How to adopt a pet: 7 steps you must follow

A pet is defined as a domesticated animal kept for the purpose of companionship or for the enjoyment of the caregiver. Thus, these living beings do not report benefits at the level of scientific knowledge, money or physical labor: their only The reason for adoption is to improve the existence of the tutors, either through observation, interaction or mere commitment emotional. And improve the existence of the animal, of course.

When we think of pets, the first that come to mind are dogs, but, of course, they are not the only companion animals. Without going any further, freshwater fish represent the podium of domestic animals in the United States, since more than 95.5 million specimens are found in the homes of this country. They are followed by cats, with more than 85.5 million and, after them, dogs, with 77.8 million.

Beyond large vertebrates, birds, lagomorphs, rodents, reptiles, amphibians and even invertebrates are gaining more and more ground in the world of companion animals. Terrariofilia spreads more and more with the world, following a clear rule: if an animal can be reproduce in captivity and does not harm the health of any of the parties, it is possible to keep it as mascot.

Here are the steps you must follow to adopt a pet, whatever the order. Remember that all living beings deserve respect and a dignified life.

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What are the steps you should take before adopting a pet?

Certain guardians choose to walk into a store and purchase an animal blindly: this is how most tragic stories for animals begin. You should be aware that many salespeople will tell you what you want to hear, regardless of the long-term welfare of the living being. Thus, adopting a pet is a procedure that requires extensive preparation. Follow these tips before taking over a life.

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1. Find out about the care of the animal

Finding out about the environmental requirements of the living being to be adopted is essential in all cases., but especially in ectotherms that are not capable of generating their own metabolic heat. Reptiles, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates are completely dependent on temperature and other parameters to survive, so you should get a well-equipped terrarium / aquarium that perfectly mimics the ecosystem from which come from.

Although it may not seem like it, this step must also be fulfilled in mammals and birds. For example, did you know that a chinchilla presents serious risks of suffering from heat stroke if the ambient temperature is higher than 27 degrees? If you live in an especially hot area in the summer, just don't buy a specimen of this species and look for another viable option. You must make sure that you can give the animal physical parameters that adjust to its physiological needs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

2. The golden questions before adopting an animal

Here are a series of Questions you should always ask yourself before adopting a pet. Those of us who have worked in conservation are tired of seeing invasive red-eared turtles released in the nature by irresponsible guardians who, if these questions had been raised, would not have incurred these crimes.

2.1 Do I have the appropriate infrastructure?

With each animal, a series of species- and taxon-specific complications arise. For example, many water turtles get huge, some cats destroy furniture, freshwater fish can have young in a short time and dogs may require large spaces within the home to move around correctly.

Ask yourself if you have enough space to house the animal at all stages of its life. No, fish do not grow based on the size of the tank, and turtles do not stay small if the ambient temperature is reduced. An animal will grow yes or yes, because it is in its genetic imprint.

2. 2 Do I have enough money?

Both exotic and common animals require a significant monetary investment in the beginning, but later it seems that certain tutors forget that the flow of money that a pet supposes is continuous.

For example, in countries like Spain it is estimated that having a dog costs more than 1,200 euros per year. Other animals may be cheaper to keep, but if their health is complicated, veterinary intervention always means a not inconsiderable figure of money.

2. 3 Is my routine stable?

Some animals, such as hamsters, accompany their guardians for 2-3 years, while a tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) reaches a maximum life expectancy of 150 years. Of course, based on lifespan of the animal, the commitment is greater or less.

You should ask yourself if you are going to travel in the future, how long the animal is going to live or if you want to change your place of residence at some point. Pets that are legal in one country may not be legal in others, so it is best that you adopt a living being when you are in a stable moment of your life and without major changes.

2. 4 Am I aware of the legality of the animal?

The keeping of animals is a changing concept, as species are continuously classified as potentially invasive and others are included in protected lists, for example. If before having a bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) was legal, now it is punishable by law, as it is a dangerous species for the native fauna of many countries.

This is especially suitable for exotic animal guardians: Legislation is increasingly changing, so find out from the relevant entities what permits you need to adopt according to which living beings before getting into trouble.

3. The moment of adoption

In these last lines, we are going to focus on the adoption of cats and dogs, since acquiring an exotic animal in a center with an approved zoological nucleus is as easy as buying it and, at most, signing a couple of documents that certify you as guardian of the animal (except potentially dangerous animals and protected). With birds and fish everything is easier, since most common species can be purchased without a document or signature.

Anyway, If you go to a shelter looking for a dog or a cat, you should keep the following points in mind, well they are going to ask you:

• Be of age: this must be proven by your ID or identification document used in your country.
• Proof of address: those who are going to grant you the animal must be sure that it will have a fixed and unalterable home in the short term.
• Adoption contract: you must sign a legal adoption contract that accredits you as the guardian of the animal, with all that this entails.

The association is in all the right of the world to deny the possession of the animal to the potential guardian if this does not consider that the individual will be able to fulfill the requirements of her.

4. You should know that abandonment is punishable by law

The abandonment of animals is a social scourge that is difficult to combat today without legal restrictions. In the United States, about 3.3 million dogs are brought to shelters each year, and the end is not always happy. According to the ASPCA association, approximately 1.5 million animals that live in shelters end up being euthanized each year, because nobody wants to adopt them.

Due to these discouraging figures, other organizations estimate that 25% of the world's dogs live in neglect, or what is the same, 131 million copies. Before adopting a pet, you should know that abandoning it is a legal crime, and a completely immoral and deplorable practice.

Beyond subjective human conceptions, ecosystems can also suffer the effects of abandonment: many exotic species can become a pest if released into the environment. Gambusia fish, red-eared turtles (Trachemys scripta), giant African snails (Achatina fulica) and parrots Argentines (Myiopsitta monachus) are clear examples of this, since they have already caused real plagues in many regions where they were not endemic.

Summary: responsible tenure is the key

Adopting a pet is a process that requires long and slow reflection. If we want you to keep a central idea after reading all these lines, this is the following: ask yourself the golden questions listed in section 2. If any of your answers is "can" or "maybe," drop the idea immediately. Better to prevent and stay with the desire than to see you with a giant animal in a small home, or worse.

We know that these lines may sound "cutting", but the reality is that having a pet is one of the best experiences you can have. For this reason, it is better to sin outright, since the life of a living being is not a game and must be experienced in the way it deserves.