Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

Pets are great companions to have; they can give relief when someone’s day was stressful, or just provide company when someone is alone. While pets can be a wonderful addition to life, it’s important to remember that they need to be loved and cared for, just like any living thing.

If adopting a pet is crossing someone’s mind, it’s vital that they think about whether or not they can dedicate one-on-one time with their pet. It can get lonely if an animal is locked up inside a living space all day, and if someone’s schedule is very busy, they might not be able to give their pets the healthy amount of affection they need, not to mention the fact that they will need to remember to feed their pet routinely. 

It takes time for a pet to adjust to a new home and new owner, so pet owners need to be patient with adjusting to a new life. When an owner can’t dedicate time to making a pet feel comfortable and unafraid in an unfamiliar environment, the adjustment process can become difficult for both of them.

Pets also aren’t cheap; the owner will have to pay for food, accessories like a collar or leash, a bed and various other things. In addition, pets can come with vet bills, whether it’s for a regular checkup or for an instance where the animal gets sick. If someone’s finances aren’t the greatest, it would be good to assess whether or not a pet is affordable in general. 

These are all things to keep in mind, however they aren’t concrete — some pets are cheaper and easier to take care of, others adjust to a new life more quickly and can be alone for extended periods of time with ease. That being said, this doesn’t apply to every single pet, so it’s important to keep these factors prominent in one’s thoughts if this is the path they want to take.

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Emily Hedges

Photo courtesy of Sage Kiernan-Sherrow