3 Important Steps Before Bringing Home A New Pet

Do you have a child who has been asking you for a pet? Are you considering giving in and allowing him or her to get a cat or a dog? Having a pet can be a great learning experience for any child. Not only can the animal provide companionship, it can also teach various aspects of responsibility and caring. But before you go out in search of the perfect furry friend for your family, there are some things that you should take care of first. These include:

Clean up: Even though you may have a home that is perfectly tidy, this doesn't mean that it's not potentially hazardous for a cat or a dog. This is especially true if you're getting a puppy or a kitten instead of a grown animal. Even if you get many toys and treats, a young pet will often explore a new environment by chewing on random objects. In order to prevent sickness or injury, it's important to try to get as many potentially hazardous items up out of the way as possible before the pet arrives at your home. Failure to do this could mean having to rush to the vet clinic in the middle of the night due to sickness or injury.

Locate a vet: Whether you take the advice of friends and relatives or you search for one on your own, it's important to find a veterinarian that you can trust. Even if you get everything hazardous out of reach of your new pet, he or she could still become sick or injured in a number of ways. Because they won't do this on a set schedule, it's also important to find a vet clinic that will be able to see you at any time of day. Many people have one vet clinic that they use for checkups and normal vet visits but also keep an emergency clinic's info handy just in case it's needed.

Get accessories:  Once you've located a vet clinic to use, it's time to go out and buy some things for your child's new 4-legged friend. While you should hold off on buying a lot of toys until you know the pet's personality and you'll want to start off by buying the same food that they've already been eating, there are still a few things that you should get right away. These include a pet bed, food & water dishes, and a toy or two to see what the pet likes. Once the pet has settled into your home and you know its personality, you'll be better able to tell what else it may need.