Adopting A Pet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Animal Medical of New City explains how to choose the right pet for adoption

 

Adopting a pet

 

So, you’re ready to adopt a pet – AWESOME! It has often been said, “Saving one animal won’t change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal.” And, actually, adopting a pet from a shelter will also create room for another animal to have the opportunity of finding his or her forever family. Kudos to you!

 

 

 

 

Adopting a Pet In New City or In Rockland County? Here are Some Considerations

 

What’s your lifestyle?

  • Do you live in a house in the suburbs or apartment in the city? If you live in an apartment, a large dog with lots of energy may not be a great fit – consider a smaller breed with a relaxed personality. If you have a home with a fenced backyard, you’ll be less restricted by size and energy level.
  • Do you have small children and/or other pets in the home? Talk to the shelter staff about your specific needs and concerns. If you already have a family pet, most shelters will arrange a ‘meet-and-greet’ to see if they interact well.
  • Are you active or do you prefer relaxing after a long day at work? If you enjoy 3-mile hikes in the morning, a young lab mix may be the perfect fit. If your ideal day is curling up with a good book, consider a cat or older dog (psst …seniors rock!)

 

Remember, free pets aren’t free

 

  • There’s going to be an adoption fee. Ask ahead what the cost will be and consider an additional donation on top of that  Shelters do great work on ‘bare-bones’ budgets and they depend on the public for monetary, food, bedding and toy donations to stay afloat.
  • Most shelters will have animals spayed/neutered and vaccinated for rabies and distemper before they’ll allow them to be adopted, but your new pet will likely need additional vaccines and monthly preventatives such as heartworm and flea/tick medications. It is important to make an appointment with us, asap, for a full physical exam and health assessment.
  • Pet food costs add up. Let’s say you decide to adopt a giant breed dog; you could end up feeding up to 8 cups of food a day. That is a lot of food considering 3-4c of dog food equals a pound – that’s 14-19lbs a week(!) and you’ll need to get good quality food for good health.  You can expect feeding expenses for a large dog to be a minimum of 30-40 dollars a month.

 

Adopting a Pet is a Decision that You’ll Live with For Many Years

 

  • Many of these animals have incurred stressful events. Patience, proper training and lots of love are key, but sometimes, no matter what you do, serious behavioral issues persist.   A professional trainer, behaviorist or your veterinarian may be able to help.  Certainly, we’ll be happy to take your call if you have a behavior concern with your adopted dog or cat (845-638-3600).
  • Some of these animals may have undiagnosed illness.  Ask the shelter attendants about a perspective adoptee’s health status. Is he/she eating, drinking, peeing and pooping normally? Are there any issues that they are aware of – bad teeth, ear or eye discharge, lameness, skin or coat problems? It will be your responsibility to care for the health and welfare of this animal.  Explore health insurance, CareCredit or other payment solutions that we have here at Animal Medical to help you pay for veterinary care or to spread the costs out over time.

 

Adopting a Pet: The Process

 

Now for the fun part: finding your pet. Walking through a shelter can be a jarring. Shelters are noisy and sometimes sad…so many pets without a home and so eager to go home with you!   Try to stay focused.   What are you looking for? Dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, pocket-pet; young or senior pet (yay!); large or small; boy or girl; big and goofy or small and sweet; long hair, short hair, tan/black/spots/stripes…. there are many, many options.

 

Lots of Pitbull Mixes Up for Adoption

 

If you’re looking at dogs, pit bull mixes will be (sadly) over-represented. They can be wonderful, loving pets and if your lifestyle permits, I encourage you to take a second look at this loving breed.  If you prefer cats, consider one that’s over a year in age. Studies have shown that adult cats are FAR less likely to ever find a home compared to kittens. Black cats have an even harder time getting adopted, which is silly… some of my favorite patients are black cats – not spooky or scary at all!

 

Click Here to See A List of Pet’s For Adoption In Rockland County 

 

Adopting a Rockland County Dog or Cat? Ask for Help!

 

Shelter volunteers are a wealth of information about the animals that they care for and they probably have favorites! Ask them for their picks. Ask to take an animal out of the cage so that you can interact with him or her. You’ll want an animal that is bright, alert and friendly, but understand that their true personalities will take time to shine through. Remember, these animals have been through a lot and are living in stressful environments.  A dog that is cowering in the back of a kennel doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she sick or unsocial; he or she might just be overwhelmed in a shelter setting.  Likewise, an incessantly barking dog might quiet down when in a loving, trusting home for a while.

 

When Adopting a Pet, It’s Okay To Trust Your Instincts

 

Sometimes it’s a ‘gut’ thing. It’s the kitty that reaches his paw out to you when you are walking by, or it’s something in a dog’s eyes that speaks to you – like, somehow, they are choosing you. Just make sure that you are ready for whatever comes ahead.

 

I Want To Adopt A Pet!

 

We wish you the very best in finding your new family member and applaud your decision to adopt a homeless animal. If there are additional questions that you have about pet adoption or anything at all we can do to help you make your decision. Please let us know. You can use the contact form shown below to reach out to us or phone us directly here at the office (845-638-3600). Also, feel free to share your pictures and celebrate your experience adopting a pet with us. We’ll help you get the word out there that shelter pets are great!

 

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845-638-3600          clientservices@animalmedicalnc.com

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