Living Magazine v8 EN | Page 18

More Responsibility . More Love .

Dr . Jeanette Yamamoto is the owner / veterinarian of Peaceful Pets In-home Euthanasia Services , dedicated to keeping pets comfortable at home during the euthanasia process and improving the families ’ healing process that follows . She is certified in Animal Hospice and Palliative care through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care ( IAAHPC ) and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association ( AVMA ) and IAAHPC . She has been a dōTERRA Wellness Advocate since December 2014 and is a member of the dōTERRA Veterinary Panel .
Many people are trying their best to find the silver lining in the face of unexpected changes and new life demands . For some , one of those potential silver linings comes in the form of a new four-legged friend , like a dog or a cat , through adoption ( my preferred method ) or purchase . But before you jump into that big decision , you ’ ll want to consider some important points .
A new pet is a long-term commitment . You may , for example , be working from home right now , but what will your future work schedule look like ? Will you be gone for a third or even half a day ? If your situation changes , are there doggie day camps , pet sitters , or dog walkers you can employ if you go back to an office to work ? Also , under normal conditions , do you go on holiday often ? Are your holidays pet friendly ?
What type of pet is right for you ? Dog ? Cat ? Bird ? Lizard ? Young ? Old ? Doing your research prior to making the decision is truly important and it ’ s especially important to use reputable information sources .
If possible , head to a shelter or rescue and spend some time getting a sense of which pet would work best for you and your family .
Pets cost money ! The financial aspects of pet ownership go well beyond initial adoption or purchase fees . The annual cost of owning a pet can be considerable when you account for veterinary care , food , supplements , toys , pet sitters or walkers , training and boarding .
Do you already have other animals in the home ? Are they tolerant of new arrivals ? This is an especially important factor to consider . In some cases , bringing in a new pet can cause feelings of stress to current animals . You need to anticipate an adjustment period , which can last days to months , depending on your new pet ’ s history and past experiences .
If you ’ ve evaluated your situation and decided on adopting a pet , then congratulations ! A lot of fun and excitement awaits you .