Important decision

Owning a pet can be an exciting and rewarding experience but adding a new furry member to the family is something that shouldn’t be done on a whim.

Impulse buying is putting the health and welfare of millions of pets at risk, according to new research from PDSA. To help would-be pet owners PDSA has put together some top tips to help make that all-important decision.

Vet Rebecca Ashman says: “Getting a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. Pets take time, commitment and significant emotional and financial investment.

“It’s important to research carefully the pet you’re thinking of taking on to ensure you’re able to provide all that they need.”

Many people underestimate the cost of ownership, with around 2.6 million owners (12%) believing their pet would only cost up to £500 over their entire lifetime.

In fact, a dog typically costs between £21-33,000 over their lifetime, a cat £1724,000 and a rabbit £10-15,000.

Bear in mind too that rabbits should always be kept in pairs so this figure would double.

Think of the acronym P.E.T.S.K: Place – is the place where you live suitable for a pet? Exercise – how much exercise could you give your pet? Time – how much time could you spend with your pet? Spend – could you afford the lifetime expense of your preferred pet? Knowledge – Do you understand the five welfare needs of your potential pet?

Considering the five welfare needs of different species is essential in making sure they will have a long, happy life.

Do you have a suitable place for them to live? Can you provide the correct diet? Will they have opportunities to show normal behavior? Will they have appropriate companionship? Can you do everything possible to keep them in good health?

It’s a legal requirement for pet owners to provide for the five welfare needs of their pet and answer “Yes” to all of these questions. For more pet care tips log onto www.pdsa.org.uk/pethealth.