How to Be a Responsible Pet Owner
Sep 10, 2021
When you first took your pet home, it was hard to imagine the imprint they’d make on your life and your lifestyle (and sometimes your carpets). That’s why being a responsible pet owner is much the same as being a good parent. You can’t say you’ve always planned for it perfectly, but you want to be prepared to do whatever it takes to keep all the members of your family – including the fuzzy variety – healthy and happy.
Years ago, what we believed about responsible pet ownership was very different. Today, the cornerstones of being a good pet owner include:
- Having an understanding of your pet’s breed and any special characteristics. Most people do research ahead of selecting a cat or dog to determine if the breed will work well in their home and with their lifestyle;
- Staying informed and taking care of their pet's ongoing health and wellness, including diet, exercise and play. Your veterinarian plays a key role in maintaining your pet’s health and can support you in keeping your pet healthy.
- Ensuring your pet has proper identification (such as a microchip or registry tag). The chances of recovering your pet if they go astray are increased tremendously when you can identify them.
When you bring a pet home, you make a commitment to do whatever you can within your means to take care of them. Pet insurance coverage helps you do that by being a financial resource for taking care of your pet’s health. You can learn more about the cost of care here.
Caring for your pet can add up to a lot of work, money and energy. But it’s worth it. We explored these challenges with pet owners and veterinarians, and the result was Pets Plus Us™: part community, part pet insurance coverage and part membership. When you put them together, you have what you need to make good decisions for your pet, and keep them happy.
Happy pets = happy pet owners!