Should You Get a Pet? Weighing the Pros and Cons

By Sophie Kininmonth · 5 Feb 2026 (updated 21 Jul 2026) ·7 min read

Should You Get a Pet? Weighing the Pros and Cons

A pet can be one of the best additions to a household, bringing company, routine, and a reason to get outside. It is also a serious commitment. The animal will depend on you for food, safety, and health care every day for its whole life, and the costs and effort do not pause when your schedule gets busy or money gets tight. The point of thinking it through beforehand is simple: a good match works for both the household and the animal, while a poor one leads to stress, welfare problems, and expensive vet bills. Responsible pet ownership is less about good intentions and more about steady, practical care over years.¹

The real commitment: care for a whole lifetime

Most pets do not just slot in. They rely on you for food, water, shelter, safety, and health care, every day, for as long as they live. That commitment holds even when life changes, money tightens, or your schedule shifts.¹

Practical planning helps a lot. Many people underestimate the early set-up costs (equipment, vaccinations, microchipping, registration) and the ongoing ones (food, parasite prevention, check-ups, grooming, training, boarding). It is also worth expecting the unexpected, because injuries and sudden illness are part of living with animals.²

Different species need different things, but most day-to-day responsibilities show up in the same places:

Food and fresh water suited to the animal's age and health.
Movement and stimulation, from dog walks to climbing, foraging, training games, or safe exploration.
Hygiene, covering litter trays, bedding, cages, tanks, and the places pets eat and sleep.
Company and supervision, including time indoors, time alone, and safe boundaries.
Routine veterinary care, meaning vaccinations, parasite control, and dental and general health checks as advised by your vet.^{1, 6}

Health care basics: prevention beats panic

Good pet care is quiet and preventative. A regular relationship with a local vet makes a real difference, because many problems are easier and cheaper to manage when they are caught early.

Vaccination needs vary by species, lifestyle, and location, so the schedule should come from your vet. In Australia, puppies and kittens commonly start their core vaccinations from around 6 to 8 weeks, with follow-up doses through the early months, then ongoing boosters as advised.^{6, 7}

Identification matters too. Microchipping improves the chance of a reunion if a pet is lost, and it is a legal requirement in many parts of Australia, alongside council registration and, in some places, desexing requirements. Check your local council rules and keep your microchip details up to date.^{3, 4}

Even well-cared-for animals get sick, or do something ordinary and unlucky, such as an awkward jump, a swallowed object, or a fight at the fence line. A dedicated savings buffer or pet insurance can soften the impact. Either way, it helps to decide in advance how you will handle emergency costs and transport, especially after hours.²

What pets can change in people (and what they cannot)

Many people feel better with an animal around: calmer routines, more movement, a quieter house at the end of the day. The evidence, though, is mixed. Some studies find benefits for loneliness or stress in some groups, while others find no benefit, or even worse quality-of-life measures under certain conditions such as periods of high disruption. It is more accurate to say pets can support wellbeing, but they are not a reliable treatment, and the effect depends on the person, the animal, and the situation.⁵

Dogs, in particular, tend to pull people outdoors. Large reviews and scientific statements note that dog ownership is often linked with higher physical activity, and may be associated with lower cardiovascular risk, though the evidence is not uniform and adopting a pet solely for health reasons is not recommended.⁸

Common disadvantages, and how they usually show up

The downsides of pet ownership are rarely dramatic. They are practical, repetitive, and sometimes exhausting:

Money pressure: food, parasite prevention, vaccinations, desexing, microchipping, registration, and vet visits, plus the occasional big emergency bill.²
Time and routine: daily care, training, cleaning, and making arrangements for holidays or late workdays.¹
Health and hygiene risks: pets can carry germs and parasites that can make people sick, sometimes even when the animal looks healthy. Handwashing, sensible cleaning, and routine vet care reduce the risk, and extra care is needed around pregnancy and immunosuppression.⁹

Choosing the right pet for your lifestyle

Matching a pet to your real week, meaning your work hours, commuting, noise tolerance, energy, and budget, prevents a lot of heartache. Dogs often need more active time and training. Cats can be more independent, but still need daily care, enrichment, and veterinary support. Small mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish can look low maintenance at first glance, yet they often have precise housing, temperature, diet, and hygiene needs that take discipline. Keep in mind that some animals are restricted or banned in parts of Australia, and many exotic birds, reptiles, and fish need permits that vary by state, so check your state authority before committing.

If you are unsure, start with honest questions:

How many hours will the animal be alone most days?
Who does the care when you are sick, away, or working late?
What is your realistic weekly budget, plus a buffer for emergencies?
Are there allergies, mobility limits, rental restrictions, or council rules that change what is possible?

RSPCA Australia recommends researching the specific needs of the animal and planning before bringing a pet home, including considering adoption through an RSPCA shelter where suitable.¹

Pets and children: benefits come with supervision

Pets can be part of a warm childhood, with shared routines, gentle responsibility, and plenty of chances to practise calm handling. Safety, though, needs to be treated as non-negotiable, especially with dogs.

Australian child-safety guidance is consistent on one point: any dog might bite, and young children are at higher risk, often bitten by a familiar dog at home. Close supervision means staying within arm's reach and being ready to step in, particularly around food, sleep, pain, high-energy play, and unfamiliar animals.¹⁰

To build good habits early:

Make care tasks predictable and age-appropriate (topping up water, helping with feeding under adult control, gentle brushing).
Teach the leave-them-alone moments: eating, sleeping, hiding, injured, cornered.
Set up zones: a child-free retreat for the pet, and a pet-free area for the child when needed.¹⁰

Considerations for older pet owners

For many older people, pets bring structure to the day and reasons to step outside. The best match is still the one that fits safely: manageable strength on the lead, low trip hazards, a stable temperament, and a realistic plan for vet visits and ongoing costs.

If future mobility is a concern, think ahead. Smaller or calmer animals may be easier to care for, and it is wise to have a written back-up plan in case the pet outlives you or you cannot provide care for a period.^{1, 2}

Adoption versus buying: what to weigh up

Adoption is a straightforward way to give an animal a second chance. Many shelters include essential veterinary work, often vaccinations, microchipping, desexing, and health checks, as part of the adoption process, though the details vary by organisation and the individual animal.^{1, 11}

Buying from a breeder can be appropriate in some circumstances, but it is worth being cautious, because high demand can fuel poor welfare practices. If you go down this path, take time to check that the breeder is reputable, transparent about health screening, and willing to discuss temperament and suitability, not just colour and pedigree.

A quick decision check

You can cover routine care and have a plan for emergencies.²
Your daily schedule fits the animal's needs, including exercise and supervision.¹
Your home can be set up safely, with secure fences, safe spaces, and child supervision rules where relevant.¹⁰
You are ready for a long commitment, not just the first exciting months.¹

References

Sophie Kininmonth

Dog lover and writer at My Pets Australia, sharing practical breed guides and care advice for Australian pet owners.