Are you ready to commit yourself to the pet for its lifetime?

• Dogs can live over 15 years, and cats over 20 years. Both require a long term emotional and financial commitment.
  

Cats and dogs require a high level of care. You will need to provide:

• A high quality diet and a supply of fresh water
• Proper health care including visits to the vet for spaying/neutering and when sick or injured, and annual check ups and vaccinations
• Regular grooming including brushing and clipping of claws
• Quality time for bonding with pet
• Adequate exercise/play time to keep pet mentally and physically stimulated
• A quiet, comfortable resting place

If you cannot commit to this, perhaps a cat or dog is not the right companion for you.

What is your lifestyle like?

• Match your energy level with your pet’s. If you are a couch potato, don’t get a working or sporting dog (i.e. retriever) that requires a great deal of exercise.
• Can you handle shedding?
• Will you be away a lot?
• Does your schedule allow for lots of time with a pet?
• Do you rent? If so, maybe you should wait until your housing is more long term before getting a pet.
• Make sure you match temperament and energy levels to that of your own and your lifestyle.
  

Thinking of getting a dog?

Pros: Dogs are social animals who like to belong to a family which they regard as their pack. Properly socialized dogs will be loyal companions. They are fun to play with and quite easy to care for.

Cons: Dogs need lots of space and time. You cannot leave them alone for long periods. You must always clean up after your dog. Dogs require regular grooming. Vet bills can be very expensive. Dogs need to be trained which takes time and patience. Puppies need to be toilet trained.

DO NOT get a puppy if you are not home during the day.

Dogs require:

• Time: 2-3 walks per day, regular off-leash exercise (backyard exercise is not enough),
• Commitment: Dogs are social animals that become attached to their "pack." Committing to a dog for its lifetime means committing for 10-15 years. It also means incorporating the dog as a member of the family.
• Training: Puppy and dog training is important for the human, family, and dog. A minimum of one cycle of training (8 weeks, 1 hour per week) plus 30 minutes per day of at-home training is required. Training is also important for socialization.
• Socialization: Dogs must be socialized with other dogs and people or they live a lifetime of fear.
• Grooming: Dogs require regular grooming, ear care and mouth care.
• Relaxing of house cleanliness rules: Shedding and dirt is part of having a dog. Also, you will need to keep breakables and shoes away from younger dogs.
• Home: Dogs require a large living space and fenced backyard. Dogs should NEVER be tethered or chained.
• Exercise: Regular on-leash walks as well as off-leash exercise. If you have a dog hwo loves water, ensure regular access to a freshwater swimming area.
• Vet: Yearly vaccinations, and a one-time identification tattoo/microchip and spay/neuter surgery.
• License: Dogs require yearly licensing.
• Kenneling: While you are away and on holidays (if you don't take your dog).
  
  

Thinking of getting a cat?

Pros: While more independent than dogs, cats enjoy being around people. They are clean, quiet and require little space. Cats can be easily litter box trained and remain indoors all the time.

Cons: You must clean out the litter box daily. Cats also require regular grooming and their nails trimmed. Cats will scratch furniture unless you provide a scratch post and train them to use it. Cats require regular veterinary check-ups, vaccinations and spaying and neutering which can be expensive. Outdoor cats are more likely to require veterinary care.

Cats require:

• Time: Though not as time-intensive as dogs, cats do require daily care. Consider a minimum 30 minutes of bonding and cuddling.
• Commitment: Committing to a cat for its lifetime means committing for 15-20 years.
• Home: Cats will adapt to small living arrangements such as apartments.
• Grooming: Dogs require regular grooming and ear care.
• Exercise: Cats should not be permitted to roam freely out of doors. Instead, walk your cat on a leash or build a cat run. Cats that roam at large are exposed to diseases and parasites, vulnerable to injury by cars or other animals, at risk of becoming lost, and likely to become a nuisance to neighbours by defecating in gardens or being noisy at night.
• Vet: Yearly vaccinations, and a one-time identification tattoo/microchip and spay/neuter surgery.
• Kenneling: While you are away and on holidays (if you don't take your dog).
  

Where Can You Find a Dog or Cat?

• Consider a rescue: There are many benefits of adopting older dog or cat. Also, when you rescue you save a life.
• When buying from a breeder, make sure it is not a "puppy mill". Remember that a good breeder will ask questions about your level of commitment and the suitability of the match.
  

For more help on deciding which pet is best for you, check out:

http://www.halifax.ca/AnimalControl/documents
/CommonSenseGuide_En.pdf

http://www.spca.bc.ca/AnimalCare/whichpet.asp

A dog has the soul of a philosopher.

Plato

Happy is the home with at least one cat.

Italian Proverb