Owning a pet isa lot more responsibility than most people think. Pets offer huge rewards andare more than worth the effort, unless you are unable to put in the effort. Sohow do you know you are ready for a fluffy addition to the household?

Ask yourselfthese questions:

How much will it cost?

If you can?tafford food, lodging, vets bills and boarding for when you are away from home,then you are not yet ready for a pet. Some of these expenses can be preparedfor, for example, paying a small monthly premium for will meanthat the bigger vet expenses will be covered, but daily feeding and care stillcosts money.

How long will my pet live?

A goldfish is arelatively short term investment, while cats can live for 15 years, evenlonger! Dogs also have longer life spans. Will you be able to care for a pet inten years time? Are you planning on travelling for long periods of time in thefuture? Are you planning on moving overseas? If you are not prepared for thelong term, then a pet with a long life span may not be the answer.

Can it handle being alone?

If you spendmany hours a week at work or out of the house, then where will that leave yourpet? A cat or a goldfish may be able to handle a solitary life, but a dog or arodent will not. If you are not at home very much anyway, then maybe a pet isnot the right option for you just yet.

How much of my time will it take up?

You might spendhours at home every day or even work from home, but that doesn't always meanthat you will be spending all this time with your animal. A dog needs walking,grooming and plenty of affection while a cat can survive on much lessattention. Rodents need to be taken from their cages for exercise and all cagedpets need to have their cages cleaned out regularly. The same goes for fish.

Answering thesequestions honestly may just show you that you are not quite ready to take onthe responsibilities of pet ownership.