Does Your New Pet Really Need a Pedigree?

Recently, some of my acquaintances decided to add a new Birman kitty to their family.

Birman kittens usually come with a hefty price tag of several hundred dollars and, often, a waiting list for the few available each year. These drawbacks didn't deter this family in the least. They had their hearts set on a Birman cat, no matter how much they had to pay or how long they had to wait.

As it turned out, they ended up having to travel several hundred miles to find a breeder for this particular specie, and, when they did arrive, the owner brought out, not one, but two of the most adorable little balls of fluff they had ever seen. Of course, they went home with both of them, and a huge dent in their credit card.

Nevertheless, the proud Birman owners have never regretted their decision. The tiny kittens have grown into beautiful year old cats who are a joy to the family. They are lovely to look at, amusing to watch, and so far, very healthy, lively, and affectionate.

If you aren't in a position to spend hundreds of dollars for your new pet, I have good news for you. There are dozens of wonderful pets at your local animal shelter waiting to be adopted into homes just like yours. They may not be the breed you've always dreamed of owning but, I guarantee you, they are just as loving and affectionate as more expensive animals.

Tens of thousands of cats and dogs end up in animal shelters every year. Some have wandered away from home and are picked up while roaming the streets untended. Others arrive at shelters because of cruelty or neglect by an owner. Far more end up homeless because so many animals are allowed to wander and breed indiscriminately.

Make a trip to your local shelter just to see what goes on there. More and more unwanted animals arrive daily, and in comparison, very few people visit who are looking for an animal to adopt. Families seeking pets to adopt, like those seeking human children to adopt, often prefer babies, and the older ones are often passed by, even though they have just as much love and affection to give to their adoptive families as any baby ever would.

We recently adopted a 2-year old cat from our local shelter. We were amazed at the way the small staff managed to find time to speak to each animal, often reaching out to give a scratch or two behind the ears as we passed by, and to check and make sure the cages and kennels were clean and well stocked with food and water.

We were required to have our new cat, Misty, spayed before we could take her home, and paid a fee of $50 for this service. Local veterinarians take turns volunteering a couple of hours each week so that a low-cost spay and neuter clinic which also provides common shots needed by animals, is open at the shelter several afternoons a week. We couldn't have received better care if we had taken Misty to the highest priced animal hospital in town.

We, like our friends who adopted the Birman kitties, have been totally happy with our choice of a new pet. We were told that Misty was a feral cat, meaning that she had been running wild when she was picked up and brought to the shelter, so we were pleasantly surprised to find that she was very tame and had no trouble adjusting to living in a house again. In fact, she used the litterbox correctly from the very first day - something that wouldn't have happened if we had chosen a small kitten instead of a mature cat. She is affectionate and amusing, and sometimes has an expression that looks so much like a smile that I think she must be thinking how lucky she is to have found a good home and someone to love her at last.. The arrangement has been a win-win situation for all concerned.

If you are serious about getting a new pet, I challenge you to visit your local animal shelter before you even consider a stop at the pet store in the mall or a private animal breeder. I can almost guarantee you will fall in love with one or more of these lonely little animals who are waiting patiently for you or some other visitor to just give them a chance.

An expensive cat or dog purchased through a well-known breeder may come with a pedigree, but, if what you are looking for is a loving and affectionate pet for your family, who needs a pedigree?

Jeanne Gibson is a math and English teacher who lives in Springfield, Oregon with her husband and an 8-year-old adopted cat named Snoopy. Check out her Squidoo lens to learn more about cats as pets at http://www.squidoo.com/findingsolutionstocatbehaviorproblems

Pet Adoption - Can You Really Afford the Cost of One?

People usually can't do without a pet or two in their lives. It just seems to be a pleasure of life that you can expect to deserve - like having children. And yet, as people continue to have their hours cut and to be laid off, they are beginning to question the wisdom of spending the hundreds or even thousands of dollars on their pets each year. A cat or a dog may be a small animal; but some of the biggest costs to deal with pet adoption come from medical care.

The reason people overlook the costs of pet adoption is that no one's comfortable usually, putting it down in dollars and cents when it comes to the love they feel for their little four-legged friends. According to most expert estimates, all found, you can spend about $900 a year on the upkeep of a large dog (and there's an additional $500 or so that you will spend on the pet adoption process itself). Owning a cat they say, can cost nearly as much - about $700 a year. As generous as these numbers seem, as dog and cat owners know, you can spend as much in just one month if there is a health problem that comes up. You take a dog in with an infection, and you can easily spend $500 on tests. There are heartworm pills, flea medicine, a variety of dog foods, pet sitter costs, it's endless.

