Adopting a companion animal can be one of the most rewarding decisions a person can make in their lives — but it’s never a decision to be taken lightly. Whether you are adopting a dog, cat, or any other species, adoption means committing to that animal for life — through the highs and lows, the many joys and the inevitable challenges. 

It’s essential for potential guardians to understand what their commitment truly involves. From financial responsibilities and navigating the adoption process to ensuring post-adoption success, our data-driven overview provides a guide for thinking through the most important considerations. 

What to Consider Before Adoption

Adoption is often driven by good intentions, but before making that decision, potential adopters need to be aware of the practical realities of what being a companion animal guardian entails — both financially and behaviorally.

The Financial Realities Of Companion Animal Care

One of the most overlooked aspects of companion animal adoption is the long-term financial commitment. Many people understandably focus on the immediate costs, such as adoption fees or purchasing food, bedding, toys, and more, but the reality is far more complex. The lifetime cost of caring for a dog can range from $27,000 to $42,000 depending on factors such as breed, size, and health issues. This includes expenses like food, grooming, and training, as well as medical care, which can sometimes be breed-specific.

For example, large breeds like German Shepherds or Golden Retrievers tend to have higher healthcare costs due to breed-specific conditions like hip dysplasia. Smaller breeds might need less food but could have higher grooming expenses, as seen with dogs like Poodles or Shih Tzus. These breed-specific costs can come as a surprise to many first-time adopters, especially those who are not necessarily looking for a particular kind of dog and thus haven’t researched each breed’s particular needs. It’s essential that anyone considering adoption factors in ongoing costs, not just the one-time expense of bringing a companion animal home.

For potential guardians of cats and other species, the same types of considerations and calculations apply. While lifetime costs are never paid in a lump sum, it’s worth thinking about the monthly and annual costs and making sure that such costs — as well as a buffer for emergencies — are within your means.

Of course, a lack of financial means does not preclude someone from adopting a companion animal, nor does it mean that you can’t be a good guardian. Numerous studies have found that animal companionship can be mutually beneficial for animals and unhoused individuals, and there is a contemporary movement towards “co-sheltering” for unhoused people to allow them to maintain those companion bonds. 

Behavioral Considerations: Is Your Household Ready?

Another critical factor to think about is animal behavior, and the suitability of your living situation to different species and breeds. It’s important to consider the needs and temperament of the animal you’re adopting, especially if you’re adopting from a shelter — shelter environments can be stressful for animals, often causing behaviors that might not be representative of how they’ll act in a home. For example, it’s common for dogs to exhibit anxiety or fear-based aggression when in unfamiliar environments, and this can change dramatically after they’ve had time to adjust to a new home — likewise for cats. For other species, you may be adopting them from a rescue situation where they were abused or lived in bad conditions. Preparing your home for their specific needs, getting the right supplies, as well as being prepared for an adjustment period, are all crucial. 

Considerations for Special Needs or Older Animals

While many people think of companion animal adoption involving younger animals, shelters often have more “challenging” animals, animals from hoarding situations, and older or special-needs animals who need loving homes. These individuals are often harder to place in homes but can be deeply rewarding to care for. Data shows that older dogs are significantly less likely to be adopted from shelters than puppies. However, learning and growing with an older companion can be just as fulfilling, and many older dogs are calmer and more predictable than younger ones. Of course, adopting older animals can mean being prepared for a different range of potential health and behavioral issues that might arise with age — but with the right care, older dogs can live healthy, happy lives.

Navigating The Companion Animal Adoption Process

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on pet adoptions, particularly during lockdown periods when people were spending more time at home. The demand for companionship skyrocketed, and shelters saw an unprecedented surge in foster applications, with rates increasing by as much as 90% in some areas. 

This foster-to-adopt pipeline offered animals a temporary refuge from shelters, but many shelters now report higher return rates as life returns to normal and people find they can no longer care for their pets. And now, with most people having returned to in-person work, the pandemic puppies may face a variety of welfare issues related to the shift.

While the pandemic was a very particular circumstance that may not be repeated in the short term, it revealed some of the complexities in the dynamics between shelters, adopters, and companion animals — complexities that exist before the pandemic and will continue to exist afterwards.

