Are you an animal lover? Have you thought about purchasing that cute little puppy that looks up at you with those heart-wrenching eyes at the pet store? Have you ever made some sort of connection with an animal and you just had to get it? Before you reach for your wallet, here’s a list of the top nine things you should consider before buying the animal version of your soul-mate.

1. The first and most obvious thing to consider before purchasing your pet is the cost of the initial purchase or adoption fee. Some popular pets (like pure-bred dogs and cats) can be pretty expensive to purchase, and it may be easier and certainly cheaper to get your pet from a rescue or animal shelter. Research all of your options either online or through veterinary clinics before you pay for your new pet.

2. The second thing to consider ties in with the first, which is the source of the animal. Because some popular breeds of dogs are expensive, unethical breeders and “puppy farms” produce large amounts of animals under poor breeding conditions. It is hard to tell that an animal came from such a place, but if you are purchasing a pet you should research from where it comes. Otherwise you may be getting an animal with health and temperament problems that may cost you more in the long run. If you are buying from a breeder you should try to visit their facilities and get references.

3. The next consideration when it comes to your future pet is shelter. Do you have space in your home or a yard for your new pet? You should decide where the new pet will live before you bring it home, whether it’s a fish, lizard, bird, cat, dog, or horse! Also please be sure if you’re a renter that your landlord allows the pet you want to bring home. Too many animals get kicked to the curb because it’s against the rules of a lease for pets to live in that particular building.

4. Something you have to consider for the entire life of your future pet is food. Obviously larger animals eat more food than smaller ones. So before you bring home a great Dane, you should find out the adult size of the animal you’d like to purchase or adopt and how much it needs to eat to stay healthy. “Some pets also have special dietary requirements or food allergies that you’ll need to learn and be aware of,” said local veterinarian Jennifer Freeman. A basic rule of thumb is that if you want to spend less money, then you should get a smaller pet.

5. Potential health problems are an important consideration. Most animals are susceptible to certain diseases and you need to know how to protect your pet. You also need to find out which vaccines your pet needs, and get them as soon as possible. Even animals beyond cats and dogs need vaccinations, so be aware. There are also specific medicines available to avoid fleas and tape/heart worm. Not only will your pet be unhappy if it has fleas or ticks, but so will you.

6. Hygiene also takes time and money. You need to keep your pet well-groomed. Some dogs and cats have hair that is so thick it can become matted and really weigh them down and cause them to become dirty. If you don’t trust yourself with a pair of clippers, go to a professional groomer. “If you are getting a pet that doesn’t go potty outside, (like hamsters, rabbits, cats, etc.) you need to be sure that you’re up to cleaning out its cage or litter box on a regular basis,” Freeman said.  “Also, if you’re a clean person yourself and loose hair drives you crazy, you might want to consider getting a pet that doesn’t shed,” she added.

7. The next thing to consider is usually an obvious one. When purchasing a pet, you need to consider its allergens. Different animals produce different allergens. One person may be allergic to a long-haired cat, but not a long-haired dog. Some dogs have less dander than others and are clearly better for people with allergies. If you cannot stay in the same room with the pet of your dreams without sneezing, breaking out in hives, having itchy/watery eyes or shortness of breath, you’d better choose a different pet, or get some allergy shots.

8. The last two items to consider are often overlooked at the time of purchase. An animal’s temperament is something important to consider. Some pets are more child-friendly, and some can be dangerous to have around small children. You can do research into the general temperaments of your animal and save yourself the hassle of a pet-related injury. I believe that every animal has its own personality but it is true that some animals are bred to be more aggressive than others.

9. The last thing to consider is certainly not the least important: life span. If you want a pet, but aren’t willing to make a long-term commitment to it, you might want to stick to goldfish. As a general rule, smaller dogs live longer than larger dogs, and some pets like birds or turtles cause live as long as a human or longer. A pet with a long life means long-term responsibility for the owner and longer amount of time to be spending money on the pet as well. Knowing the general lifespan of your future pet is very important.

My mom has always said that having a pet like a puppy or kitten is like having a baby. It needs a lot of care and attention, it needs to be trained, fed, and loved, and you have to be prepared for unexpected things to happen as well. For example, my mom’s dog contracted lyme disease from a tick. She had to take her to the vet to be diagnosed and get antibiotics and checkups until the lyme disease was cleared up. That’s not an inexpensive process. So if you can’t afford the unexpected, don’t purchase the animal, because that’s part of taking good care of it.

Please take these things into consideration before purchasing your future pet in order for there to be fewer abandoned animals, less traffic in animal shelters and more happy pets in the New River Valley.

Meghan George has been a New River Voice intern for the spring semester. We wish her the best upon her graduation from Radford University.