5 Things to Consider When Adding a Pet to Your Home

According to Today’s Veterinary Business, 11.38 Million US Households added a new pet during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As my children aged, my pets aged — everything just seemed to be quiet, on schedule, and well maintained until Apollo, the yellow lab rescue puppy showed up with my eldest son over the Holiday and chose our home as his forever home.

I had forgotten what a young puppy brought to the family and needed.

Here is my quick list of the 5 things to think about when you bring that new fur baby home:

1. Veterinary Care – Being a rescue, Apollo had some health needs to be addressed and we needed to get on top of his wellness care plan. My first call was to All-Star Veterinary Clinic in Westfield, IN. Emily King and her team of veterinarians have taken care of all of our dogs since 2003 and rest assured they were able to get Apollo in tip-top shape.
2. Outdoor Space – Apollo chose to meet the neighbors by snagging their bag of cat food off the porch. He proudly brought the bag home to us laying it at the back door as if he had just won a trophy at the dog show. Sooner rather than later, we knew this pup needed to be contained. That’s when Invisible Fence came to the rescue. They remarked and tested our 2003 system, and within 3 training sessions, the neighbor cat was able to eat again. Containment may look different for different homeowners – Invisible Fencing or Above Ground Fencing. It comes in all shapes and sizes. A number of things should be considered when looking at different types of fencing including property lines and offsets as well as neighborhood rules and restrictions. Property surveys may even need to be done.
3. Exercise – Young pups need exercise and our town has so many vehicles to help. Trails like the Monon in Carmel/Westfield/Indianapolis, Rail Trail in Zionsville, Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers offer great walks throughout the community. Maybe it’s stepping up the pace of play at the Dog Park at Clay Terrace or the Broad Ripple Bark Park. And if you can’t find the time, drop off playtime at Doggie Daycare works – try the Happy Dog Hotel and Spa in Carmel or Paws and Play Dog Resort in Fishers.
4. Pet Stores Have More – I was surprised to see that Pet Stores offered more than just food and toys but a full suite of services. A visit to Petco or PetSmart may now include taking advantage of self-serve bath stations, professional grooming, or even attending training classes.
5. Cleaning – What a mess! I searched and found some of the best cleaning tools to stay on top of it. I highly recommend a cordless vacuum for a quick, daily clean. I love my new Miele Triflex. And, for those unfortunate accidents, a bottle of Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum is a must to have on hand.

There is much to think about around your home when adding a new pet.
Stay tuned for more updates on Apollo as we introduce him to Indiana Lake Life this Summer!