Planning ahead can make introducing your new pet to the household a positive experience for all.

With the holidays upon us, I’d like to take a moment to address the idea of adopting a new pet as a holiday present for your family or friends.

While the idea of bringing a new pet into the home as a surprise for the people you love can be great, don’t forget a pet is a commitment for many years to come. The cute kitten or puppy arriving at your home could live 15 to 20 years, and will require regular vet visits, vaccines, training, regular grooming, food, toys, treats and possible boarding stays.

Know what kind of pet fits your life

Doing research on purebred dogs and cats beforehand will give you a good idea of what their needs will be during the course of their life. It will also help in determining the type of breed that will suit your lifestyle.

When adopting from a shelter or rescue, most facilities will do some testing with the animals in their care to determine the best home situation for them. They will usually have a good idea of what breeds are dominant in the animals in their care, and guide you in the right direction for how big they will probably get, what you can expect as far as exercise needs, training, grooming, lifespan, potential health issues, etc. Excellent adoption agencies in our area include O.S.C.A.R (One Step Closer Animal Rescue) and Father John’s Animal House.

Most shelters and reputable breeders will require you to fill out applications that require approval. While the desire to have the new pet there during the holidays is natural, bringing a new animal into holiday chaos may not be the best way to smooth their transition to their new home. An optional strategy is to get your approval from the shelter or breeder, and place the paperwork into a card with a promise to adopt/purchase in the near future. This way, everyone involved gets to meet the pet before bringing it into your home to ensure it’s a good fit.

Before choosing to adopt or purchase a new pet, make sure everybody involved has spoken about all of the responsibilities that come along with pet ownership. Lets make sure all of these critters can get the best, most loving, caring homes!

From our pet family to yours, have a wonderful, pet friendly holiday!

Stephanie

Stephanie Harrigan has made pets her life’s work. She spent eight years as a dog walker and boarding supervisor at a doggie daycare, administering medications as needed, feedings, and supervising doggie playtimes. She received her Dog Training Certification from Animal Behavior College in 2008, and specialized in training dogs and their owners in basic obedience and puppy basics. In 2015, Stephanie returned to Animal Behavior College to receive her Pet Grooming Certification, and in 2021 she expanded those skills by becoming certified in Special Needs Dog Handling with Barkleigh Productions. Stephanie currently owns Sparta Pet Shoppe and Spa in Sparta, NJ, and mentors new groomers.