Tale care when choosing your new companion. It is your responsibility to ensure that the animal you select is healthy. It is useful to have a questionnaire so that you remember to ask everything you need to know, such as relevant medical and vaccination history, temperament, its usual routine, where it lives, what type of food it is on, how it gets on with other pets. It is always advisable to have the pet checked by a Veteringary Surgeon.
Always introduce your newly adopted pet slowly and carefully to any pet you may already have. It will take time and patience for your new pet to settle in to its new surroundings and to get used to your way of life. If you are thinking of taking on a pet that you have no experience with, do read up about it and if possible find someone with that type of pet that you can talk to. You will find some basic information sheets on the Downloads
page and downloaded from this site.
Don't forget that horses and ponies need a lot of time and commitment with adequate stabling and grazing. They will require a valid passport. It is sensible to have a veterinary inspection on the horse or pony you are adopting and ask for a trial period before fully committing yourself to the adoption. If you are thinking of adopting a farm animal such as a goat or pig, remember that farm animals are subject to strict regulations, so it is best to contact DEFRA for advice.
