Small and medium dogs will live about fourteen years, while large dogs will live about eight years. If you decide to adopt a puppy, plan to have him for at least a decade. Are you ready for that kind of commitment? Pets of any kind aren't cheap, and dogs are no exception. The first year you own your dog will probably be the most expensive--expect to spend a good deal of money on health care and supplies. Every year thereafter, expect to spend several hundred dollars depending on the size of the dog and the breed. Even basic care—food, flea medication, heartworm preventative, collars, and annual vaccinations—adds up. If the financial aspect doesn't deter you from adopting a fuzzy friend, then you need to prepare your home. You will need: 1. a food bowl; 2. water bowl; 3. dog food, dry and wet; 4. treats; 5. bed; 6. heartworm preventative; 7. grooming supplies (brush, nail clipper, shampoo, etc.); 8. leash; 9. collar; 10. flea collar; 11. ID tag; 12. toys; 13. first aid kit; 14. pooper scooper; 15. doggie doodie bags; 16. crate (for traveling); 17. a dog house if he will spend any time outdoors. It's a long list, but you really must have all of these things if you want your dog to be a loving, sociable, healthy companion. Puppies are like babies; they are learning how to control their bladders and will have accidents. They are teething, so they will chew on everything. If you cannot accept a dog pooping and peeing on your carpet and chewing up everything at puppy-level, then a puppy is not for you. If you cannot accept having to wake up at three o'clock in the morning because Baby Woofy has to go pee-pee, a puppy is not for you. And if you cannot dedicate many hours a day to socializing your animal, a baby animal is definitely not for you. Older dogs are just as affectionate and loyal as their younger counterparts, but usually are already house-broken and can entertain themselves while you go to work in ways that don't involve destroying your home. Think about this before you adopt a puppy. It is illegal for you to tie your dog up, even in your yard, for more than three hours a day in Brownwood, TX. If you do not have a fenced yard to keep your dog in, you will need to accompany your dog on a leash each time he has to use the bathroom. If you are found to be illegally chaining your dog, animal control can issue you a costly ticket, or bring the dog to the shelter. You may reclaim your pet (reclaim.html), of course, but it can be costly. Keep Brownwood Beautiful (http://www.keepbrownwoodbeautiful.org/) puts doggie clean-up stations in the parks around town. While we encourage you to bring your own doggie bags, you can find bags at these various stations. Please clean up after your dog; nobody likes to smell it or slip in it! And remember: your dog won't clean itself! You have to give your dog a bath every week, whether he likes it or not.

 

 

 

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Cats are more solitary companions, though they do emotionally better when they have a cat companion. They don't require your attention all the time, like many dogs do. They aren't as demanding, either. Owning a cat is not much cheaper than owning a dog, so adopters need to be prepared to spend potentially several hundred dollars a year for flea preventatives, vet visits, food, toys, and supplies. Cats tend to outlive their canine counterparts. A cat's average lifespan is 12 - 18 years. Indoor cats tend to live much longer than outdoor cats, because outdoor cats are more likely to get run over and catch fatal diseases. Before you bring your cat home, you'll want to prepare your home. You will need: 1. a food bowl; 2. water bowl; 3. cat or kitten food, dry and wet; 4. treats; 5. bed; 6. scratching post; 7. grooming supplies (brush, nail clipper, shampoo, etc.); 8. litter box, scoop, and litter; 9. collar; 10. flea collar (if outdoor cat); 11. ID tag; 12. toys; 13. first aid kit. If you own a cat, you will need to scoop litter every day. If you do not, then your cat will rebel and poop in a clean spot...like the living room floor. Cats are very clean creatures, and they expect you to be the same way. Unlike dogs, cats clean themselves, and you won't have to shampoo your cat unless you have allergies or your cat gets into something it can't clean off by itself (something sticky, for instance). Cats have a need to scratch. They do it because their nails have a sheath that needs to come off as it grows, and scratching does the trick. You can train a kitten to use a scratching post instead of your furniture in a matter of hours by picking him up when he scratches the couch, and then putting his paws on the scratching post. He'll get the idea pretty quickly. Older cats can also be trained, but it might take a bit longer. To prevent a cat from scratching in an area, line the area with double-sided tape; cats don't like sticky surfaces.