So you’ve decided to add a new addition to your household! Pets are fun and fulfilling companions, but it’s important to make sure that you are ready for their arrival before choosing the type of pet you will bring home.

Adopt or shop?

Gumtree strongly advocates adopting pets rather than buying them. It’s much cheaper to adopt than shop (contrary to popular belief) because the cost of adoption covers inoculation and sterilization (which can cost up to R2000 privately). Adoption is usually around R500.

Baby or adult?

What can be cuter than a puppy or kitten? Very few things are but sadly the cute factor soon passes. If you do choose to adopt a puppy, for example, you will have to be prepared to take care of its training early on. (If you don’t have experience with puppies, you may have to employ a behaviourist to assist you). Allowing a small Labrador puppy on the couch doesn’t seem to cause harm, but once he reaches the 36kg mark and insists on joining you when you watch your soaps in the evening, you may regret not setting boundaries. Puppies and kittens can also be extremely destructive – aside from puddles to clean up, they can chew and scratch up furniture and belongings very quickly. An older pet does not need to be housebroken or trained, and are usually past the “chewing” phase.

The costs

As mentioned, pets are expensive. Aside from annual inoculations, your pet may require chronic medicine, emergency treatment, special food and occasional kenneling during holidays – can you afford to cover this cost? If not, you may need to reconsider.

Will you still love me tomorrow?

If you’ve never owned a pet before, it’s good to gain an idea of what it entails. Why not become a foster parent for a short while? Fostering involves caring for a pet while the animal welfare organization looks for a new home for it. The welfare organization stays responsible for medical care (and will often supply food) while the pet is in your care, but you will be able to see whether or not a dog or cat fits in with your lifestyle and household. And who knows – you may grow so fond of your addition that you will become a “foster failure”…an affectionate term for a foster parent who decides to adopt the pets they are looking after!