Ready to adopt a pet? We are excited for you!
But before you bring your new best friend home, be sure to do your homework.
Adopting a shelter pet is a lifelong decision that will have a major impact on your normal, everyday life. A cat or dog can live for up to 20 years, and they will rely on you for their entire life.
Some circumstances to factor in are the time you have available to give to them, how independent they may be, the kind of pet-personality that suits you, your budget for their food and medical care, what kind of home and space you have available, and who else lives with at home.
The team at the Lort Smith Adoption Centre have created a handy checklist to help you choose the right shelter pet that will help ensure both of you enjoy a long and happy time together.
Adopting a shelter pet is a lifelong decision that will have a major impact on your normal, everyday life. A cat or dog can live for up to 20 years, and they will rely on you for their entire life.
Some circumstances to factor in are the time you have available to give to them, how independent they may be, the kind of pet-personality that suits you, your budget for their food and medical care, what kind of home and space you have available, and who else lives with at home.
The team at the Lort Smith Adoption Centre have created a handy checklist to help you choose the right shelter pet that will help ensure both of you enjoy a long and happy time together.
Will the animal be spending long hours home alone while you are at work or school? If yes, talk to the Adoption Centre about whether they have an animal that doesn’t mind being alone… or think about adopting two bonded animals so they can keep one another company.
Cats and rabbits should live inside. Do you have the space for them? You’ll need to provide enrichment toys or areas for them to play. Rabbits are sweet, gentle and can be litter-trained… but they need a lot of hay every day, and this gets very messy. Small dogs might live happily in an apartment, with daily walks, but most bigger dogs won’t be content without room to run.
Do you have the time to walk and play with this pet? If you’re short on energy or time, talk to the Adoption Centre about adopting a less mobile animal.
Some dogs pull on leads, and big dogs, especially, can be difficult to manage if they don’t have the training or you don’t have the strength. Has the animal been trained, or socialised? If not, do you have the knowledge, time and capacity to give them the training they need to be happy and safe?
Puppies and kittens are adorable, fun, and can grow up with you and your family. But they also need lots of time and love. Be prepared for toilet training (and accidents), curtain-climbing, shoe-chewing, tiny escape-artists, and being woken up at night. If this all sounds like too much, a more mature pet, looking for love, might be just the ticket.
Ask the Adoption Centre about the animal’s history and emotional needs. Is this a “velcro pet” that wants to be with you all the time? Can you give it that? Is it an anxious animal that requires a calm and quiet home to help them feel safe?
Continuing from the question above, does your pet play well or feel safe with others? Ask about how the animal copes with children, other animals if you have other pets in your home, and anything or anyone else in your life they may come across. It’s important not only that your new pet feels safe and stress-free, but also that others in your home are not in any danger or feeling stressed.
Ask the Adoption Centre if there is anything you should know. Are they prone to excessive shedding? Do they meow or bark a lot? Are they intelligent? Stubborn? Fussy eaters? Food thieves? This is all helpful information when you are choosing the right pet, and also good to know after they come home with you.
Take a look at the pets available for adoption at the Lort Smith Adoption Centre right now.
