Think Before You Buy

The one thing I wish would happen more in my field is giving information to potential pet owners BEFORE they buy a pet. Here are my tips if you are thinking about buying a dog:

1. DO RESEARCH! The best thing to do is research. There are certain breeds that you may love the look of but unfortunately do not fit your life style. If you are a couch potato, please stay away from terriers and/or hunting dogs. Make sure the animal you are bringing into  your life and accepting responsibility for will fit your family. Ask questions about their energy level, grooming, acceptance of new people/pets, intelligence, etc. The other thing to be aware of is that pure bred dogs, although lovely to look at, will cost you A LOT MORE $$$ in vet bills. Most of these are inbred and have several genetic predispositions. If your heart is set on a certain breed and they fit your life style, then I recommend doing your do-diligence by researching the breeder. Make sure they are reputable. Look up their reviews. Ask for lineage information. Or call a veterinarian and see if they will help you.

2. SHELTER/RESCUE. Please consider adopting from a shelter and/or rescue organization. Most of these pets will be a mixture of breeds,,which make them the healthiest (they have the least amount of genetic problems!). Most shelters have limits on the amount of animals they can care for, so you really will save a life as well...bonus! :)

3. NEVER BUY FROM A PET STORE. A lot of people do not realize what they are getting when they buy from a pet store. Most pet stores obtain their animals through puppy mill-like situations. They often have severe health issues and more times then not becomes a nightmare for new owners. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have had to be the shoulder for tears for these owners. My heart goes out to them, because they never realized they were purchasing a sick puppy. Warning, you will fall in love on day one!

4. COST. Call and price out different veterinarian offices so you know approximately how much you will pay the first year of ownership. Puppies and kittens need a series of vaccines (similar to human babies), rounds of fecal testing, deworming, heartworm and flea preventatives and will eventually need to be spayed or neutered. These costs add up over time, so be prepared.

5. INSURANCE. Please consider purchasing insurance when you purchase a puppy/kitten. Veterinarian bills unfortunately can get costly with disease processes and accidents. In my personal experience, I have been able to properly diagnose/treat animals instead of euthanizing because people have insurance.

I hope this helps you. Let me know what questions you have regarding this information and I will be more than happy to answer!!