Pet adoption is one of the most rewarding and lasting experiences for most people. Opening your home to a new pet can provide years of enjoyment and fun. By taking the time to determine the best fit for your home and environment, you’ll save yourself time and energy by picking the wrong pet.
Research consistently shows that people who own pets tend to be healthier and happier than those who don’t share their homes with pets. One of the best ways to bring a pet into your home is going online and finding pets for adoption.
Many people find pet adoption to be an incredibly rewarding experience — one that changes their lives. People doing a web search for “pet adoption near me” often find an amazing assortment of adoptable pets to choose from — and when you adopt a pet, you’re not only changing the life of your pet, but you’re changing your life, as well.
Benefits of having a pet
There are numerous reasons to consider pets for adoption, not least of which are the health benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have pets tend to have decreased blood pressure, as well as decreased cholesterol levels and decreased feelings of loneliness. In addition, people who adopt a pet have an increased likelihood of becoming more social and more outgoing. Coming home after a hard day and finding a pet ready to greet you has been shown to elevate an individual’s mood, reducing stress and flooding the body with endorphins.
Finding the right pet
Of course, when you go about searching for “pet adoption near me,” you’re going to find yourself having to consider a wide variety of issues, according to the American Veterinary Medicine Association. If you’re someone who likes to get out of the house, having a dog is an excellent option. If you pet adoption steers you towards someone in the canine family, you’ll be able to take walks with your new pet, which increases the likelihood of you socializing with people.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes to stay at home, when it comes to pets for adoption, you might want to consider a pet that’s a little more independent — such as a cat. Cats can be incredibly loving and loyal and many of them are completely content to stay indoors around the clock (which is definitely a benefit when the outside weather isn’t great).
Some of the other pets for adoption are birds. Before getting a bird, it’s always best to do research into the different types available. When you adopt a pet like a parrot, it will require more maintenance than adopting a pet like a parakeet, since parrots tend to bond very strongly with their caretakers and want to spend a great deal of time with them.
For individuals who simply desire something different when it comes to pet adoption, there is always the option of bringing fish into your home. On the one hand, fish sometimes require a little bit of upkeep (and some of them are very high maintenance) but anyone who has sat in front of a tank filled with beautiful fish will tell you that each individual fish has a unique personality and often can even identify when their owners enter the room. While many people don’t consider fish when thinking about pets for adoption, fish can be a beautiful addition to any home.
Environment
Before looking into pet adoption, it’s always a good idea to check with local ordinances and any terms or conditions in rental agreements. While some landlords will allow tenants to have dogs, some are very strict about cats — and vice versa. In some cases, landlords may also require an additional pet deposit from their tenants.
Rescue groups
When someone is looking for a particular breed, one avenue is to seek out a rescue group for the breed. Rescue groups usually have foster homes for pets looking to be adopted, which means the pet has had some socialization. Most rescue groups also have very strict guidelines when it comes to taking in an animal and usually have detailed background information they can provide to anyone looking to adopt the pet. Pet adoption through rescue groups usually requires filling out questionnaires about your household in order to make sure it will be a good fit.
Children
Children love pets but not all pets are fond of children. It’s always a good idea to make sure to choose an age-appropriate pet when looking into pet adoption. Very young children might not do well with a large energetic dog or with a cat that isn’t very sociable. Choosing the right pet when children are involved is also a great way to begin to teach the responsibilities of caring for a living creature.
Older pets
When looking into pet adoption, a great alternative are pets that are no longer in their “baby” years. They are usually more housebroken or litterbox trained and tend to be less active, which is ideal for certain individuals. Adopting a pet that’s older can be one of the more rewarding experiences and people with older pets often will state that every pet they adopt will always be an “older” pet.
Do research
Instead of just reacting to the first posting seen when searching for “pet adoption near me,” it’s always a great idea to take some time to consider the decision. There are many animals looking for adoption and exercising a little patience can often lead to finding the best fit for everyone involved.
Adopting a pet can be the start to a lasting relationship that can improve your mental and physical health and can provide countless hours of love and enjoyment to any household. By doing some research and by taking time before making your decision, you’ll be well on your way to bringing home to a new addition to your family.
