CAPITAL HUMANE SOCIETY
2320
Is This The Best Time To Adopt A Pet?
Copyright
Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the
Pets
add fun, companionship and love to our lives, but they’re also a big responsibility.
Choosing to add a pet to your family is a very important decision. Sometimes,
adopting a pet may be too much added responsibility if you’re experiencing
other life-changes at the same time. Take this quiz to assess what's happening
in your life now, and in the near future, to help you decide if this is the
best time to adopt a pet. Check the following events that have either occurred
in your life in the past six months, or that you think may occur in the coming
six months:
·
Divorce or end of a relationship
·
Marriage
·
Change in living arrangements (new
roommates or moving in with significant other)
·
Move to a new residence
·
Pregnancy or new baby
·
Longer hours or increased responsibility
at work
·
Financial concerns
·
Children leaving home or moving back
home
·
Care-taking responsibilities for elderly
or ill family member
·
Significant changes in family routine
·
Death of a family member
·
Death or disappearance of a family pet
·
Relinquishment of a pet (given away or
brought to an animal shelter)
·
Significant health problems of a family
member
·
Change in working status of a family
member (begins work, changes jobs or retires)
·
Frequent travel, either for business or
pleasure
·
Limited leisure or free time
·
Graduation from high school or college
·
Disagreement among family members about
adopting a pet
Add
one point for every pet you currently have (one aquarium counts as one pet).
Scoring
0-3:
Your life seems fairly stable. Now is
probably a reasonable time to acquire a pet.
4-6:
You have a lot of responsibilities right
now. Although adopting a pet may still work for you, a small mammal, an adult
cat, or well-trained, adult dog would probably be more appropriate than a
kitten, a puppy or an active breed of dog.
7-10:
Let's think twice about this. With all
the changes and responsibilities in your life right now, you may not have time
to care for a new pet. It would probably be better for both you and the pet if
you wait until your life settles down a bit.
10+: STOP! DON’T PASS GO! Acquiring a pet now is not a wise decision. Why not consider a pet rock or a “computer-pet” instead?