{resources pets} Not Ready to Commit? Try fostering an animal! If you’re still not sure about expanding your family, then try fostering! Fostering an animal—whether it be for a week or two, to help give an animal some time away from the shelter, or to consider a more long-term situation—can do wonders for dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes. Not only do you give an animal a much-needed reprieve from the shelter, but your children can find out just how much work goes into taking care of a pet. Fostering a shelter animal can help kids learn responsibility through taking care of an animal, and they can even watch puppies and kittens grow up. The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA also provides excellent resources to foster families. You will receive training, supplies and all of the guidance you may need when caring for your temporary pet. Also, any supplies, such as toys or treats, that you buy for your foster pet may be tax deductible. If you think fostering would be a good fit for your family, fill out a foster application at caspca.org or in person at the shelter. For more information, contact the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA at 434973-5959.
When my family and I were shopping around for a vet for our pup, we came across several veterinary practices in the Charlottesville area that offer so-called wellness plans, which cover things like vaccines, lab work and dental cleaning, and which offer discounts on services that aren’t covered. Pet insurance, recommended by many vets, can cover emergencies and other procedures, such as x-rays that are
PET GUIDE
not covered by wellness plans. You can find information about these plans online or at your veterinarian’s office. It also helps to know national trends. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), dog owners can spend an average of $400 per year per animal, whereas cat owners spend roughly half that amount.
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA See ad page 53
Which Buyer? Once you’ve decided what type of pet you want, you need to determine how you will get your pet. You may decide that you want a purebred pet. In that case, take time to research breeders or pet stores
Georgetown Veterinary Hospital See ad page 57
before settling on one. Some pet stores use backyard breeders when acquiring animals, so make sure you do your homework on this. You may also want to look into rescues that only take in certain breeds. And of course, you can always contact one of the local animal shelters, which have many pets, both purebreds and mixed breeds, in need of loving homes. A big plus in buying from a breeder is that you know the animal’s history. You can meet the parents of the pet you are considering and observe their temperaments. The breeder may also do certain tests to see if there’s a possibility your animal will develop health problems, such as hip dysplasia or cancer, later on in life. You also may receive papers to register your purebred with an association, such as the American Kennel Club. However, buying a pet from a breeder can be very expensive, with some dogs costing more than $1,000. Adopting from a shelter or a rescue organization has both pros and cons. For starters, when you adopt from a reputable rescue or a shelter like the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, the staff
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Holiday 2020