How to Buy a Pet

You have decided to bring a pet into your life but how should you buy it? The first questions you need to answer are, "Can you really afford to care for a pet?”, and "Do you have time for a pet?" If you have answered, "Yes," to these questions, you need to figure out what type of pet would suit your lifestyle and home. For example, if you have a small apartment, you probably should not buy a Great Dane and farm animals are out of the question. If you have it narrowed down to a few, a little research on the temperaments, grooming, and care needed should help you decide. Once you have determined the type and breed of pet you will buy you can begin looking for your new pet. There are several options of where to buy a pet such as a private breeder, rescue, animal shelter, or a pet store.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time
• Accessories for pet
• Food and water dishes
• Food
• Leash
• Collar
• Treats

1. 
    
   Blue eyes came from local animal shelter 2004

   Check your local animal shelter first. Some pets have lived there for over a year and desperately need a loving home. You can find puppies, kittens, and purebred animals at a shelter. The shelter usually has an idea of the temperament of the animal and they know if it is already housebroken. They also may know what other kinds of animals can be in the new home. For example, some shelters cat test their dogs before selling the dog to a home with cats. Quite often, these animals are already unsexed, up to date on shots, and micro-chipped, which can save you money in the end.

2. 
    
   Loki came from IAMRA rescue 2002

   Visit or call local animal rescues. You can ask the local animal shelter who they are or look on petfinder.com. If you are looking for a specific breed, you may not be able to buy your pet locally. Rescues sometimes have puppies and always have adults looking for new homes. These pets may be in foster homes. That means they are usually housebroken, people friendly, and the foster parent knows if the pet likes children or other kinds of pets. Like the shelters, these pets are unsexed, up to date on shots, and micro chipped. They do not find new homes for these pets until they are healthy.

3. Call the American Kennel Club for referrals to reputable private breeders. Look in the newspaper or at local animal events for reputable private breeders. Reputable breeders are not backyard breeders who just want to have a few puppies. These are individuals committed to passing on the breed standard for looks, coat, and temperament.

4. 
    
   Mali Uromastyx came from petfinder

   Look in pet stores if your new pet is going to be a reptile, amphibian, or rodent. While there, you can purchase all necessities to make your pet happy. You can purchase the food, bedding, toys, and even the pet's new home. Do not purchase dogs or cats from pet stores. These animals may be the products of puppy mills. If they are, they will be of inferior temperament and below breed standards. This is because their early lives may not have involved holding, cuddling, and imprinting with people. Their early nutrition may have also been inadequate.

5. 
    
   Cierra from Voice for Horses Rescue 2004

   Purchase the accessories necessary to make your new pet happy, healthy, and safe in your home. Once you have found the perfect pet go ahead and buy it.

Tips & Warnings

• Spayed or neutered pets are usually better behaved and may not wander off.
• Your local animal shelter may have reduced fees for spay, neuter, micro-chip, and shots, even if your pet was not purchased there.
• Never buy on impulse, you will probably regret it, and may end up not keeping the pet.
• Never buy a pet for another person without their permission, unless you live there and are willing to take care of it, if they are not.

Resources

• American Kennel Club
• Pet Finder -all breeds, all ages, all kinds