Are We the Right Pet Family for a Particular Breed of Dog or Cat, Rescue or Non-Rescue?
A prospective family deciding to own their first pet or additional pets have options to decrease the heart break of pet rehousing down the road. Rehousing, when pet owners need to find a new home for their pet, occurs when internal or external pet family circumstances result in the basic needs of a pet not being met consistently by the pet owners.
4 Events that Trigger Rehousing
Separation & Divorce
Chronic Underemployment / Unemployment
Substance Abuse
Families without fathers
Pet owners in one or more of the above crises can find ample help exists to try and stabilize and improve the nuclear pet family situation. Pet owners need to be effective in caring for their pets. Caring without being effective can occur during major crisis.
6 Things to Consider to Minimize Rehousing
Reference books about breeds of dogs, cats, a rescue or non-rescue pet, are vital reading material to decrease rehousing. Rationality and informed decision making combined with some emotion is a better foundation for pet housing decisions. Emotion alone is not the best approach when considering new pets. Here are 6 things you need to consider when you’re thinking about bringing a new pet into your family.
Exercise Needs
Food Needs
Training Needs
Grooming Needs
Rescue?
Non-Rescue?
By taking all of these issues into consideration, people can build a sound foundation for higher functioning pet family outcomes and also decrease rehousing, euthanasia, and animal motor vehicle injuries.
Robert Berkelhammer is the Author of Pet Care Givers & Families: Getting the Most From Dog Playgroups, Pet Sitters, and Walkers. Also, see our MULTI-USE FAMILY PET CARE CONTRACT, a must-have organizing tool for you, your family, pet care professionals, and most importantly your pets! www.robertberkelhammer.com
Please consider helping me continue my important work helping pets as I develop as pet care professional and expert. All Donors will receive a free copy of the 16-page Family Pet Contract! Learn more here: http://www.robertberkelhammer.com/help-us-help-pets