If you read my blog on a regular basis you are more than familiar with our “mini zoo,” with could consist of our five cats, dog and Goldfish.
I love our pets. They are very much a part of our family. I cannot imagine a life without them.
The last new family member we adopted was our foster kitten Bella. She’s the one with a variety of health issues. To this day I feel in my heart she was meant to be with us. Had someone else adopted her she might have been put down due to her health issues, or end up living out her life in a cage because she would be considered “un-adoptable” due to her health issues.
If you follow me on Instagram you’ll see plenty of pictures of Bella (she’s the black and white cat). Needless to say I think she has a wonderful life with us. Sure, her vet visits and medications are astronomical, but we love her (and all our pets) and will do anything we can to keep them all happy and healthy.
It’s always exciting to add a new member to your family whether it’s a furry friend like a dog or a cat, or one not so fluffy like a fish or reptile. I adore my fish and care about him but it’s not the same as having a dog or cat (puppy or kitten) who will cuddle up with you, play with you and provide you with many hours of “fuzz therapy.” Fuzz Therapy is how stroking a pet or playing with a pet can make any bad day a lot better. It’s hard to be in a grumpy or sad mood when you are interacting with a pet.
Summertime is a great time to introduce a new pet to your family. Children are home from school which means they can be more “hands on” when it comes to training a pet and acclimating a pet to a new home. Parents are also able to take vacation time to help get a pet adjusted too.
If you have ever potty trained a puppy you know that they have to go out at all hours of the day and night. I still remember taking our dog Espn out at 2 or 3 in the morning to do his business while he was learning to do his business outside. We did it during the winter months and let me tell you it was cold! In hinesight the spring/summer months would have been better. We were not planning on adopting a puppy when we did. It just happened.
Another great reason to adopt a pet in the summer months is that you can spend plenty of time outside playing with you pet. You don’t have to worry about your little furry friend getting cold.
On the flip side there can be some dangers during the summer months which you would need to teach you pet about. Take for example the swimming pool. Don’t assume your pet will know how to swim should they accidentally fall into the pool. A puppy might be able to doggie paddle but they might not be able to figure out how to get out of the pool. You’ll need to teach your pup how to get out of the pool.
Another concern would be poisonous plants. Make sure your yard is free from plants and flowers that could be poisonous to a cat or dog if ingested. Lilies, Tulips, Azaleas, Oleander, Chrysanthemum and English Ivy are just a few plants/flowers you might have in your yard that can be toxic (and deadly) to your pet if ingested. As a pet parent you need to be diligent to make sure your pet doesn’t have access to these plants/flowers and/or teach them not to chew on them or eat them.
These are just a few tips for new pet parents. You can find additional tips and resources on a special page PetSmart has on their website. You can find those tips and resources HERE.
For more information about PetSmart or to find a location near you visit PetSmart.com. You can also find the brand on social media (all the links are found on their website).
To see what others have to say, or if you would like to share your tips and experiences, use the hashtag #NewPetPartner.
Having a pet is a wonderful experience. I truly believe that pets can add more value to our lives. For me they are also a source of happiness and love.
Do you remember when you adopted you pet/pets?
Are you considering adopting a pet?
What other tips would you like to share with readers?
Kimberly
*I have partnered with PetSmart to bring you this information. Although compensated (gift card, goodies), the opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Betsy Barnes says
Your pets are adorable! At one point, we had four dogs and three cats. We used to joke it was like the United Nations at meal time, lol! 🙂