If your family has experienced the loss of a pet, or if your pet is getting older, one thing that often comes to mind is whether or not you are ready for another pet. Should we wait or get a new pet right away? Should we wait until the older pet dies and first have a pet memorial for the kids? Would getting a new dog traumatize the older pet? Should we buy or adopt a pet?

The most important thing to do is to access your situation. Often times, when one pet is getting old, it’s a good idea to go ahead and introduce a new pet. It may even help the older pet live longer.

It is often easier to introduce two pets when they are young, but with a little know-how, it is possible to introduce a new pet to your old one. If you have plenty of love for both of them and a lot of patience, you can do it.

You must first be sure that your new pet is disease-free and up-to-date on its shots because you don’t want your older pet to get sick. Make sure both pets are neutered, and that you’ll be able to afford your new pet. Here’s a chart for the average first year of expenses for pets:

A small dog is $780; a large dog is $1,500; a cat is $640, a rabbit is $885 and a small bird is around $185.

Adopting a pet is the best thing people can do nowadays, because there are so many. There is a viral email petition going around concerning the Obama family dog, asking Senator Obama and his family to adopt their first dog. He promised children they could get a dog no matter whether he wins the election or not.

Over four million unwanted pets are in the United States, many of which are up for adoption. Sadly, seven million dogs and cats are killed each year due to overpopulation. Did you know that 20 to 30 percent of the dogs up for adoption in shelters are purebreds? The other 70 to 75 percent are most often mixed breed animals.

In order to adopt a pet, you might want to start by visiting www.petfinder.com, a site that lists many shelters across the US. You can also search for specific breeds or breed mixes. Also just be aware that if all dogs on a particular shelter’s website are described the same way (sweet, loving, friendly, etc.) then that shelter probably doesn’t know the individual dogs’ personalities so you may want to avoid the shelter.

Be sure to contact the shelters in your area and ask about their return policy. Good shelters will accept any dog or cat they have adopted out in the past as a return during any time in his life. Check out the adoption procedures, so you can visit with your new pet outside of the shelter kennel. Good shelters also don’t promote dogs who have a prior history of bad tempers.

Always avoid any preconceptions about what kind of pet including its age, breed, color, sex or size - and be prepared to have an open mind.

Once you have chosen your new pet, the best way to introduce new pets in your family is to put the new pet in his or her own room for a week before allowing the younger pet to be around it. Spend plenty of time with each pet. Let the new pet out of its room, and let the older pet goes in the room where the new pet was staying, so it can get used to the new pet’s smell without being intimidated.

Be very loving to both pets and always respect them. Then let them see one another but do not allow any physical contact. Or you could separate the animals with a child gate. If you hear some hissing or growling, know that this is normal. Once they seem to be used to seeing one another, let them get together, but make sure that someone supervises them. Provide treats to each animal and feed them in separate bowls at opposite sides of the room so they won’t fight for the food. This should be done at the same time every day until the animals become used to the routine. Over time, move the dishes closer together - slowly. If either animal shows signs of aggression, move their dishes back to the original starting point. Wait a few more days and move the pans closer once again.

Never let your animals be together unsupervised until they are completely comfortable with one another, to avoid fights. This process may take anywhere from one to six weeks. However if done right, in the end, you will have a calm family and happy pets.

And as sad as it may be, when an older pet dies, make sure that you have planned for a pet memorial. Let your children help choose a pet urn for cremation, or a pet casket for their pet’s burial, along with a memorial keepsake box for photos. This along with adopting another pet, can help children through sad times.[ad#ad-1]

Popularity: 93% [?]

Cats can make wonderful pets, but before you go ahead with cat adoption, there are a number of important things to think about. A lot of people who haven’t owned cats think they’re very independent and need much less care than other pets. This definitely isn’t the case. Here are 10 important questions to ask yourself before you adopt a cat.

