Is your child ready for a pet?

By Djembe Archibald

Aug 3, 2023

Simple steps: Adopting a pet is a straight-forward task. Photo by Daneka Hill

Most parents will be familiar with the joys of children desperately pleading for a new pet.

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Adoption is a great option for getting a new furry friend, as it gets the animal out of the pound and into your loving home. But how does it work?

The council shelter and local facilities such as Goulburn Valley Pet Adoption & Rehoming house many different kinds of domestic friends.

Try looking at their websites or Facebook pages to see what’s available.

Animals in council’s care undergo a behavioural assessment and are vet checked, which includes being vaccinated, microchipped, desexed and treated for worms and fleas. The same goes for most shelters.

The first step is to complete an online application. Then a meet-and-greet appointment is set up.

If the meet and greet goes well, and the application is approved, you can pick up your new family member.

The shelter staff include an adoption pack with information on animal care and the certificates for vaccination and desexing, and if your new friend is from the council pound, the first registration period is free of charge.

So the next time your child asks “Can we get a puppy?”, check the council website or a local shelter to find a new fur-ever friend.