Could a pet be right for you?

As much as we love our pets, they’re not a good fit for everyone. If you’re thinking of getting one, take time to research the topic so you can select the type of pet that best suits your needs and lifestyle.

Among the factors that could play into your decision:

• Do you live in an apartment or a house? This could determine the size of the pet best suited to your home.
• What’s your lifestyle? Are you home enough to care for a pet?
• Who do you live with? Small children or an elderly relative could be knocked over by a large dog.
• Do you travel a lot? If so, consider a pet that can be left alone for long periods or easily looked after by a friend or neighbor. Fish or a reptile may be more suitable than a dog or cat.
• How much shedding can you tolerate?

When choosing a pet, be honest with yourself about the lifestyle you’d like to keep and the kind of pet you’d like to care for. Ideally, your commitment to a new pet is for the duration of their life. The average life expectancy of an indoor cat is 13 to 17 years — some can live as long as 20 years. The average life expectancy of a dog is between 8 to 15 years.

If it turns out that pet ownership isn’t in your immediate future, volunteering could be a wonderful answer. Shelters and humane organizations have a never-ending need for volunteers to help with socialization, feeding kittens and puppies, petting and cuddling, and helping with the foster and adoption processes. In fact, volunteers are usually an integral part of these organizations and help them to do what they do.