For as long as I can remember, I have wanted a dog. The original plan was once we moved from our smaller house into a larger one with a bigger yard, my parents were going to get me a dog. That was almost nineteen years ago and I never got a dog. I’ve had a couple of rabbits and some fish, and although I enjoyed having them they cannot fulfill the same needs as a dog.

Now that I’m older I understand the reason why we never got a dog: we used to spend a lot of the summers and a couple weeks of the winters away.

I still want a dog (and a rabbit and a cat and a whole bunch of other creatures), but I also realize getting a pet at this point in my life does not make sense. There are lots of things one needs to consider when they decide to get a pet – any animal, not necessarily a larger one like a cat or a dog – and I think many people do not contemplate these things before they bring an animal home.

Cost

Purchasing a purebred dog or cat can cost thousands of dollars and on top of that there are the costs of spaying/neutering and shots. Adopting, although much cheaper, can still be costly (starting at about $200, including spaying/neutering and first shots).

Aside from the initial start-up costs, food, toys and preventative veterinarian care will cost you on on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. You must also consider the unforeseen costs of owning an animal, such as emergency surgery or even having to put the animal down.

Space

Where are you living? A house or a one-bedroom apartment? People need their own space and so do animals. A large dog in a small apartment, for example, makes for both an unhappy owner and canine.

Living Arrangements

Is it just you, or do you have roommates? Before you get a pet, you should discuss it in detail with the people you are living with. Are they allergic to or afraid of animals? Who is responsible for feeding, playing, walking or changing the litter box?

I lived in a student house with two cats for a year, and the cats and I had a pretty good relationship. I would pet them whenever I saw them and they would act as a blanket if I was cold. If the cats were out of food or running low on water, I made sure their bowls were replenished. But I wasn’t too impressed with having to clean up kitty vomit more than my fair share.

I also had to deal with one of the cats being mad at me for some reason and peeing in my sock drawer. Incidents like these can really bother and offend some people, and you want to make sure that if it does happen your roommates don’t end up resenting you or your animals.

Training

Although this is typically something you need to do more with dogs, it does apply to other animals as well. If you have a cat or a rabbit for example, you need to teach it where it can go to the bathroom, or you will be cleaning your floor and furniture a lot. A dog on the other hand, needs some kind of obedience training. Some dogs, if not properly trained can beg or, worse, become very aggressive and even bite or attack people or other dogs.

Time

One of the most over-looked things when owning a pet is time. Do you have time to make sure the animal gets enough exercise every day? Can you take random play breaks? Can you clean up after an animal on a daily basis? What happens when you go on vacation and your pet can’t go along?

Although owning a pet is a huge responsibility, it has a lot of rewards. The unconditional love you get from an animal is unlike anything else you experience. But you should really give your decision a lot of thought, as it is not only your life you will impact.

Brad Pattison of At the End of My Leash says the dog doesn’t choose the owner, it’s the owner who chooses the dog. This is true of all animals and it is the owner’s responsibility to make sure all of their pets’ needs are met.