by Eve Adamson Adopting a Pet FOR DUMmIES ‰ 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page iii 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page ii Adopting a Pet FOR DUMmIES ‰ 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page i 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page ii by Eve Adamson Adopting a Pet FOR DUMmIES ‰ 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page iii Adopting a Pet For Dummies ® Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 www.wiley.com Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permit- ted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-646-8600. 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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005932582 ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-9879-1 ISBN-10: 0-7645-9879-1 Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1O/QX/RQ/QV/IN 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page iv About the Author Eve Adamson is an award-winning pet writer and the author, coauthor, or contributor to more than 40 books including Labrador Retrievers For Dummies and Dachshunds For Dummies. She is a contributing editor for Dog Fancy mag- azine and writes frequently for many pet publications; among them are Your Dog, Dogs USA, Puppies USA, Cat Fancy, Cats USA, Kittens USA, Veterinary Practice News, and Popular Pets, including the issues on Guinea Pigs, Rats, and many issues on dog training and behavior. She writes the “Good Grooming” column for AKC Family Dog magazine and a breed profile column and a nat- ural dog care column for Pet Product News, and she is a member of the Dog Writer’s Association of America and the Cat Writer’s Association of America. Eve is an active supporter of the Iowa City/Coralville Animal Adoption Center, where she adopted her terrier, Sally, in 1999. She lives with her family in Iowa City, which includes partner Ben Minkler, sons Angus and Emmett, terriers Sally and Jack, a parakeet named Snugglebunny, a dwarf hamster named Mr. Hampy, and three little fish ceremoniously dubbed Little Fishies 1, 2, and 3. You can find out more about Eve and her most recent publications at her Web site, www.eveadamson.com. 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page v 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page vi Dedication This book is dedicated to all the animals around the world tamed by humans but then left behind and to all the humans who stood up, stepped forward, and put their hearts on the line to give these animals a second chance at health and happiness. This book is also dedicated to Sally, my heart dog. Author’s Acknowledgments Thank you to the many people who have helped this book come to fruition: Stacy Kennedy, who brought me this project in the first place with the confi- dence that it was the right book for me; Alissa Schwipps, for her amazingly perceptive editing skills; Lee Ann Chearney, my agent, who always looks out for my best interests no matter how much time she doesn’t have; Jennifer Doll, DVM, who provided such wonderful comments and edits to this book from the vet’s point of view; and to Ben for keeping children and dogs out of the office when I was absolutely under deadline and for being so patient about it all. Thanks also to the Iowa City/Coralville Animal Adoption Center for providing so many helpful resources, and to the many experts out there — whose pas- sions may be dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, parrots, snakes, iguanas, or spiders — who not only have helped me with my specific questions but who also spend so much of their time and energy providing exceptionally valuable online information, forums, and resources for new pet owners, all for free. You provide adopted pets and their people with an invaluable ser- vice and have certainly saved many lives. 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page vii Publisher’s Acknowledgments We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/. Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following: Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development Senior Project Editor: Alissa Schwipps Acquisitions Editor: Stacy Kennedy Copy Editor: E. Neil Johnson Technical Editor: Jennifer Doll, DVM Senior Editorial Manager: Jennifer Ehrlich Editorial Assistants: Hanna Scott, Nadine Bell Cover Photos: ©Andrew Linscott/Alamy Cartoons: Rich Tennant ( www.the5thwave.com) Composition Services Project Coordinator: Ryan Steffen Layout and Graphics: Joyce Haughey, Stephanie D. Jumper, Clint Lahnan, Barbara Moore, Barry Offringa, Heather Ryan, Erin Zeltner Special Art: Lisa Reed, illustrations, and Todd Adamson, photographs Proofreaders: Leeann Harney, Carl William Pierce, Charles Spencer, TECHBOOKS Production Services Indexer: TECHBOOKS Production Services Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel Publishing for Technology Dummies Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User Composition Services Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services 01_598791 ffirs.qxd 9/20/05 3:20 PM Page viii [...]