How To Buy A Pet

Making the decision to bring a pet into your life is a very exciting time. But before rushing out to bring your chosen pet home it is important to slow down, take your time  and really do your homework. I won't take up your time with lectures pet ownership and the responsibilities that come with that, it's been covered elsewhere. But I will attempt to provide you with some pointers to ensure you and your future pet don't fall into the trap many people do.

Depending on the species of animal, you must decide where to obtain the pet from.

Breeders:

There are professional breeders who provide pets for almost all types of domestic pet (cat, dog, fish, rabbit, rat, mouse). These are people who have often devoted years of their lives to breeding their chosen animal. Before I go further though I will add that not all breeders are created equal. Just because they are registered with the appropriate pet councils doesn't mean that some bad breeders don't slip in too. So you must do your homework.

Some breeds of animal can be prone to specific medical issues. For example certain breeds of dog are more likely to suffer hip dysplasia, and therefore it is important the breeder screens for these issues. Once you have decided that you want a certain breed, it is a good idea to look up any possible health problems them are prone to  investigate weather these conditions can be tested for.

I always recommend visiting the breeder's house and seeing the pets in their home environment. Are the conditions clean  and sanitary. Do the animals look well cared for? You may not be a veterinarian but you can still do a basic check over the animal(s) to get a basic idea of their health. Things to look for include;

• Eyes. Should be bright & clear with no discharge.

• Nose. No discharge.

• Eyes. Should be clean, with no discharge.

• Coat: The coat should look and feel healthy. It should not feel or look dirty which could be a sign the mother isn't looking after her baby properly. There should be no sign of parasites such as fleas.

• Belly: Should be plump but not too thin or round. A pot belly can be an indication of worms.

• Nature: This is important. Is the animal confident and friendly? Does it interact well with it's siblings and you?

Questions to ask the breeder.

• Does the animal come with a health guarantee?

• What's included? Desexing, microchipping, vaccinations etc?

• Do you offer support after I've taken the animal home?

• Have the appropriate medical tests been done? Hip scores etc?

Shelters:

A great option to consider is the shelter. Every year tens of thousands of animals find their way to shelters and sadly many of them are euthanised because there just aren't enough homes for them. Both purebred  mixed breed animals are at shelters although the purebreds do tend to find homes quicker.

This is also a cost effective way to adopt an animal. Cats and dogs will leave desexed (spayed/neutered), microchipped, vaccinated, de-wormed  and flea treated.

Again, it is important to check the animal over for signs of ill health.

Pet shops:

Many people assume that a pet shop is the natural place to buy a pet from. This may have been so in the past but it's generally not accepted as a great place to obtain a pet. You won't know the history of the parents, generally won't get follow up support & can often pay considerably more than you would have had you gone to a breeder or shelter.

Classifieds:

Either online or in your local paper. Many people assume that a pet who is free to good home is the cheapest option. This is not always the case, especially with younger animals. Remember you may not be paying for the animal but you will have to pay to have it desexed, microchipped, vaccinated etc. This can often end up costing considerably more than had you purchased the animal from a breeder or shelter.

Online:

There are many fantastic sites that allow people to advertise pets for sale or rehome. This can be a great place to start. Many shelters advertise pets who are up for adoption and if buying a purebred, you can often visit the breeder's website  have a look at their animals. Be aware though, a fancy website doesn't say anything about the quality of the breeder. Many people have fallen into that trap. It is still vital that you visit the home & assess the environment and the animals yourself.

Pet products:

Before you bring your pet home, it is a good idea to buy any products the pet will need such as pet bowls, beds, bedding, food etc.