50 Adoption Pics From April That May Turn Those Blues Away For Just A Second

PDSA Vet Nurse Gemma Renwick walked Bored Panda through some of the potential costs that owners might be looking at when taking in a new pet. "Pets can be a wonderful addition to our family, and in a recent survey from PDSA, 94% of owners report that their pet makes them happy! However, it’s important to remember that they are a serious commitment—they’re thinking, feeling creatures with needs of their own," she explained.

"Before taking on any pet, it’s vital to ensure you have the time, finances, space, and energy to take care of them and provide everything they need," she said, adding that you can take PDSA's short quiz on choosing the right pet for your lifestyle right here.

"Cost is a key consideration for any prospective pet owner—first is the upfront costs. This includes things like the cost of the pet themselves (the rescue center may ask for a donation), their bed, food and water bowls, leads, collars and poop bags for dogs, litter trays for cats, pet food appropriate to their life stage, and suitable toys. But the real cost is in the ongoing care." For example, a medium-sized dog can cost between £9,000 to £14,000 over its lifetime, just for basic essential needs.

According to Vet Nurse Renwick, key monthly costs to plan for include:

1. Pet food and treats;
2. Pet insurance;
3. Preventive vet care, such as vaccinations and flea treatment;
4. Replacing toys and other equipment.

Meanwhile, additional extra costs could include:

1. Grooming;
2. Boarding or kennels if you go on holiday;
3. Vet bills if your pet gets sick or injured (remember most pet insurance policies will require an excess payment if you claim).

The PDSA has a couple of handy checklists for costs to think about when getting a dog, as well as getting a cat.

Vet Nurse Renwick was kind enough to shed some light on how owners can help their newly adopted pets feel more at home in an environment that's unfamiliar to them.

"Adopting a pet can be really rewarding, as you’re giving a home to a pet without one. However, moving can be a stressful experience for them, particularly if they’ve not been in a home environment for a while. Before you bring your new pet pal home, it’s important to create the perfect environment for them. Make sure they have a space set aside that’s just for them, where they can go and not be disturbed," she said. "There’s advice on PDSA’s website on creating the perfect environment for dogs and cats."

Renwick shared her advice on helping things go well when your pet comes home for the very first time:

1. Something familiar—a favorite blanket from their previous home is ideal, or you could send a jumper of your own a few days before the move, to help them get used to your scent;
2. Keep things calm—a contained, quiet space is ideal, somewhere they can have for themselves for the first few days with everything they need in one place. A pheromone diffuser can help them to feel calm;
3. Take things slow—try to introduce other family members one or two at a time. We know you will all be excited, but meeting everyone at once could be overwhelming for your new pooch or kitty!
4. Be patient—sit quietly in the room and wait for them to come and sniff you before giving them attention. Depending on their history and temperament this could take a little time!
5. Easy exploration—as they start to become settled, you can let them explore more of your home. Give them access to more rooms, but go at their own pace, and always let them go back to their own safe space if they want to;
6. Set a routine—try to set and stick to the same routine, as this provides reassurance and stability. Feed them at the same times, and for dogs walk them at the same times. For cats, set aside some specific playtime with them when they’re usually active, which is a great way to help you bond.

According to PDSA, for cats, owners will need to keep them indoors at first.

"We recommend around six weeks, but every cat is different. Make sure they’re microchipped and that your details are up to date on the database before letting them out. The first time you do, try letting them out just before their usual morning feeding time. This will mean they’re less likely to roam too far!" Renwick said. "For more advice and tips on settling in adopted pets, visit our website here."

Before you get inspired by these incredibly wholesome and heartwarming photos to rush off and adopt literally all the animals in your area’s shelters, there are a few things you need to know. In a nutshell, you have to make sure that you’re in a stable enough situation where you can actually take care of new pets at home, instead of being overly idealistic.

It would be horrible if you adopted a pet and then had to return it to that very same shelter once you realized that you don’t have enough space or sufficient finances to take care of the animal’s wants and needs.

According to ‘Four Paws,’ one of the main things you should consider before adopting is to make sure you are committed to taking care of the pet in the long term.

You should understand your new pet’s needs and commit to fulfilling them over the years (and decades) to come. What’s more, you should think about your lifestyle and how bringing a pet into your life could potentially change things.

Think about the characteristics you want in your new pet and be honest with yourself about your day-to-day schedule.

Furthermore, you have to be prepared to invest in your pet, and not just in terms of time and affection. Keeping animals happy and healthy can be expensive. You have to be able to cover their food, equipment, training, and veterinary costs.

You have to look at your budget and see if you can afford all the basic expenses, including any emergency ones.

‘Four Paws’ suggests that prospective adoptive pet parents look for reputable shelters and rehoming organizations to get in touch with, so they can give you “lots of support and advice.”

If you have any other animals living at home, you have to ensure that they’ll get along with your newly adopted pets.

Meanwhile, take the time to make sure your home and family are prepared for the arrival of your pet. You’ll probably need to have a lot of patience as the animal navigates an environment that is completely new to them.

It’ll likely take a while for them to get used to the home and new family. With a bit of care and warmth from your side, they’ll eventually settle in.

Adopting a pet might not be right for everyone, however, there are still lots of ways that you can help your local animals in need. For example, ‘Four Paws’ suggests that people sponsor specific shelter animals to help meet their food, upkeep, and vet costs while the organization looks after them.

Alternatively, you can pick out an animal shelter and donate some money, whether that’s a one-off sum or monthly donations if you can afford them. That way, the organization can keep the lights on and continue helping pets in need.

Fostering is another option open to you, where you take an animal in for a set period of time until they’re adopted.

If you love being around animals, you can always consider volunteering some of your time, too. Naturally, what each shelter needs may vary.

But you could potentially end up walking some of the shelter dogs from time to time, playing with shelter cats, and welcoming visitors to open-house events.

As per ‘Four Paws,’ reading stories to pets can actually be very helpful, too. “This beautiful gesture is often done by children and has far-reaching effects. Children can become more sensitive to animals, the dogs and cats get more comfortable and lose their fear. Heavily traumatized animals often succeed in regaining trust in people, which increases their chances of adoption.”

Did these photos inspire you to adopt an animal potentially? Have you ever adopted a pet before, dear Pandas? How did they come into your lives? What’s their character and behavior like?

What advice would you give new pet parents? We’d love to hear all about your pets! Tell us all about them in the comments, and let them know we said ‘Hi!’