The rise of the “Adopt Don’t Shop” movement has pushed many people to choose shelters and rescues over breeders, a welcome development that has saved many animals. Adopting a companion animal from a shelter is a positive step, but the process itself can sometimes feel overwhelming — and recent discussions in the field suggest that the process may have become overly complicated, potentially deterring well-meaning adopters. Shelters often require adopters to go through rigorous screenings, home visits, and lengthy applications. While these procedures are important for ensuring animals go to safe homes, they can also create barriers.

In some cases, adopters may give up if the process feels too invasive or takes too long, turning instead to breeders who may not have the same rigorous checks — and who are breeding animals into the world when shelters have animals in desperate need of homes. This is a delicate balance: shelters need to safeguard animals, but simplifying the adoption process could lead to more successful placements, as long as adequate safety nets remain in place. If there is a balance to be struck, the current balance leans towards caution.

Post-Adoption Factors for Success

Adopting a new companion animal is just the beginning — for a successful transition, new guardians need to be prepared to invest time, energy, and resources into their new companion. Key factors for success include ongoing behavioral support, access to medical care, and a willingness to continue the journey through financial and behavioral support.

Behavioral Support

Behavioral issues are one of the leading reasons animals are returned to shelters, which underscores the importance of being prepared to address them as they manifest. New adopters need to invest time in understanding how to support an animal’s transition, whether through training or by adjusting the home environment to better suit them. Behavioral challenges like aggression or reactivity require patience and persistence, which can be a major factor in ensuring the success of an adoption — and also be one of the most rewarding aspects of the process.

The behavior of an animal can change once they’re placed in a home — for example, dogs might exhibit entirely new behaviors as they adjust to life outside of a stressful shelter environment. Dogs that were anxious or fearful might become more relaxed, while others could show unexpected signs of aggression or separation anxiety. What’s more, animals’ behavior will likely change as they age. 

This is where post-adoption support becomes critical. Guardians need to be proactive in seeking help for behavioral challenges, whether through training, behavioral therapy, or simply giving the animal time to adjust. Shelters and rescues can help by offering resources or follow-up check-ins with adopters. Veterinarians can also play a key role.

Veterinary Care And Cooperation

Vets play a key role in reducing euthanasia rates in shelters, helping with early intervention and preventative care, which can address issues that might otherwise lead to animal surrender. Collaboration between veterinarians and shelters can also help reduce euthanasia rates, particularly for treatable conditions. 

For new guardians, ongoing access to veterinary care is essential for ensuring an adopted pet’s long-term health. Post-adoption vet care should include regular checkups, vaccinations, and spaying or neutering, which are crucial not just for the pet’s health, but also for controlling shelter populations in the long run. 

However the relationship between vets and guardians is a two-way street. Studies have shown that, especially with access to information and resources through the Internet, guardians can be resistant to veterinary advice. While some see the veterinary profession as profit-driven and thus not necessarily an impartial source of advice, much of the content that will be surfaced from a search of “Dr. Google” will likely be SEO content coming from other veterinarians. Guardians need to think critically about all sources of information, and be prepared to ask informed questions so that they can make informed decisions in collaboration with professionals.

As discussed earlier, the costs of living with a companion animal extend far beyond adoption fees. A companions needs change as they age, with medical care often becoming more expensive in their senior years. By planning for these eventual expenses from the outset, adopters can avoid financial strain and ensure their pet receives the care it needs for its entire life.

Data-Driven Decision-Making For Long-Term Success

Adopting a companion animal can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it requires careful consideration, both before and after the process. From understanding the financial and behavioral realities of companion guardianship, to navigating the adoption process itself, a data-driven approach can help ensure that every adoption is a success story. 

For shelters and adopters alike, balancing accessibility with responsibility is the key to increasing adoption rates and reducing returns. Ultimately, the goal is not just to find homes for animals, but to create lasting, fulfilling relationships between pets and their human companions.

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Faunalytics Research Library contains hundreds of study summaries to help guardians better understand their companion animals, the veterinary industry, sheltering, and more. Be sure to also check out our Companion Animal Fundamentals for a visually-rich, one-page overview of some of the most important issues facing companion animals today.