Finding your new pet

Before looking at individual puppies, kittens, dogs or cats, think about what will fit into your household.

Ask yourself:

• How much time do I have to spend with a pet each day?
• How much exercise and activity can I provide?
• How much space do I have at home?
• Will my pet be left alone during the day?
• Do I have other pets?
• Do I have young children?
• Am I prepared for grooming and training?
• Can I afford food, preventative healthcare and veterinary treatment?
• What will happen to my pet when I go on holidays?
• If I rent, am I permitted to keep a pet?
• Am I prepared for a commitment that can last many years?

Puppy, kitten or adult pet?

A puppy or kitten can be a wonderful addition to your family, but they require considerable time, training and patience.

An adult dog or cat may be a better fit for some households, particularly if you have a busy lifestyle.

Don’t choose a pet based on appearance alone. Think about the animal’s personality, energy level, size and needs, and whether these fit with your lifestyle.

There are three common pathways to finding a new dog or cat.

Adopt from a shelter or pound

Animal shelters and council pounds have dogs and cats looking for new homes.

One of the advantages of adopting an adult animal is that their personality, size and energy level may already be well established. This can make it easier to find an animal that suits your household.

Ask the shelter or pound about:

• The animal’s history
• Temperament and personality
• Behaviour around people
• Behaviour around other animals
• Medical history
• Vaccinations
• Microchipping
• Desexing
• Any ongoing health or behavioural needs

Take your time getting to know the animal before making your decision.

Adopt through a rescue organisation

Rescue organisations help dogs and cats find new homes. Some operate from shelters, while others use foster carers.

Why consider a rescue pet?

A foster carer may be able to tell you a great deal about how an animal behaves in a home environment.

They may know:

• Whether the pet is comfortable around children
• How they behave with other dogs or cats
• Their activity level
• Their personality
• Whether they are comfortable being left alone
• Their training needs
• What type of home would suit them

This information can be very helpful when deciding whether an individual pet is right for your family.

Purchase from a responsible breeder

If you decide that a puppy or kitten is right for your family, you may choose to purchase from a breeder.

Take your time finding a responsible breeder who is focused on the health and welfare of the animals they breed.

A good breeder should be happy to answer questions and provide information about the puppy or kitten, their parents and their care.

Ask the breeder:

• Can I meet the puppy or kitten and their mother?
• Can I see where the animals are raised?
• What health testing has been performed on the parents?
• Are there known inherited health problems in this breed?
• What vaccinations has the pet received?
• Has the pet been wormed and treated for fleas?
• Is the pet microchipped?
• Can I see the veterinary and vaccination records?
• How have the puppies or kittens been socialised?
• What food are they currently eating?
• What support will you provide after I take my pet home?
• What happens if I can no longer keep the pet?

Be prepared to walk away

Be cautious if a seller:

• Won’t let you see where the animal was raised
• Won’t let you meet the mother
• Cannot provide health or vaccination records
• Is unwilling to answer questions
• Pressures you to make a quick decision or pay a deposit
• Provides little information about the animal’s background
• Cannot provide appropriate identification information

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t feel pressured to proceed.

Once you’ve decided where you want to find your new pet, the next step is finding an individual animal that is suitable for your household.

Look at their health

Ask for the animal’s veterinary records and find out about:

• Vaccinations
• Microchipping
• Worming
• Flea and parasite treatment
• Previous veterinary treatment
• Any known medical conditions
• The health history of the parents, where applicable

A new puppy or kitten should have appropriate veterinary records available.

Check their vaccination history

Young puppies and kittens generally require a vaccination program rather than a single vaccination.

Ask for documentation showing:

• Which vaccinations have been given
• When they were given
• When the next vaccination is due
• Any other relevant veterinary treatments

Bring these records with you when you visit your veterinarian after bringing your new pet home.

Make sure they are microchipped

A microchip provides permanent identification for your pet.

The microchip contains a unique identification number that can be scanned by veterinary clinics, shelters and council facilities.

Remember: a microchip is only useful if the registration details are kept up to date.

If you change your address, phone number or other contact details, update your pet’s microchip registry information.

Health is important, but so is finding a pet whose personality fits your household.

Think about:

Energy level

Does the pet have the energy level you can realistically manage?

Confidence

Are they confident and comfortable around people, or are they more cautious and reserved?

Interaction with people

How do they respond to handling and interaction?

Interaction with other animals

If you already have pets, ask how the new pet behaves around other animals.

Children

If you have children, ask about the pet’s experience and behaviour around children.

Remember that behaviour can change as an animal settles into a new home. Ask the breeder, shelter or rescue organisation what they know about the animal’s normal behaviour and personality.

When choosing a dog, think beyond breed and appearance.

Size

Will the dog’s adult size suit your home and lifestyle?

Exercise

How much daily exercise and mental stimulation will they need?

Temperament

Does their personality suit your family, children and other pets?

Training

Are you prepared for toilet training, socialisation and obedience training?

Grooming

Different dogs have very different grooming requirements.

Health

Research the health conditions associated with any breed you are considering and ask breeders about appropriate health testing.

Cats also have individual personalities and needs.

Consider:

• Kitten or adult cat?
• Indoor or outdoor lifestyle?
• How much interaction will they want?
• Do you have other pets?
• How will you provide exercise and enrichment?
• What are their grooming requirements?
• Are there breed-related health concerns?
• What will their ongoing veterinary care cost?

When adopting, ask the shelter or rescue organisation about the individual cat’s personality and history.

Once you’ve found your new family member, prepare your home before they arrive.

For dogs

You may need:

• Food and water bowls
• Appropriate food
• A comfortable bed
• Collar and identification
• Lead and harness
• Secure fencing
• Toys and enrichment
• Toilet-training supplies

For cats

You may need:

• Food and water bowls
• Appropriate food
• Litter trays and litter
• A comfortable sleeping area
• Scratching posts
• Toys and enrichment
• Safe hiding places
• Secure windows and doors

We recommend arranging a veterinary health check soon after bringing your new pet home.

At this appointment, we can:

• Perform a complete health examination
• Review vaccination records
• Check the microchip
• Discuss vaccination requirements
• Discuss worming and parasite prevention
• Check your pet’s weight and development
• Discuss nutrition
• Talk about desexing
• Discuss dental care
• Answer questions about behaviour and training
• Develop an ongoing preventative healthcare plan

Bring your paperwork

Bring your pet’s vaccination, microchip and veterinary records to the appointment. This allows us to review their previous care and determine what they need next.