Consult your entire household.
Everyone that has to live with the pet should be in agreement about adopting it. If you are adopting it for your children are you willing to care for the animal should your children lose interest.

Consider Your Lifestyle
Do you travel a lot or work most of the day? Do you have young children or other pets that may not interact well with a new pet? Is an energetic puppy that needs to be housebroken, prone to chewing everything, and in need of obedience training right for you? Would the reduced time demands of adult animal fit better with your lifestyle? Is your lifestyle likely to change in a few years, examples: marriage, off to college? 

Evaluate Living Accommodations.
Many rental places do not allow pets or restrict what type of pet you can have. Do you anticipate a move in a near future. If you own, your home, does your Home Owners Association and your CC&R's restrict the size and type of pets that can be in your home or on common area property?

Not everyone can live with a Pet .
Is anyone in your household allergic to pets? Is anyone in the house fearful of that type of pet?.

Time Management.
Do you have the time to train, socialize and offer companionship to that animal? Do you have time to feed, clean up after, groom, exercise, and play with your pet?. Does your employment require you to travel occasionally or work very long days? Even adults need multiple sessions of fifteen minutes of time for feeding, playing, training, exercise and being with you..

Budget expenses for your pet.
Do you have the necessary money to pay for food, toys,, bowls, collars, cages, obedience lessons, kitty litter and other required expenses. Do you have the money to pay for visits to the veterinarian, including vaccinations, annual checkups, dental cleaning.

Do you have room for your dog or can you keep the cat indoors?.
Do you have appropriate space for the type of pet you are considering? Are you looking to adopt a large energetic dog to live in your studio apartment? Do you have the ability to keep small dogs and cats inside to protect them from, coyotes, car fans, truck tires, diseases spread by rodents, fleas and mosquitoes?

Troubleshooting 101.
Are you prepared to deal with problems that may arise from pet ownership. Chewed or scratched furniture, flea infestations, accidents on the good carpet, behavior problems, etc……?

Prepare for a lifetime commitment.
Are you prepared to make a commitment to that pet for its entire lifetime? They don’t remain cute, adorable puppies and kittens forever. Are you prepared to make the commitment to be a responsible per owner for the next 10-15 years for a dog or 15-25 for a cat?

Links To Other South Orange County Shelters And Rescue Groups

(949) 240-1735
PO Box 1089
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
info@capoanimalrescue.com

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