Not So Maudlin

Warning: Very long post follows

Let me get this out. This might not seem like a positive post. It might even seem like a rant (which it sort of is, actually), but it is something that I have strong feelings about and a subject that is close to my heart.

I have to preface this by mentioning that this is nothing personal, although my thoughts and opinions have been pulled from specific incidences that I have observed over the years. There is no need to defend yourself, like I have found that many people usually feel they need to do over the internet, for some reason. No one should feel they have to defend themselves over others’ opinions (I have to remind myself of this often). I feel like I’m defending myself right now, so I’ll just begin my post…

I have observed responsible animal guardians and irresponsible ones over my 33 years. I realize mistakes can be made. With all of the care in the world, animals can get diseases, become pregnant, and get injured. I try my hardest not to judge someone whose cat or dog has had an accidental litter of kittens or puppies or whose dog has escaped its temporarily distracted guardian, only to be hit by a vehicle. Like I mentioned before, there are definitely accidents. However, many incidents can be avoided by being prepared to bring an animal into one’s home and life and realizing that it is not there just for one’s own pleasure and happiness. It is a life that has its own needs - like safe shelter, food, adequate attention, and stability.

I also have to add that I have not been a perfect animal guardian. I have kept my cats indoors to hopefully give them longevity. Because of their more sedentary living situation, they are overweight. I DO pay attention to this, but sometimes not like I should. I am aware of it, however, and try to do my best about monitoring their food intake. Just wanted to add this to let everyone know that I know my own flaws as an animal guardian as well.

What I want to do with this post, is make people *THINK* about why they want an animal and how to prepare beforehand. There is usually too much hasty decision-making when getting and caring for an animal. This usually ends up in a not so ideal situation for the person and animal. I have had animals my whole life, except that year before I got Two-Tone and his brother. I have volunteered at an animal welfare society in Washington state (not just a shelter, but a rehabilitation and educational organization as well), and worked as a veterinary assistant (briefly). I am not saying that this makes me an expert, but it does give me some insight on how to treat an animal and how to make the decision about giving an animal a home. So, now with some general tips (and there are more than just this) that I have reasoned from the experiences above…

1. Ask yourself *WHY* you want an animal and try to be as honest with yourself as possible. Animals can be great companions, no doubt about it, but it is not the only reason one should want to bring one into their life and home. If this is the ONLY reason you want one, it might not be the best fit. I’ve seen people do this and when the pet did not live up to their expectations as a companion, take it back to the shelter, or wherever. It creates a very insecure situation for the animal. Animals can be trained and it takes time and patience. Read about your potential animal’s training needs before you choose one.

2. Don’t choose an animal because it’s cute or is a baby version of any animal. I am one of the world’s worst when it comes to cute animals or baby animals. I love them and want to squeeze the crap out of them (not literally… well, maybe a little;), but I realize it’s not a reason to get an animal. Kittens and puppies grow up to be animals that need a lot of attention, care, and training. Once again, realize that this takes A LOT of patience, time, and energy.

3. Don’t assume that you can just *take it back* if you don’t like the animal. It is a commitment. Don’t get me wrong. I do like the shelter rules about bringing back an animal to the place where you adopted it. This should be an option to keep the animal in the hands of people that can care for it, BUT going into the adoption process with that forefront in one’s mind is a recipe for disaster. This just screams *whimsical* and *unstable* to me and the animal is going to be the one that suffers.

4. Research the type of animal that one is adopting. Before you even begin looking at animals, know the type. It is impossible to know everything, but it is best to know what one is getting into - the behaviors and needs of the animal. Maybe offer to animal-sit for another person’s pets (at their own home) or volunteer at a shelter. This can give a person insight into what the animals needs and behaviors are like.

5. This one is a big one for me… MAKE SURE THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANIMAL CARE. Vet bills can be enormous, even in a po-dunk town like my own. However, I’ve seen people get pets without even thinking about this and/or thinking they can ignore it or get around it. Cats and dogs, among other pets, need to be spayed and neutered. This should not be up for debate. Get your cat/dog/whatever spayed or neutered as soon as you can. They need preventative care, usually on an annual basis (shots, parasite care, etc.). Also, there can be expensive issues that suddenly come up as well, like injuries and diseases (congenital or otherwise). Take it from me, I was once a hard-working, yet poor, gal who had to deal with feline FUS issues in my cat. This was not cheap nor simple, but I made it work. I also did not have more animals than I could deal with or afford (a whole other issue).

6. This piggy-backs on #5 - GET YOUR ANIMAL SPAYED/NEUTERED as soon as you can. People often think they can give this time or wait until they have the money… or not worry about it at all if the cat is indoor. Guess what - indoor animals can get out. Cats can procreate like bunnies;) and I’m sure dogs are not far behind them. The Feral Cat Coalition of San Diego states:

A pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period. And the overpopulation problem carries a hefty price tag. Statewide, more than $50 million (largely from taxes) is spent by animal control agencies and shelters for cat-related expenses.

It is simple. Get your animal spayed or neutered. I will reiterate this because it is something that CANNOT be ignored or put on the back-burner. This does not just go for cats. Dogs, too, can reproduce at a high rate and produce more animals that need homes.

I realize there are times when finances are rough. I’ve been there and I realize many people are there right now. For those times, there are free spay/neuter clinics and fairs in many cities and towns and low-cost vet care clinics. Check with your local vets, animal shelters, or animal organizations for information. For Chattanooga and surrounding area folks, also check with New Leash On Life for this type of information.

7. Time and attention is important for any animal. One must make sure that she/he has enough time, patience, and attention for ALL their animals. Know the limits. We have 3 cats and that is pushing it as far as attention goes for us. We love all of them, but we make sure they have enough attention and are not neglected. A neglected animal is a very very sad animal.

I’m going to stop here. I am fully aware there is detailed advice I could give about specifically caring for a pet, but I’m not going to get into this. I think I slightly covered that in general. I really wanted to write a post about what people should think about BEFORE they get an animal. Also, I do not want to discourage anyone from adopting an animal. There are plenty that need good homes. I just want to make sure people are doing it for the most optimum reasons for the animal and themselves.

I also realize there are exceptions. For example, knowledgeable and trained people who take in rescues or strays. I’m not talking about hoarders or people who take in every stray they find and think that is what is best for the animals, but people who have been doing this for a while and have connection to resources, or people who are trained to do it.

There are other important things that I could put on here about not buying from pet stores, pet mills, and generally being knowledgeable about from where you are adopting an animal, but that in itself might have to be another preachy post. Thanks for making it this far.