THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE ADOPTING A PET:
Courtesy of Asheville Humane Society
• If you currently own other animals, it is imperative that they are current on all of their vaccinations. This will help to protect them against any illness that your new pet may have that is not apparent at the time of adoption.
• If you currently own other animals, will the animal you adopt be compatible with your current pets? We encourage you to bring your dog for a nose to nose meeting with another dog that you may be considering for adoption.
• Familiarize yourself with local Animal Control Laws. Some municipalities have strict leash laws for the protection of all pets and may require city licenses.
• Are any family members allergic to the animals? Signs of an allergic reaction include sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and/or rashes.
• Have you considered how the animal may affect your lifestyle? Be sure to select an animal that fits well with your schedule. For instance, dogs require more attention and exercise than cats.
• Have you considered the benefits of adopting an older animal? Some older animals are already housetrained and are better with young children. Children may be frightened by a puppy or kitten chasing after them, as well as by normal chewing and scratching.
• Have you considered the other members of your household? Even the best behaved child may have difficulty understanding how to properly handle young animals.
• Do family members have the time to play with, train, housebreak/litter train and groom the animal? Everyone in the family will need to participate in this process and be consistent with commands and discipline.
• Do you have the needed supplies for your animal (depending upon what type of animal you are adopting), such as food, water bowl, food bowl, collar, leash, brush, litter, litter pan, toys, bedding and a scratch post?
• Most animals shed. There will be hair throughout your home.
• When you go on vacation and are unable to take your pet with you, do you have a place to board your pet or have a reliable pet sitter?
• If you plan on moving in the near future, will you be able to take your pet with you?
• If you are adopting a dog, keep in mind that dogs bark - they were bred to bark. Some breeds bark more than others.
• If you are adopting a dog, do you have an area of yard the dog can call their own? Dogs need a place to go to the bathroom and run around. Expensive landscaping could be ruined.
• If you are adopting a dog, is your home and yard large enough for the animal's size and activity level?
• If you are adopting a dog and have a fenced in yard, will the fence be able to contain the dog? Some dogs dig and others jump and climb so they can escape some fences.
• If you are considering a kitten or a puppy, remember they may be teething, which means they need to chew. They usually chew whatever they can get their paws on, which means some household items may be ruined.
• If you are considering a kitten or a puppy, they need to be litter trained or housetrained. For a puppy, you may need to get up in the middle of the night to let them out. There will be accidents in the house until they are trained.
• After interacting with an animal, if you still are not 100% sure this is the pet for you, please think carefully about your decision - try interacting with another animal. We have quite a variety of animals to choose from and the available animals change on a daily basis.
• Before adopting an animal, research the different breeds and determine what breeds best fit your lifestyle.
• Before adopting a dog, keep in mind what the dog was bred for, which could be several things since the majority of our dogs are not purebred.
