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Dr. Pawz: Questions to ask before adopting a pet

By WTOP Staff

Katy Nelson, special to wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Anyone who has ever lost a pet has experienced the “I may not ever adopt again” phenomenon.

I certainly felt this way last May when my little old dog Stanley passed away suddenly. I was devastated by his loss and unsure if I could handle adopting another dog again, especially any time soon.

However, with the type of job I have, and with as many adoptable pets as I come into contact with every week, I knew that eventually I would probably cave in, but it would have to be just the right fit. Well, that right fit came along this past weekend in the form of Eddie from Mutts Matter Rescue and PetFinder.

Eddie has an extraordinary rescue story, as do so many other pets out there. He was found with multiple other dogs in wire cages living in the basement of a crack house. Poor little Eddie was so matted with feces and urine that the shelter had to completely shave him down, resulting in full body razor burn and skin infections. After a little medicine and lots of TLC, he and many of his fellow housemates were taken in by rescues and have since found happy homes.

Eddie now has a loving home, but I had so many questions for the foster family and the rescuers before I decided to adopt him. I’ve done this before, and my kids and my other dog have been through this, so I knew what to ask and what to expect.

However, for my readers and viewers out there who are thinking of adopting for the first time, or for the first time in a long time, there are some things you should find out before you bring a pet into your household.

Any information that you can gather on the pet you’re considering adopting is extremely helpful. Save any written information that comes with the pet, especially any health records, notes from former owners or from the shelter/rescue. Create a file to save all of this information, or scan it into your computer. You just never know when this information may come in handy.

Here’s my list of questions that you should ask prior to adopting a new pet:

  • What is this pet’s story? How did it end up in a shelter/rescue?
  • How long has it been at the shelter/rescue?
  • Has the pet been adopted before, and why was he returned?
  • How old is this pet? Is the pet spayed or neutered, and if so, at what age was it done?
  • What, if any, illnesses or injuries has the pet had?
  • Is there any history of abuse?
  • What vaccines have been given? What are the dates of vaccinations, fecal checks, heartworm tests, heartworm prevention, flea/tick prevention and other medications?
  • What other pets has this animal been exposed to, and how did they react?
  • Has this pet been around small children, and how did they react?
  • How does this pet react to men, women and strangers?
  • What type of food has the pet been eating, how much and on what schedule? Is the pet an enthusiastic eater or is it picky? Is the pet tolerating the food well? In other words, is its skin healthy and are its stools normal?
  • Are there any behavioral issues that have been noted?
  • Has this pet had any sort of training, and what training methods were used? Are there any command words familiar to the pet?
  • Has the pet been groomed before, and how did it react?
  • What type of collar or harness is the pet accustomed to wearing?
  • Has the pet been living indoors? Is the pet housetrained?
  • In dogs, what type of potty break schedule have they been on, or is the dog trained to go to the bathroom on papers or a litter box?
  • Where does the pet sleep at night? In a bed, in a crate, in the foster’s bed, etc? Does it sleep through the night?
  • In dogs, are they accustomed to staying in a crate when left alone? How do they react to confinement? Have they ever left a fenced yard by jumping a fence, digging under it or other means of escape?
  • Does the pet cope well with new places? Does it travel well in a car? When travelling in a car, is it better in a crate or in a seatbelt?
  • Does the pet have any favorite toys or games?
  • Is it a possibility to introduce your current pets and family members to the new one prior to introducing it into the household?
  • What do you do if the situation doesn’t work out? Do you return the pet to the rescue/shelter/breeder?

Of course there are always more questions, but this should give you a good starting point when beginning the adoption process.

Want to know what to do when you finally get them home? Check back next week for a continuation of this topic!

Tune in to “The Pet Show” with Dr. Katy every Saturday at 11 a.m. on Washington D.C.’s News Channel 8, and listen on WTOP for her Dr. Pawz segments every two weeks. Have questions for Dr. Katy? You can follow her on Twitter @drkatynelson, on Facebook or email her at askdrkaty@wtop.com.

Follow @WTOPLiving on Twitter.

(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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