... Cockatoos, Amazons, Macaws 30–50 years or more Small snakes Garter snakes, corn snakes 7–20 years Large snakes Pythons, boa constrictors 20–30 years Small lizards Anoles 3–5 years Medium lizards Geckos, bearded dragons 10–15 years Large lizards Iguanas, monitors 15–30 years Tarantulas Males 1–5 years Tarantulas Female 15–20 years, some 30+ *All values are approximate, individual pets may vary significantly... laws and ordinances regarding pets, what constitutes a pet, and where and when you are liable for your pet s behavior For instance, in some states, killing any dog that harasses a domestic animal is perfectly legal, if the dog isn’t wearing a rabies tag Pet owners typically are liable for any damages their pets inflict on anybody or anything That means if your Golden Retriever isn’t wearing his tag... Bartlett, which are filled with useful and much more detailed information about these kinds of pets Each section of this book relates to a separate issue about adopting a pet or caring for an adopted pet Because adopted pets have certain unique challenges, this book focuses on what you need to know about animals that have already had at least one home that didn’t work out You find out information about: ߜ... read You can also skip the stuff on the copyright page and any chapter that isn’t relevant to you If you adopted a cat, skip the chapters on dogs and snakes and guinea pigs If you adopted a rabbit, ignore the stuff about cats and parrots and tarantulas 3 4 Adopting a Pet For Dummies Foolish Assumptions I thought about you a lot when I wrote this book, and what kind of pet you might be thinking of adopting. .. other For Dummies guides on pet care published by Wiley, from books about specific purebred dogs like Labrador Retrievers For Dummies by Joel Walton and yours truly, to books like Cats For Dummies by Gina Spadafori and Paul D Pion, Parrots For Dummies by Nikki Moustaki, Ferrets For Dummies by Kim Schilling, Rabbits For Dummies by Audrey Pavia, and Reptiles & Amphibians For Dummies by Patricia Bartlett,... Being a good pet parent means providing a pet with all the things it needs to stay healthy Pets need mental as well as physical exercise, a clean environment, healthy food, and clean water Being a pet parent means being responsible, keeping a schedule, and making arrangements for your pet s care whenever you have to be away Are you ready for that kind of responsibility? The following sections can help... you aren’t willing to follow, then please don’t adopt a pet Affording a pet Maybe you’re perfectly willing to take on the responsibilities associated with owning a pet You have the time, the space, and the capacity for affection, but do you have the cold hard cash? Pets are pricey, especially during the first year Even if you’re adopting a pet for a meager adoption fee, that pet still needs the care,... lead a busy life, work most of the day out of the home, or come home late and leave again early in the morning, think long and hard about the commitment before you adopt a pet Some pets take more time than others — a hamster, for example, takes less time than a dog But most adopted pets take a significant amount of time and financial commitment, and it isn’t fair if you aren’t willing to give your pet. .. consultant When considering costs, looking at the big picture and considering the animal’s entire probable life span are good ideas The Good Part: Adopted Pets = Love With all this nay-saying, it may sound like the message in this chapter is that you shouldn’t get a pet Au contraire! Pets are wonderful, and adopting a pet that needs a home truly is a noble deed The message in this chapter is really more akin... really want a pet ᮣ Analyzing your lifestyle and personality to determine the perfect kind of pet for you ᮣ Examining the specific commitments, legal implications, and first-year costs of owning a pet A dopting a pet is good for everyone You get that soul mate you’ve been pining for, and a pet without a family gets you But taking on the responsibility of an adopted pet isn’t merely a matter of slapping . magazine and a breed profile column and a nat- ural dog care column for Pet Product News, and she is a member of the Dog Writer’s Association of America and the Cat Writer’s Association of America. Eve. Lahnan, Barbara Moore, Barry Offringa, Heather Ryan, Erin Zeltner Special Art: Lisa Reed, illustrations, and Todd Adamson, photographs Proofreaders: Leeann Harney, Carl William Pierce, Charles. DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES