Tip Diva has had many animals over her lifetime, including fish, cats, dogs, gerbils and prairie dogs. Having a pet brings a lot of love and fun into your life, but also brings a lot of responsibility. Before buying or adopting a pet, there are many factors you should consider and steps you should take:

• Determine Your Situation - Think about your lifestyle, where you live, who you live with, your budget and your personality, and check that all are suitable for owning a pet. For instance, if you work a 50-hour-per-week job in Manhattan and live in a small apartment, a dog may not be your best option. If you’re someone who gets grossed out at pet excrement, scooping a cat litter box may not be for you. Some pets may not do well with children. And do you have enough money to support food, vet bills and the pet’s quality of life?
• Research The Pet - Go to your local library and take out books on the pet you’re considering. Google the animal Make sure you know what kind of environment, training, companionship and care the animal needs. And make sure you’re ready to give the pet everything it needs. When you do your research, make sure you go as deep into the breed as possible. For instance, border terriers and German shepherds are both dogs, but they both have different needs.
• Consider Your Other Pets - If you already own pets, make sure that they would be able to handle a new pet, whether it’s the same type of animal or not. For instance, some dogs may not get along with other dogs, or some may not do well with cats.
• Ask Pet Owners - If you want to get a certain pet, ask someone who already has the pet about what sort of care and responsibility goes into owning one. You can also check Craigslist’s pet discussion board or various other online bulletin boards aimed at pet owners.
• Get Some Experience - If you can, pet-sit for a friend or family member’s pet for a week before buying your own. This is one of the best ways to learn a pet’s needs and quirks, as well as whether you can really handle owning a pet.
• Have Pet Resources - Make sure you have what a pet needs before purchasing or adopting one. Is there a vet nearby? An animal hospital? Space for the animal to live comfortably? Make sure your home is pet-proof and pet-ready before adoption.
• Understand Your Adoption Options - You can buy from a breeder, a pet store, from a friend or from Tip Diva’s preferred method, a shelter. Just make sure you research wherever you’re going to get your animal from. Make sure you’re not purchasing an animal from a puppy mill or from a source where the animal may be sick, malnourished or have some sort of defect you’re not immediately aware of. That’s not to say you shouldn’t consider animals that have problems, like a missing leg or damaged eye, but make sure you get them from a source that took care of them beforehand and can communicate that care to you. For more on adopting a pet, visit Pedigree’s adoption drive website. Although the website is about dogs, a lot of the advice is applicable to adopting other animals, as well.
• Be Ready Before The Pet Arrives - You don’t want to bring home a hamster in the pet store-supplied cardboard carrier and put together the Habitrail while the poor animal is going crazy in the uncomfortable, limited-light box. Have all supplies, litter boxes, food and toys in place before the animal arrives.
• Give The Pet Time To Adapt - When you bring a new animal at home, don’t expect it to be crawling on your lap for kisses or be ready to play fetch. Give the animal time to adapt to its new environment and give it space. If you have other pets, make sure to separate them if need be. It may take a few hours or even a few days, but don’t worry - he or she will come around.
• Give Yourself Time To Adapt - The animal isn’t the only one that has to get used to a new environment. You, too, will have to get used to a new companion in your life. Both your schedule and lifestyle will need to be readjusted to handle the pet, and this will take time getting used to. Don’t give up on the pet easily, especially if it still has a lot to learn. Have patience, treat it with kindness and love and everything will soon fall into place.

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