Quiz: Are You Ready to Adopt a Pet?

Thinking of sharing your life with a furry, feathered, or scaly loved one? Animal adoption is not for the fickle of heart. Taking stock of your own life is the first—and most important—step to becoming a pet parent. It’s a long-term commitment that can see you through marriages, babies, and cross-country migrations. So don’t give self-examination short shrift. Take our quiz and see if you’re ready to take the pet plunge.

1. Your best friend, Sally, is coming over with her dog Beau for a visit. As soon as you open the door, Beau jumps up and pummels you with slobbery kisses. You:

A. Laugh. Doggie kisses are the bee’s knees!
B. Wipe the drool off your face and wait for Sally to take charge of the situation.
C. Recoil in horror.

2. Sunday mornings usually find you:

A. Cheerful, energetic, and right in sync with the early morning dog walkers.
B. Engaged in unapologetic bed hugging.
C. What mornings? Saturday night’s carousing means you don’t see daylight until 1 p.m.

3. When your pet-parent friends are leaving town and find themselves in need of a sitter, they:

A. Don’t even have to call. Your pad is their personal Camp Bow Wow.
B. Know they’ll hear some grumbling if they ask you, but have you on their list.
C. Can’t reach you. You know what’s coming and monitor the caller ID like a private eye.

4. The furniture in your home:

A. Has many marks of “character” from friends’ pets, and that’s perfectly fine with you.
B. May not exactly be magazine material, but serves its purpose with a certain flair.
C. Might as well be your pet—it’s that precious to you.

5. Your work schedule typically:

A. Varies so little you’re known at the local coffee shop as Ol’ Reliable.
B. Allows for some flexibility, but it’s nothing to write home about.
C. Has nothing typical about it. Dolly wasn’t singing about your life when she wrote “9 to 5.”

6. When you lock eyes with your checking account balance at the ATM, you:

A. Quickly lose track of all the numbers, then head for the nearest four-star restaurant.
B. Feel reassured, but still proudly consider yourself a bargain shopper.
C. Immediately start hyperventilating.

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By Melissa Wiley for TAILS

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Fi T.

4:16AM PDT on May 8, 2013

Always ask oneself these questions before adopting a pet since it's a life

May 8
send a green star

Melania P.

5:20PM PST on Mar 9, 2013

Sharing, thanks

March 9
send a green star

Kathy P.

8:03AM PDT on Oct 27, 2012

cute

October 27
send a green star

Linda F.

3:58PM PDT on Oct 23, 2012

Adopt! Don’t shop! your local municipality probably has a dozen or more pets waiting for homes and you may have an SPCA, Humane Society or local rescue in your town/city too

October 23
send a green star

Carrie-Anne B.

9:00AM PDT on Oct 21, 2012

thanks for sharing :)

October 21
send a green star

Ionete O.

6:39AM PDT on Oct 18, 2012

I already adopted, if I had more space, I would like to take some more animals! You never know...

October 18
send a green star

David V.

5:37PM PDT on Oct 17, 2012

If you are thinking about pet ownership, please Adopt & do NOT buy. Just remember it takes a lot of responsibility to own a pet, it is just like having a baby. It needs to be fed, walked, loved, taken to the vet, etc. If you feel you are ready.....please go to the nearest shelter & adopt. It is the best feeling ever.

October 17
send a green star

Carol M.

10:52AM PDT on Oct 17, 2012

Thanks, many people adopt a animal and don't really think about it as they should since a animal can live 17+ years. Pets are great but only if you are ready for the commitment and are ready for the expense of keeping the pet healthy,and happy. I have two wonderful dogs that I adopted and want to get another however I want to pay up some bills before I do adopt. That way I can give the best to my new friend.

Mary J.

3:53AM PDT on Oct 17, 2012

hanks

Mm M.

11:07PM PDT on Oct 16, 2012

Wonderful Post...Don't normally come to this area but this is totally interesting. Loved this Post totally! IMPORTANT!