Are you ready to take on the responsibility of introducing a pet to your family? Adopting a puppy or a dog is probably one of the most tiring yet fulfilling decisions you could ever make.
If you’re planning on adopting a puppy in Australia and you’re not quite sure how you’re going to go on about it, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled some of the most important reminders and tips into a comprehensive adoption guide for future pet parents in Australia.
First, there are a Few Things You Need to Do
Before you start the adoption process or start screening potential pet adopters, there are a few things you need to determine and clear up first. Adoption requires a lot of thought on your part since you’ll be signing up for a long-term commitment. Here are a few things you need to think of before you jump into adopting a pet:
Determine whether you’re ready for a full-time commitment to your pet. When you adopt a pet, you need to understand that you’ve signed up to a long-term commitment to caring for and being responsible for another animal’s life.
Your daily routine will change since they’ll take up a significant amount of your time for care, walks, and regular veterinary visits.
Check what type of pet is best suited for your lifestyle. Are you an athletic person or a laid-back individual? These may play into what kind of animal or what breed of dog you’d want to adopt.
Determine what type of pet will best suit your lifestyle and whether they’d thrive in your daily routine.
See if you’re financially ready to provide for your pet’s needs. Adopting a pet requires a certain degree of financial stability since you’ll need to buy necessary supplies for your pet, such as pet food and pet care accessories, as well as fund regular vet visits, pet vaccinations, and grooming.
Decide whether you want to buy a puppy from a breeder or adopt a pet from your local shelter. Before considering buying a puppy from a reputable local breeder, you should consider adopting from an animal shelter first.
With animal shelters around Australia having hundreds of pets available for adoption, it would be a good idea for you to check out pets that are also in need of forever homes.
See what type of pet will best suit your home situation. Are you living in a house with a large yard or are you living in an apartment with limited space? Believe it or not, the space you have is a dead giveaway on the type of pet you should consider or what breed of dog you’d want to adopt.
For larger homes with outdoor yards, you have the freedom to adopt larger breed dogs since you won’t have any issues with them bumping into things or providing them a space where they can run freely.
For apartment dwellers, on the other hand, you’d have to decide whether you can sustain an active lifestyle for your pet to keep their energy levels in check and their exercise needs met.
Your Easy Guide to Adopting a Pet in Australia
If you’ve determined the things we’ve listed above and you can say that you’re ready for a pet, here’s a guide that you can follow so you can adopt a pet in Australia:
For Breeder Adoptions:
Locate a registered RPBA dog breeder in Australia. If you’re planning on adopting a puppy from a breeder, it’s best that you find registered dog breeders in Australia to ensure that your puppy was raised in a humane environment. If you’re unsure or you’re doubtful whether a breeder is registered to the RPBA, you can verify your breeder’s ID number here.
Visit the puppy at their home. Once you’re sure that the breeder you’ve chosen is registered, visit your puppy at their home so you can do an ocular on your puppy’s current home. Here you can check whether your puppy’s parents are raised in humane conditions and are regularly monitored to ensure optimal health.
Ask questions about care and health background. When you’re there, you can ask the breeder any questions that you might have about the puppy you’re planning on adopting. Ask about the vaccines that have been administered, medications that may have been given to your puppy, and the diet that the puppies currently have. You can also ask for veterinarian records for complete transparency.
Read and sign adoption contracts. Once you think that everything is in order, sign your adoption contract and agreements, and start preparing your home for the arrival of your new puppy.
For Shelter Adoptions:
Find a local RSPCA shelter in your area. There are numerous RSPCA shelters in some of the major cities in Australia, including Victoria, Sydney, and New South Wales. Find the shelter nearest your home so that you can easily pay them a visit.
Find the perfect pet from RSCPA’s available rescues. While shelter visits are great for you to find the perfect pet, RSCPA now has an online portal where potential pet parents can easily find the pet they’ve been looking for, whether they’re looking for a cat or a dog.
Contact your local shelter and schedule a visit. Once you’ve found the perfect candidate, contact your shelter through their hotline or through email and express your interest in adopting a pet from their rescue.
Meet your future pet and finalize the pet adoption. Head over to your local shelter and meet the rescue you’re planning on adopting. Build rapport with your pet and finalize your decision by securing the adoption papers and documents.
Remember That Adopting is a Whole-Life Commitment!
When you adopt a pet, what you’re signing up for is a whole-life commitment to your pet companion. From the moment they come home to you to their end-life stage, you’ll be responsible for their care and wellness.
So before you decide on taking up the fulfilling role of a pet parent, ensure that you’re ready and you’re properly equipped to be your pet’s companion for the rest of their life.