Adopting is an act of love

When an animal goes to a shelter, it waits for someone to adopt it, which doesn’t always happen. Most adult animals get “stuck” in shelters, waiting for the day when an “angel” will come and take them home. And for most of them, that day takes a long time to arrive. Many spend the rest of their lives “waiting for a miracle.”

But you can change the life story of these animals. They just need a chance! By adopting an animal, you’ll be saving a life and certainly gaining a great friend. But for that, responsibility is required!

Responsible ownership

Choosing a dog or cat is not an easy process, although many people may not believe that. Most people usually choose an animal based solely on beauty and size, forgetting about each one’s particularities, such as long fur requiring daily brushing, predispositions to degenerative diseases, more or less agitated temperaments, destructive behaviors at home, larger size than expected, the need for interaction and socialization – factors that are hardly taken into consideration and later contribute to high abandonment rates throughout the animal’s life.

Read also: 3 reasons to adopt instead of buying a pet.

Large breed dogs may present hip dysplasia, causing extreme pain and potential physical disability. Some dogs are restless and often destroy everything in their path. Others bark too much, and some are prone to allergic diseases.

Some don’t like being alone at home, others defecate and urinate in the wrong place, some cry at night, and there are those who bark excessively every time the doorbell rings.

All of this and more must be taken into account when choosing the animal that will live with us for about 15 years or even more. How to handle behavior that is not ideal? Will there be time available? Will there be patience? Will there be enough space? Will there be financial resources to cover possible veterinary procedures and treatments? These are important questions that should not be ignored.

Think carefully about your lifestyle before adopting an animal. Moreover, he will need attention, love, and care always! Just like you, he feels cold, thirst, hunger, loneliness, and can get sick.

See if you have the profile to have a pet at home and make him a part of your family. Remember, when you move, he must be taken into account, when you travel too. In short, evaluate all these aspects before expanding your family!

Before adopting an animal, be sure…

Adopting is an act of love, but if your house or apartment has enough space for the chosen friend, if there is safety on balconies, windows, and gates. If you haven’t provided this yet, do it as soon as possible, as it is essential for safety. If you are truly willing to take care of him for his entire life. Dogs and cats can live from 10 to 20 years.

If there will be people to take care of him during your vacations and periods of absence. If the whole family agrees to welcome the new member. If you are willing to bear the expenses of an animal. In addition to love, food, and shelter, he will need veterinary care and medications. He is a living and sensitive being, not a product that can be exchanged or thrown away when presenting “problems” or becoming “obsolete.”

If you live in an apartment or a house with a small yard, analyze if you will have time and availability to walk with him. Animals need regular physical exercise. He will not be alone at home for long periods. Dogs left tied up bark, cry, get stressed, and, as a result, end up “misbehaving” to distract themselves.

Adopting is an act of love for any abandoned animal; it changes their life forever, and yours too. However, it’s not just the life of the adopted animal that changes. The life of the one who adopts changes as well. It will be necessary to give up long vacations outside the city, dedicate a few minutes a day to walk, play, roll on the floor, and accept wet and affectionate licks. Clean up poop and pee, and maybe even change the sofa, spend money on leashes and collars (many), meet new people (preferably those who like animals). And to compensate for all of this, delight in the faces and expressions of your best friend, who will be growing healthy and full of energy by your side.