Actually, if you are dealing with a cat or a dog, you can count yourself lucky. People who buy horses for their children can have their costs run into the tens of thousands. But when your child has her heart set on pet adoption, what is it that you can do? If you live out in the suburbs, the fixed costs of pet adoption can be somewhat affordable if what you have in mind is a pet dog or cat. If your child wants a horse, you had better forget it. What you can do instead is, to let your child have lessons in horse riding at a horse riding school. Or you could lease a horse. That should cut the cost of owning one down to a fraction of what would otherwise be. Before you set up a pet adoption for your child, go down to the local veterinarian's clinic and check out the prices they have for lots of common procedures that need to be performed on pets. If your dog eats something that doesn't agree with his tummy, that'll be $1000 out of your bank right away. If he injures something, that'll be $800 right away. Things have changed; lots of people cannot afford a pet anymore. It is all part of the shrinking lifestyle that we've come to expect in this country.

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Are You Really Ready to Adopt a Pet?

It always happens. Every time you see the picture of a cute little pup or furry little kitten, you 'awww' and 'oooh' and you just want one! You can't help but pet each dog that comes your way while walking on the street and you bring tasty treats for your friend's pets when you go visiting. Every time a pup licks you or a cat rubs against your leg, you think it's a sign telling you to get your own. But hold your horses! (or doggies, or kitties, as you might prefer). Adopting a pet is about a lot more than signs or gut feelings or even desires.

We're not discounting desire as a factor in bringing home a pet - it is important - but there are other factors that are much more important. Many owners have fallen prey to the misconception that the 'I-just-saw-him-and-fell-head-over-heels-in-love' feeling will see them through the 15 odd years they will spend with their pets. Adopting a pet is quite a happy thought. However, it needs to be turned into reality. You need to give owning a pet a lot of thought.

The following points make it easier for you to judge if your decision is really sound, read it through and answer each point honestly to reach a conclusion.

What's your reason for adopting a pet?

Adopt a pet for a reason that will last, since that will determine how healthy and enjoyable your relationship will be. Reasons like momentary loneliness, boredom, or curiosity might not be ideal, since these conditions will pass. You need a reason that will keep for many, many years to come.

Do you have time?

Having a pet in your house requires a good investment of time, and it can't be put on a schedule of maybe one hour a day. When your pup is young, you will have to spend a lot of time with him, training him and getting him used to your home. When he falls sick, you'll have to be by his side. And, you should give them this time gladly, not just out of obligation.

Can you afford it?

Adopting a pet doesn't just involve the cost of adoption fees. Taking care of a pet comes along with a series of expenses - good food, grooming, hygiene, toys, changes to your house, regular vet visits, medication, and what not.

What is you lifestyle?

Do you live in a place where you can share space comfortably with a pet? If you live in a condo you might feel cramped and your neighbors or landlord might object. Also, if you work late nights, have a baby, travel a lot or have an erratic schedule, a pet might not fit well into your scheme of things.

What happens if something goes wrong?

What if you get sick or you have to leave the pet alone? Do you have someone you can count on to help you out? Becoming solely responsible for another life is a big decision. You will need some kind of help (friends, relatives, friendly neighbors) or at least the financial means to hire such help.

Will you commit?

The most important question: Do you think you can love, cherish and take care of your pet for as long as he lives? I repeat - as long as he lives. This is quite a responsibility. If you're going to adopt a pet, you will need to promise yourself that you will take care of him to the best of your ability. And taking care of a pet is quite a task.

If most of these questions make you reconsider your decision, don't lose heart. It's all for the best. Visit any animal shelter and you will notice that most of the animals are there because their owners didn't think of all these questions, got carried away by their feelings and took the animal home, only to realize a year later that they couldn't handle it. It is a highly insensitive act - to willingly welcome someone into your home and then turn them out - especially someone as helpless and innocent as a poor little dog or cat.

All these factors are just as important if not more as what 'kind' of a pet you want to have. For instance, dogs require exercise, some, at least an hour every day. If you live in an apartment in the city and you don't like to walk, this becomes unfeasible. Even a tiny and active little terrier is more suited with owners who have the time to give it exercise and play with it. But don't think a cat is any easier... well it is, since you don't have to walk them, but they do need play time, and attention, and although they have this reputation of being independent, they crave company and they need it to be healthy and happy.

Welcoming a pet into your house and your life can be one of the most enriching experiences you ever have. However, thinking it through is very important. When you bring a pet home, it's just as having a baby - every decision you make thereon affects you and your pet in equal measure. It's a living being who you will share a good part of your life with... but oh, what a fulfilling life it will be.

If you want to read more stories and find very useful information about your cats and dogs, please visit me at http://www.yourpetsuniverse.com