative Care Clinic can be a great resource for health care that doesn’t wipe out your bank account.

3. Have you done your research? Think about the kind of pet you want. A dog or a cat. A small dog versus a big dog. An older pet or a puppy or kitten. And, while you are thinking about this, take note of what your household can handle. Do you like to exercise? What type of pet would be able to do that with you? The Tulsa SPCA has a variety of pets that will fit just about any lifestyle!

4. Are you ready to take on unexpected challenges? Bringing home a pet is an exciting and rewarding experience. It is important, however, to be flexible with your new friend. Some pets adapt quickly to their new surroundings while others may take some time and could have behavioral issues that need addressing. In general, expect it to take 3 months for your new pet to fully acclimate to your home. Keep in mind, the Tulsa SPCA has a training and assessment expert who can assist with issues that might pop up.

5. Is your heart ready to burst with love for your new pet? We sure hope so! Adopting a pet makes a difference not just to the dog or cat you adopt, but also to the animal that is able to make it into a shelter because you created an opening by adopting. It is truly a win-win situation

Before adopting, be sure to review the return policy in place for the shelter you are considering. A vast majority of shelters have resources if it isn’t a good fit for your family. Even if you want to rehome the pet on your own, please at least reach out to the shelter you adopted from for guidance on how to do so safely. Our goal whether we are looking for a new home for your pet or if you decide to is ensuring a loving, safe match!!