There are many who go through life not giving having a pet, that is until we have children. Children have an incredible talent of mastering their own puppy-dog “please get me a puppy mum” eyes every time a stranger walks past with a four-legged friend. To be fair, there is a multitude of benefits that come with the pairing of children and pets. From teaching them the responsibility of caring for a pet, to simply having a furry friend to run around after for hours on end. Pets can be a perfect addition to your family dynamic.
However, there are many things to consider, particularly when living away from your own country to consider before you get a pet for your family.
Commitment
Do you have the time to make the commitment? For example, if you choose a dog, are you sure you have time and energy to walk the dog daily? Research the maintenance for the pet you are considering and ensure that your lifestyle and commitments would allow for a pet would fit in well or not.
Cost
Can you afford it? Having a pet is great! But you need to think about the cost implications of owning a pet. Things such as food, accessories, veterinary bills, medication, care for when you are on vacation and so on can all add up. You need to be sure that you are in a position where you can take care of the pet for what they need without it burdening you financially.
Housetraining
This is a big one. House training pets is no walk in the park. You need to be motivated, committed and dedicated to ensuring your pet is correctly housetrained. It can be messy, frustrating and can take time depending on the pet and its breed. Be sure you know what you are signing up for and ready to take the good with the stinky!
Relocation
Consider that many animals, particularly cats and dogs can live anywhere from 10-15 years, and with many of us here for an undecided period you should consider the cost of relocation for your pet back to your country. This can be a very costly process and should be researched depending on your home before you get a pet. Re-homing pets here is not an ideal scenario as there are so many pets already waiting for new homes.
Adopt, don’t shop.
Most importantly, avoid buying pets – there so many lovely pets just waiting for forever homes to be loved and cherished. Before shopping, investigate the multitude of various organisations that provide adoption services for a fraction of the cost for pets who genuinely need to be homed.
Other articles you might be interested in:
Enjoy Moments, Create Memories – Bonding with your Family
Family Holidays (and How to Survive Them)
