Animal owners are generally healthier and happier –
but if you’re not ready to fully commit to your own pet.
Here are some great ways to enjoy part-time
companionship with a furry friend.
Sharing ownership
According
to the RSPCA, owning a dog can cost
up to £13,000 over its lifetime,
while owning a cat will set you back £9,000,
so sharing a pet seems like a plausible option.
Shared
ownership is when one person buys a pet, owning it officially, and then two
individuals split the cost of its upkeep and share the responsibility of
looking after it.
”Cats are
ideally suited to this arrangement – in fact many do this anyway!” says clinical animal behaviourist Pippa
Hutchinson. “With dogs, you need to think about temperament, as some build
a strong attachment to one owner. But if you start sharing from the beginning
of the dog’s life, it will find it normal.”
Sites
such as www.yours2share.com can put
you in touch with like-minded people.
Fostering
If you’re
experienced with animals, you have the option to foster a dog, cat, horse or pony that’s waiting to be rehomed.
Animals
need to be fostered for a variety of reasons. “Dogs will always be happier in a
family home than in the stressful environments such as kennels,” explains holistic vet Richard Allport. How long
you foster the pet for can vary from six months or longer, to just a few weeks
– cases will be assessed on an individual basis.
If you
have children, charities will recommend a suitable animal, but be prepared for
tears when your four-legged guest has to depart.
Contact www.rspca.org.uk for more information.
Borrowing
By using
the site www.borrowmydoggy.com, you
can connect with people who are looking for someone to help take care of their
pet – for a few hours or even potentially a few days.
“In many
cases, you will be caring for a dog that would have been left alone otherwise,
providing it with exercise and love – so you’ll benefit from the situation,’
says Pippa Hutchinson. “You should
have some experience to do this and could perhaps volunteer at a local rescue
centre first to get used to looking after animals” she suggests.
Dog Walking
Boost
your fitness levels while doing something for a good cause by signing up to the
Cinnamon Trust – a charity that
pairs volunteers with elderly people who have dogs that need walking and
attention. Walking is good for your health and burns around 228 calories per hour.
The
service operating nationwide and will pay for any travel costs incurred. “It’s
beneficial for you and the dog,” says Richard.
Pet sitting
If a friend
or neighbour is going away, why not offer to look after their pet? “It’s good
for animals to stay in familiar surroundings,” explains Pippa.
“Most
dogs would be grateful for the company and comfortable with this arrangement.
But cats are territorial and might be alarmed at having someone in their home,
so you’d need to be introduced gently first.”
If you have
animal experience, you can apply to an agency such as www.animalangels.co.uk – it’s a fast money earner. If you decided
to take this route, ensure you take out insurance to protect yourself.
If you
take care of a pet, or are now considering shared ownership of one – ensure you
get them insured! Please visit http://www.discountinsurance.co.uk/other-products/pet-insurance/ for further information.