1. Can you afford it?
Food, treats, toys, scratching post, bedding, litter boxes, litter, flea treatment, worming tablets, vaccinations, visits to the vet, pet insurance, cattery costs… it all adds up, and it’s not cheap.

2. Are you around enough?
Your cat needs regular, fresh meals and a constant supply of fresh drinking water.

3. Are you able to give your cat attention every day?
Cats need lots of human companionship. It’s not fair on a cat to leave him alone for long, frequent periods. Most cats are OK to be left alone while their owners are out at work during the day, as long as they get attention in the evening.

4. Are you willing to put up with some damage to your home?
A home with a cat is unlikely to survive completely unscathed. Your furniture may get scratched, your cat may do the odd pee or poop on the carpet, he may throw up on the sofa…

5. Do you have a safe area where your cat can play?
Your cat will need a safe area to exercise in (whether that’s indoors or outdoors). If it’s outdoors, it needs to be well away from busy traffic etc.

6. Is your home environment suitable?
If you have a dog or young kids, for example, you’ll need to ensure the cat you adopt is able to cope with them. Also, are there any areas in your home that would be unsafe for a cat (a workshop in the garage for example), and if so do you have a way of keeping the cat out of there?

7. Do you have enough time?
Cats need playing with every day. Long haired cats need grooming every day, short haired cats once every few days.

8. Are you OK with cleaning the litter box?
You’ll need to scoop out the box at least once every day and clean it out completely once a week.

9. Are you able to care for your cat if he gets sick?
This may mean taking some days off work, staying up with your cat overnight, giving him medication, cleaning his eyes, ears, nose etc.

10. Are you prepared for the commitment?
Lots of cats are now living into their late teens and even early 20s. If you’re 25 and single now, there’s a good chance your cat will still be alive when you’re 40 and married with kids.

If you are able to provide the right environment and enough time and commitment, cat adoption will likely be one of the most rewarding and pleasurable things you ever do.

Popularity: 94% [?]

Shelters also have healthy animals and they are not expensive. Adoption counselors in the shelter help owners in arriving at a decision on pets. Shelter adoption fees are usually much less than purchasing a pet at a store or breeder. And your new pet is more likely to be vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed or neutered. Shelter pets are a bargain. For an pet adoption fee between $60 and $100, you can adopt an animal that would cost several hundred dollars through other means.

Animal shelters and pet adoption centers do their best to accommodate dog rescues, and look forward to all dog adoptions. Every time a dog is adopted, one more dog is saved from possible euthanasia. Animal Control adoption regulations require that all currently owned pets be up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and animal licensing. Landlord approval is needed for tenants of rental properties. Animal lovers that we are, we knew that there must be a better way! In the beginning, we had a very small adoption fee, very few requirements for adopting, and our pets had virtually no vet care prior to adoption.

Pet adoption can be an informal or formal arrangement. Some owners will post adverts about pets to a good home, where by they just pass on responsibility to someone else, creating an informal adoption process. Pet adoption should always be something that people should consider when looking for a new pet. A quick look around the numerous animal shelters will uncover dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, in fact any animal that you can think. Pet adoption allows you to legally own a dog in an easy manner. Lots of wonderful, beautiful puppies and dogs are wanting of deserving pet owners to adopt them and give them a home to enjoy.

Shelter pets are a bargain. For an pet adoption fee between $60 and $100, you can adopt an animal that would cost several hundred dollars through other means. Shelters and rescue organizations agree that black cats are the last ones chosen from any litter. We can’t understand it - they are shiny, sleek awesome companions! Shelters also have healthy animals and they are not expensive. Adoption counselors in the shelter help owners in arriving at a decision on pets.

Rescue groups are also a good source for information about a specific breed and can give you information about reputable breeders if you desire. Rescues are very careful to make sure their adoptable dogs and cats go to the right homes. Each organization has its own application and screening process for potential adopters.

Popularity: 81% [?]