Are you ready?
Are you ready, really ready?
Are you considering adopting a new pet? Before you do, please read below carefully before making any decisions.
A pet is for life, and once you have adopted one into your family, you are responsible for its happiness and well-being. If you are looking to re-home your pet because you rescued an animal, then these are good guidelines that you can use to figure out if the person interested in adopting your pet is really up to the commitment.
When you have decided you still want to adopt, please use the menu on the left, to see all the animals available for adoption.
If you are serious about looking for a new companion to share your life and home, please read our procedures before you browse through the dogs and cats that are looking for a home. You should also refer to our re-homing disclaimer.
Wrong reasons to adopt
Because you think they are 'cute'
Yes they might be ‘cute’ to begin with, but they will grow up, they get bigger, they need exercise, they need training and they can drain your pockets! Getting a pet because they are cute, is one of the worst reasons to adopt. You should not adopt based on an emotional impulse or even worse, on a whim. Before bringing a pet home, you should ask yourself lots of questions:
- Do you know how to take care of them?
- Do you have time to spend and play?
- Can you afford any unexpected visits to the vet?
- Can you ensure that your pet will live out their life well cared for and happy?
- Can you afford to take them with you when you leave?
Educate yourself on pet responsibility and look at different breeds to sum up the kind of pet that best suits your home and lifestyle. Be honest with yourself because you are responsible for a life when you decide to adopt.
Because you feel sorry for them in the pet shop
Puppies bought here from pet shops almost always come from unknown breeding backgrounds and do not have breeding papers that give assurance that they are free of genetic disorders.
They often become sick and can have abnormal character traits that you won’t notice until they are a lot older. Indiscriminate breeding is a big problem here; unlicensed breeders just breed their animals without care, for personal profit, and definitely NOT to better the breed.
Most breeders here have no qualifications, nor do they understand the importance of proper nutrition when a female is pregnant; or genetic traits that will be passed on.
Because you need a guard dog
You are better off getting an alarm system.
Guard dogs require extensive training, proper socialization and a great deal of exercise. Although some family dogs have a natural instinct to guard and will do so, with no ill effect to a family, real guard dogs are often not appropriate family dogs.
Because you want to surprise someone with a gift
All pets should be considered as family members and not as objects or gifts.
Never, ever buy a pet for someone as a surprise. Giving someone a pet as a surprise when that person is not prepared to take care of a pet, will just end in despair… for the pet. Pets given as gifts are more likely to end up being re-homed or worse euthanised.
Animals are not Accessories!
Pets form a very strong bond with their owners that should not be taken lightly. Many pets show such deep feelings for their owners that they have been known to die of sadness when their owner passes away. Animals are not disposable and should be treated as if they are members of the family and not as an accessory that once out of style can be exchanged or returned.
Right reasons to adopt
When you have a stable home environment
Pets make great companions, and getting a pet can bring so much joy in the house. The love a pet can give you is immense; but adopting a pet also means making a long-term commitment to the animal, even if your own family goes through changes like having to move.
Everyone in your home wants to adopt a pet
Discuss the responsibilities of pet ownership, and the daily tasks involved. Even though parents should always be the main caretakers, children should also learn how to behave around, and care for the pet in their home. It is a great lesson for children to learn how to be good to animals. A lesson they will value for the rest of their lives.
Truly loving an animal means taking care of their emotional needs, not just feeding and petting it once a day.