How much spare time do you have?

If you’re a stay-at-home mom or only work outside the home part-time, you might not have to worry about the time commitment it takes to have pets; however, if you normally work overtime or have other things that keep you very busy, try looking for a pet that doesn’t require constant attention. Small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs can be great pets for busy people. According to the experts at Central Animal Emergency Clinic a veterinary hospital in Vancouver, they’ll love it when you spend time with them, but they won’t tear down the house if you’re busy for a few days.

What can you afford?

There’s no getting around it – animals are expensive. Generally, the larger the animal, the more it’s going to cost you. If money isn’t a problem, feel free to get a horse like you’ve always wanted, but if you’re tight on cash, even a cat could be too expensive if you’re barely making ends meet, especially once you consider veterinary costs.

Will you be able to transport your pet?

Speaking of veterinarians, how far are you from one? Do you have a way to get a pet to the vet’s if something happens? If you live right next to a veterinary hospital this is a non-issue, but if don’t live within close proximity to a vet and don’t have your own car, you could have a problem. Neighbors and public transportation drivers probably wouldn’t mind taking a caged ferret somewhere in an emergency, but you might have a harder time finding a way to get large animals or even dogs wherever you need to go.

Do you or your family members have any allergies?

Nothing will be more heartbreaking than getting attached to your new friend and finding out you’re allergic to him. If you don’t know for sure if you’re allergic or not, you might want to get tested before you pick up your pet.

Pets are a great addition to almost any family, but to make the right decision, take your time to research your options and take potential problems into consideration.