Melanie Margaret

• The average lifespan of dogs and cats is around 12 years but some dogs and cats can live 20 years or more!
• If you want to adopt a pet for your children, consider that children can tire quickly of the routine of caring for the animal. Parents often quickly become the animal’s primary caregiver and need to be OK with that. Therefore, adding a new animal to your family must be a family decision and a family-wide responsibility.
• If you are planning to move to another country or travel in the future, it might not be the right time to adopt an animal. However, it is possible to move country with your animal, and also to manage travel so that your animal is well cared for when you are away. Moving country and travel are situations that can be managed, but this can be expensive and needs careful consideration and planning.

All animals available for adoption from SPCA have been health checked, and most are desexed, vaccinated and microchipped (for details see each adoption listing, as the exact details can vary by species); all of these are included in the adoption fee. However, there are also ongoing costs associated with having a companion animal that you need to consider.

These may include the following:

• Quality food and treats
• Worm and flea treatments
• Items such as leashes, toys, collars, housing, bedding, kennel, crates, enclosures
• Annual health check and vaccinations
• Veterinary visits and treatments due to illness or accidents, and preventative care
• Fees for boarding or home care for your animal if you need to go away
• Doggy Day care fees if you have to be away from your dog for long periods
• Training classes for puppies and dogs
• Annual registration fees for dogs (this is a legal requirement)
• Grooming expenses
• The cost of things that your animal might damage or that might suffer wear and tear, such as shoes, TV remote controls, books, couches, carpets, etc.

To help you get an idea of the cost of keeping a companion animal, Companion Animals NZ has published data showing that companion animal owners spend on average the following amounts per year:

• $670 on their cat
• $1200 on their dog (larger dogs can be more expensive)
• $785 on their horse
• $310 on their rabbit

However, depending on an animal’s individual needs these costs could be significantly higher.

• It is your responsibility to know how to properly care for your animals; the Animal Welfare Act 1999 states that “the owner of an animal, and every person in charge of an animal, must ensure that the physical, health, and behavioural needs of the animal are met in a manner that is in accordance with both good practice and scientific knowledge.”
• We can give advice on how to care for companion animals and help with any questions you might have. Your veterinarian is another source of credible and helpful information about caring for animals.
• Doing your research before you decide to adopt an animal will help you to make a good and informed choice about whether you can care for an animal and what animal would be most suitable for your situation.
• It is important that you are able to set aside adequate time to feed, exercise, groom, and interact with/play with your companion animal for their entire lifetime.

• The size of your home and garden and the location of your home are significant factors that determine how suitable your home is for a particular animal. For example, dogs need a safe, fenced section, shelter, shade and enough space outside in which to exercise, explore and play. If you are thinking of adopting a cat and letting the cat outside, then you need to consider that cats can get injured on roads or affect local wildlife. Rabbits and guinea pigs need space inside, or a fenced area outside, in which to exercise, explore, and play.
• Some landlords do not allow their tenants to have animals. This means that having a companion animal can affect how easy it is to find a rental property and is something that you should consider if you are renting.
• If you already have companion animals, it is very important that you consider them, and how they will adapt to a new arrival, when thinking of adding another animal to your family.

• Long working hours, a busy social life and regular trips away are all factors that will influence whether your lifestyle is suitable to share with a companion animal, and also what kind of animal might be best suited to you. It is important to consider these factors before deciding to adopt.
• All companion animals need human company and if you don’t spend enough time with them this can make them unhappy and seriously affect their quality of life.
• You should not adopt a companion animal unless you are:
  • home often enough to keep your animal company (or have someone else at home to keep the animal company)
  • prepared to walk your dog every day (if you are thinking of adopting a dog)
  • able to give your animal the basic training they need
  • able to arrange suitable care for your animal when you are away