Are We Ready for a Pet?

I know that this question is one given serious consideration by many parents with young children.  The rewards of sharing your heart and home with a pet are innumerable and there are so many homeless pets who are deserving of such a loving home.  However, committing to a pet is not a decision entered into lightly and there are so many variables which can arise to affect the success or failure of your adoption.  I have a very dear friend who had, with her family, adopted a rambunctious dog from another family.  They felt sure that they could provide the exercise, discipline and affection required to rehabilitate this high energy dog into someone who could peacefully share a family home.  They have questioned their choice many times.  Their life situations changed and the challenges left them with less time and energy for this dog "project" than they had foreseen.  The dog's behavior grew worse causing them to discuss the possibility of re-homing the dog.  The impression that this action would make on their 6 year old son left the couple fraught with worry about everyone concerned, most especially the dog, who really was a sweetheart.

We must also consider whether or not we can provide a safe and nurturing home for a pet.  The tiny little playthings that children tend to leave around that might be ingested, the food that falls to the floor and may adversely affect the pet's digestive health, the rough handling that animals often receive at the hands of a too-young-to-understand child are dangers to the animal, both psychologically and physically.  Now the family may be in a position where the children must be so carefully watched that they not harm the pet and the house must be left so immaculate that no one can enjoy themselves and this much-anticipated family member has become a source of stress and bother, rather than joy.  If only there were a way to be sure that a family was ready for this addition...

Foster a homeless animal, you say?  Brilliant!  Safehaven Humane Society is in nearly constant need of new foster families.  The animals that require fostering are a diverse bunch.  Often, it is a new mama dog or cat who needs a quiet place to raise her young.  Sometimes it is a dog or cat who is too greatly affected by the stress of the shelter environment and needs a respite.  There may be an animal who requires some  at-home medical treatment at intervals throughout the day.  The individual situations vary.  Not only is a family able to provide a vital service to an animal in need, but it is a wonderful test-run to see if your family is animal-ready.  Some of these animals would not take over your entire house. The mama cat/dog and her brood could be contained in the laundry room, eliminating the need to pick up every last Lego off the floor in the remainder of the house.  The sick or injured dog could also be confined to a quiet place much of the day, off limits to the children unless supervised, eliminating the worry of rough handling.  The family could assess whether it was a pleasure to spend their time caring for an animal or was it a burden?  They could assess which changes would be necessary to allow an animal to share their home and life permanently and whether the willingness to make these changes existed in each family member.  And at the end of it all, the animal goes back to the shelter to find his/her forever home, the family has done a wonderful deed for a needy creature and their short-term commitment has been fulfilled. 

Only just this week, the call went out again to volunteers that more foster families are needed.  Perhaps the need is just as great at Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis.  Senior Dog Rescue is a local organization that re-homes dogs in their golden years.  This group has no brick and mortar facility and their clients are housed in individuals homes until an adoptive family can be found.  If your family has been considering pet ownership, please don't shop, ADOPT!  But if you're not sure you're ready for a long-term relationship, do consider fostering a pet. Think of all you can teach your child about compassion and service (not to mention animal husbandry!) by doing so.

Best Regards,
Doni