Adopting a pet is likely to be a 12-20 year commitment. Are you at the point in your life where you can make a commitment to a pet for the rest of his or her life? Adoption means that these pets will become members of your family. Think about whether upcoming life changes, such as children, marriage, a move, a new job, etc. could affect your ability to make and sustain this life-long relationship.
Dog:
Every dog requires basic necessities in order to have a good quality of life: a collar, leash, identification, nutritious food, annual medical exams and vaccines, and heartworm, flea, and tick prevention; most dogs also need a bed, toys, and treats. There are also town licensing regulations to consider; most towns require annual licensing for dogs. The cost of owning a dog the first year can run upwards of $1,000, not including any emergency care, visits to the veterinarian when he gets ill, food and water bowls, boarding, dog walking, training aids, etc. Although Bideawee provides a lot of medical and training prior to adoption, there are still many financial responsibilities left. This figure will not decrease too much in the coming years - as the dog ages he may require behavior & training and more extensive medical care.
Cat:
Every cat requires medical care and other ongoing items in order to have a good quality of life: annual medical exams, annual vaccines, a safety collar, identification, litter box, fresh litter daily, carrier, nutritious food, and a brush; most cats also need a bed and toys. The cost to ready your home for a new cat can exceed $500. The average cost of caring for a cat is about $1,000 per year, not including emergency medical care, boarding, training aids, stain removers, etc.
In addition to the Standards of Care Bideawee upholds for resident animals, Bideawee believes that each animal deserves a minimum quality of care from their caretakers. Please see the Bideawee's Canine Bill of Rights and Feline Bill of Rights.
Dog:
Most dogs require a minimum of three walks a day, but many require more depending on their housebreaking status, age, and breed. Many breeds and ages require lots of exercise. Even if you have a yard, each dog deserves a chance to be walked on a leash and be socialized in different environments, with people and with animals. The more time you spend socializing your dog, the less likely your dog will develop behavior problems. The most common reason for behavior problems is because the dog does not get enough exercise. Excess energy is often expressed in behaviors that you want to avoid - like chewing on furniture, jumping on people or never settling down in your home.
Most dogs also need mental stimulation, which you can provide with training and enrichment. Training and enrichment is another good way to prevent unwanted behaviors. Many working breed dogs have a natural drive to work, and will become destructive if they do not have the opportunity to do something useful, such as follow your lead.
Cat:
Cats require socialization and many can also benefit from training. Every cat deserves quality time with his or her family. It is important that rules to prevent unwanted behaviors such as scratching furniture and jumping on counters are set as soon as you take your new cat home and that everyone in the family is consistent.
There are plenty of ways to experience the love of a four-legged friend - check out some of the volunteer opportunities Bideawee has to offer!
The Matchmakers at Bideawee have been matching pets with people for more than 100 years! Our Matchmakers help adopters find the perfect pets that touch their hearts and match their life stage and lifestyle. People who want to adopt a Bideawee pet are encouraged to get to know the cat, dog, puppy or kitten they're interested in before making any decisions.
The Adoption Centers at Bideawee all have warm, friendly, "get acquainted" areas, where pets and people can have their first meetings in calm, relaxing spaces. A short interview is part of the adoption process, to help the staff match each animal with a compatible, responsible family.
All adult pets are spayed or neutered before they are made available for adoption. If a kitten or puppy is too young to be neutered, the procedure will be done free of charge at a Bideawee clinic when the pet is old enough.
Dogs:
All dogs receive the following services/procedures prior to adoption (and at no cost to new owner): spay/neuter, Rabies vaccine, NYC License (if you are a resident of NYC and adopt from NYC Site), Distemper/Parvo vaccine, Bordetella vaccine, microchipping (plus registration), anything else medical the dog may need prior to adoption placement, detailed adoption packet with tips on a successful adoption, and a Bideawee collar tag. Dog and puppy adopters may also take advantage of one free group or one-on-one training session with Bideawee's Training and Enrichment Coordinator (group vs. one-on-one session option varies according to age and temperament of dog) within 90 days of adoption.
Cats:
At Bideawee, all cats receive the following services/procedure prior to adoption (and at no cost to new owner): spay/neuter, Rabies vaccine, Distemper vaccine, Feline Leukemia Test, microchipping (plus registration), anything else medical the cat may need prior to adoption placement, cardboard carrier for transportation, detailed adoption packet with tips on a successful adoption, consultation with a Behavior Coordinator & post-adoption support, and a Bideawee collar tag.
A microchip is a tiny computer chip which has been programmed into a national registration identification number. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is injected under the skin at the base of the neck. Once an animal is injected with the chip, he can be identified throughout his life by this number. His identification cannot be lost, altered or removed. It requires no care and will not move around the body.
When a lost animal is brought to an animal shelter or veterinarian, a scanner is used to send a signal through the skin of the animal to read the chip. The animal feels nothing as the scanner is passed over him. The microchip sends the number back to the scanner. When the number appears on the scanner, a phone call to an 800 number will give the finder the name and contact info for the registered owner of the pet.
Please bring along a leash and/or pet carrier.
