Don't get the wrong impression. It's good that people are having doubts about whether or not they're ready to welcome a dog to their family. After all, it comes with quite a bit of responsibility. "In exchange for all the love you will get in return, you need to be ready for the commitment of having a four-legged friend who depends on you," Teresa, the founder of The Dogvine, an award-winning lifestyle blog for London dogs, told Bored Panda.
"For example, do you have the right kind of lifestyle to welcome a dog right now? If you’re living in a rented property, you’ll need to check dogs are allowed or if you work away from home all day, you’ll need to think about how your dog gets the exercise it needs, and whether you can you afford to cover any expenses such as a dog-walker to make sure they do."
Teresa thinks people often underestimate the cost of having a pooch. "Aside from food, treats, and toys, veterinary costs can be high if your pet gets ill so having good pet insurance is essential. Then you should budget for any other regular dog services you might need as well such as dog walking, doggy daycare, or dog grooming."
"The other thing people probably underestimate would be having to adapt your lifestyle for your dog. For example, the RSPCA guidelines are that dogs shouldn’t be left home alone for more than 4 hours at a time despite many dog owners not realizing leaving their dogs alone for much longer is an issue," Teresa added. "You’ll need to plan your free time around this if your dog can’t come with you when you’re going out, or when it comes to holidays, it may mean choosing vacation destinations where your dog can come too."
In fact, The Dogvine helps dog owners tackle this issue. Through the platform, they can find dog-friendly places and things to do in and around London so they can spend more quality time with their dog and not have to leave them at home alone. "Our dogs are family members who aren't with us for that long, so having them be part of our daily life is a must in my opinion. " Teresa said. She has two beloved rescue dogs herself – Belinha and Moleque who she rescued from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she lived for 7 years before they all moved back to London.
"Rescuing my dogs was the best thing I ever did and despite having to make some lifestyle changes as a result, I wouldn't change my decision for the world," Teresa said.
She and all of these moms prove that dogs give us so much love and ask for so little in return, it's all worth it.
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