By Erica Hoffman
To be completely honest, I adopted my cat on a whim. I brought him home to my boyfriend who was understandably a little ticked off at me for adding a new member to our little family with almost no conversation about this huge life-altering move. Fast forward two years, he sings to the cat every day and they are best buddies.
Most of the time, adopting a pet with no forethought doesn’t end in you magically finding your perfect match. Fortunately, this cat turned out to be the best animal for us. This is rare and not even close to the right way to go about adopting a pet who, if all goes according to plan, you will be living with for the next 15 years or so.
I’ve since learned that pairing the right pet with the right person or family is not usually as easy as it was for me. There are tons of details that should be considered, and a massive amount of resources in our area that can help you and your family make the right decision.
Since it’s almost too easy to fall in love at first sight with a cute furry friend only to find out you two are not on the same wavelength, I’ve put together some of the most important and sometimes overlooked details one should consider when beginning their pet adoption journey. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before committing to adopting a pet:
Do you have any other pets and how will they react to a new pet? Are they going to be welcoming, territorial, or are they going to retreat under the bed for the foreseeable future?
What do you expect your pet to contribute to your life? For example, do you want a running and hiking buddy, or is your idea of exercise watching an exercise video on your phone while eating Doritos?
If you are thinking of adopting a young animal, do you have the time and patience to work with the pet through its adolescence, taking into account house-breaking, chewing, and energy level? Basically, are you ready for an infant? If you’re adopting a puppy or a kitten, you better be!
What size pet can your home accommodate? It just seems mean to lock up a 40-pound dog in a small studio apartment.
Is there an adult in the family who has agreed to be ultimately responsible for the pet’s care? On a personal note, this was pretty much the only thing I took into consideration when I hastily decided to adopt. I knew I would be responsible for this living, breathing ball of love. I gave it real thought, past the surface thoughts of litter box maintenance, more into the existential thought of this being something you actively have to keep alive and was I sure I could do this? I was sure.
If you don’t know the answers to some of these questions right now, that’s okay. There are plenty of ways to become more comfortable and knowledgeable about what you want. Google is your best friend when it comes to information on pets. Learn as much as you can about different breeds and discover what you really should be looking for.
Some people find that volunteering at a local shelter or rescue organization can help sort out some of the unknown answers you may have. Fostering a pet is also an option but do your homework on fostering. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into both financially and emotionally.
Once you’ve narrowed down the basics, you are ready to start looking. We’re fortunate to have plenty of respected and reputable shelters and non-profit organizations in our area to ensure you find your perfect match. These are just a few of the local organizations doing good for the community, and potentially, housing your next furry best friend. Again, make sure to do your research as there are plenty more great options for pet adoptions in our area, and good luck finding your perfect match!
The Humane Society of Atlantic County, Atlantic City
The Humane Society of Ocean City, Ocean City
In addition to adopting your furry friend here, they also offer an affordable spay and neuter clinic and operate as a full-service veterinary hospital.
Animal Outreach of Cape May County, Cape May
Animal Outreach of Cape May County is dedicated to helping the abused, abandoned, and neglected animals of Cape May County. Animal Outreach (AO) began as a fostering network in 1998 and still uses their foster homes to rehabilitate and care for animals in need.
Erica Hoffman was born in Atlantic City and is proud to be writing for Shore Local. She lives in South Jersey and enjoys finding and sharing the lighter side of life.
