Are you ready to welcome Fido or Fluffy to the family?

Editor’s Note: This is the first in an ongoing series of columns from local rescue groups on responsible companion animal ownership.

So, you are getting a pet. Congratulations. Pet ownership can be a most rewarding part of life. Pets welcome us home. They help us get exercise. They comfort us. They share our lives. Anything that gives so much deserves to be treated like a valued member of the family. And their adoption into our families should be a well-thought-out decision.

Those of us involved with pet rescue hope all of our rescued animals go to great homes; the fact is, some don’t. Many times it is because the pet was added to the family as a spur-of-the-moment decision, or for the wrong reasons.

Here’s a checklist to help make sure the decision to adopt a pet is the right one for your family and for the prospective pet:

• Do you want an adult pet? That irresistibly cute puppy or playful kitten will be an adult in about a year. If you don’t want a dog or a cat, don’t adopt a puppy or kitten.

• Can you afford a pet? The cost of adopting a pet is just the beginning. Whether you are bringing a free kitten or a $1,000 purebred puppy into your household, you’ve just begun to lay out funds — if you are caring for your new friend properly. The most obvious expenses are daily outlays, like food. But there is so much more.

For example, a “free” kitten likely has had no shots, no dewormings and no other medical care. That means two to three kitten shots, plus rabies, at least two dewormings and possible ear mite treatment. At about 4 months of age, the kitten will need to be altered. Then, there are the unforeseen health issues or accidents that require vet care. Puppies incur similar expenses. Talk to your vet about costs before you commit to adopting. Low-cost clinics are economical options. But as with your own health care, it is better to have a professional who sees your pet regularly rather than piecemeal care. A well-cared-for pet will likely live longer and incur fewer large vet bills.

• Is this the right time to add a pet to your family? Pets, like children, need a stable environment to thrive. Most of the “returns” we see at our rescue are because of people whose lives are in flux and have little or nothing to do with the cat. If you are preparing to move, expecting a baby, raising very young children, working long hours, having relationship troubles or dealing with any other sort of disruptive life change, rethink your decision to adopt. If you want a pet to “teach your child responsibility,” what happens to the pet when the child is irresponsible? The perfect pet will be available when your life is more conducive to adopting.

• Are you prepared to keep this pet for its 10- to 20-year life span? Pets are not disposable commodities. Depending on the breed and health of the animal, they can live 20 years or more. This means the child wanting a pet needs to have parents willing to keep the pet until the child is grown and settled, and the mature adult needs a contingency plan for the pet if the pet outlives him or her.

One of our volunteers told of a relative who announced she was having her dog put down and buried with her when she died. He asked her if she would be willing to return the favor if the dog died first.

Our pets need to be treated like the special members of our families they are. Make sure your decision to adopt a pet has the best interests of the pet in mind.

Victoria Naegele is president of Alaska Cat Adoption Team, an all-volunteer, 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to homing displaced kittens and their mothers, and promoting responsible pet ownership. Visit online at alaskacatadoptionteam.org.