Owning a pet is a rewarding part of life, but there are certain responsibilities that are a big part of the package deal and your pet relies on you in many ways. February is Responsible Pet Owners Month and in recognition, we’ve compiled a list of things that you can do as a responsible pet owner.

5 Responsibilities of a Pet Owner

1. Do Your Research – Being a responsible pet owner begins before even bringing a pet into your home. It is your responsibility to do the research involved to decide on a pet that will fit into your lifestyle.

• Consider your current daily schedule and how much time you’ll be able to designate for your pet’s needs.
• Do your research on breed-specific characteristics and the activity levels that various breeds of dogs require to ensure it is a good match for your lifestyle.

2. Practice Healthy Habits- Whether it’s long walks and hikes or active play in the house or yard, encouraging regular exercise will help keep your pet (and you) healthy

• Fun Fact – The New York Times has stated that before getting a dog, new dog owners had timed about 89 minutes of weekly walking, but dog ownership boosted that number to 130 minutes a week.

3. Have Your Pet Micro-Chipped – You never know when your pet may be feeling adventurous and dig their way out of the fence, or a door may get left open and serve as an invitation for them to sneak out. Having your pet micro-chipped can be a life-saver when it comes to finding a lost pet.

• The micro-chip serves as your pet’s personal tracking device, allowing you to locate them if they get lost.
• This is also a service that is usually included when adopting a pet from an animal shelter.

4. Schedule Health Check-ups – Maintaining your pet’s health is one of the biggest responsibilities of a pet owner, and a big part of that is scheduling a yearly veterinary exam.

• Our pets are unable to tell us when something is wrong, so it is up to us as their owner to identify any potential problems and to know when they need medical attention.
• Yearly veterinary exams are also necessary to renew any medications your pet may need, including preventative heart worm medication and/or flea and tick prevention.

5. Provide a Nutritional Diet – As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” Well, the same goes for your pet. Be selective when it comes to choosing your pet’s food to be sure they receive proper nutrition.

• Feeding a diet with high quality, wholesome ingredients will help ensure your pet gets the most out of the nutrition they receive.
• Eagle Pack has a variety of diets suitable for pet’s life stage and lifestyle. From small breed to large and giant breed dogs, ranging from puppy to adulthood, Eagle Pack provides formulas with the right balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates combined with health promoting antioxidant support.

Caring for a pet is a daily responsibility, but the responsibility comes with a reward. A reward of unconditional love and daily gratitude from your #1 fan – your pet.