Owning a pet is a special experience for both people and their animal companions, but with this experience comes great responsibility. What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner? Whether you are considering adopting a new pet or just wanting to fine-tune your responsibilities as a pet owner, we’ve broken down the basics for you in today’s blog.

Choosing the right pet for you and your family

No matter what type of pet you bring home, they will be dependent on you for daily care for the rest of their life. Therefore, a responsible pet owner asks themselves how much time and what resources they have to care for a potential pet in the home. When it comes to families, it can be important to include everyone, including people and resident pets, when it comes to making the decision of bringing home a new pet. Discussions of who will take care of the pet and other expectations around a new animal companion is key.

Too often we assume that should anything happen to us, someone in the family will take in our pets. We’ve seen countless animals end up homeless because there wasn’t a plan in place for what would happen to them in the event their caregiver passes away. Thankfully, the ARL has a partnership with FreeWill where you can create a free legal will to spell out exactly what your wishes are. Plans are such an important part of pet ownership, and with this free offering, you can gain peace of mind for your loved ones – both human and animal.

Caring for your pet’s health.

One of the greatest ways a pet owner can share their love for a pet is by regularly maintaining their health and wellness. Providing basic needs of adequate food, water, and shelter for your pet is always critical, but caring for your pet’s health also entails keeping your pet up to date on vaccinations, performing regular wellness checks, grooming on a regular basis, and providing preventive and therapeutic health care for your pets in consultation with your pet’s veterinarian.

If you have an outdoor pet, make sure they have adequate shelter and resources.

If you are keeping your dog outside, make sure they are secured in an appropriately fenced-in area any time they go outside. It is preferable to have a shady area that the pet can access. Routinely check the perimeter of your fence to make sure there are no areas that need repair or holes that need to be filled. If you have a metal fence, make sure there are no sharp edges. Having a fenced-in area is preferred, but if you need to tether your dog outside, make sure to know the applicable laws in your area.

A dog house, is another way to provide your dog with proper shelter while being outside. The appropriate size for a dog house should allow the dog to stand ad turn around. Too little or too much space can create issues with ventilation and insulation. Proper ventilation in warmer weather is important as is proper insulation in the colder weather. Straw is preferable for winter insulation as it will not freeze. The use of a wind flap on a dog house helps aid proper insulation, and in warmer weather, an open door aids in maintaining a cool interior.

Helping manage animal overpopulation by spaying/neutering pet.

Spaying or neutering your pet prevents more animals from becoming homeless down the road. At the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, we do our part by spaying and neutering all dogs and cats in our care before placing them into a new home!

Ensuring pets are properly identified (i.e. microchips, collar tags, etc.) and that their information in associated databases is correct/up to date.

Microchips are proven to be the most effective identification source in helping your pet return home in the case they get lost, but don’t forget: In order to maximize their effectiveness, it is important to ensure all registration and contact information is correct and up to date. Not sure how to update the information on your pet’s microchip? Get in contact with the manufacturer of the microchip. If you are unsure of the manufacturer, enter the microchip number at https://www.petmicrochiplookup.org to see the manufacturer name and contact details.

Other methods of identification can help too, such as having your pet wear an ID tag on a collar and having clear, well-lit, full-length, and close-up pictures of your pet on your phone or computer to share with police, shelters, and websites in case he or she ever goes missing.

Socializing and or training your pet

Appropriate socialization and training for your pet can improve the quality of life for your pet because it promotes confidence, provides mental stimulation, and strengthens the human-animal bond. Training can also help alleviate deeper feelings of anxiety and stress that are often presented as unwanted behavioral issues. Plus, by being a proactive pet owner in socializing and training your pet, you are protecting the well-being of your pet as well as other animals and people around you from experiencing potential consequences of unwanted behavioral issues.

If you’re looking for a trainer who can work with you and your pet, our Pet Help Center can help you find the right fit. Just call 610-373-8830 to contact a Pet Help Center specialist today!

Providing exercise and mental stimulation for your pet

Exercise and mental stimulation are just as crucial for development in our animal companions as it is for people. Circling back to choosing the right pet for you and your family, it is worth asking how much time you can commit to exercising your pet and how much space you have in your home and/or property for a new pet before bringing a new animal companion home.

Caring for the world around you

Your pet is a part of the ecosystem around you, which is why it is important to care for the world around you together. Committing to proper waste disposal and not allowing pets to become stray or feral are easy ways to look after an animal companion and the ecosystem responsibly.

Now that you’ve learned what it takes to be a responsible pet owner, it’s time to do some research on caring for your desired pet. Then, once you think you’re ready to find a new animal companion, check out our adoptables here to see who is waiting for their new forever home!