Should I get another pet?

When to adopt a new pet, after a much-loved companion has died, is a dilemma for many people. Consider the following factors:

• Try not to rush into decisions until you have time to sort out your feelings. Well-meaning family, friends, and even veterinary professionals may suggest a new animal as a means of comfort and support.

• Examine your motivation to get a new pet. Be mindful of "replacing" the one that died. Try not to compare your new pet with the memories of your deceased pet. You may be disappointed. It is important to consider the needs, behaviours, and lifestyle of a new animal and how they may differ from those of the animal that died.

• Another pet may help you heal. For some people, the companionship of a new pet may be comforting during this difficult time.

• Grieve the loss of your beloved pet. Be aware that you may not be able to bond with the new pet right away. The desire to adopt a new animal immediately following the death of a pet can be driven by the need to avoid the pain of grief. Give yourself time to heal the loss first, as it may help you truly welcome a new pet with open arms.

• Check in with the entire family. Be sure everyone is ready to commit to the new relationship. The time frame is different for everyone. Bringing a new pet into the family before all members are ready can hurt or offend them by implying that the pet's death is relatively insignificant and that loved ones are easily replaced.

• Decide if you are ready for a new companion. If you are adopting to avoid the grief over the death of your previous pet, you might give it some additional time. If you feel you have grieved and want to open yourself again to a new relationship, your heart is probably telling you that you are ready.

• Consider becoming a "foster parent". By fostering an animal through a local humane society or a breed rescue group, you'll provide temporary housing for an orphaned pet, who is awaiting permanent adoption. You'll provide a necessary service while testing your own readiness without a long-term commitment.