So, you’re thinking of bringing home a new beardie buddy to be a part of your family. Great choice! Beardies make really wonderful companions and are just some of the sweetest pets you could imagine. You may not realize it, but bearded dragons can actually be adopted instead of just bought from a pet store.
There are plenty of rescues across the country that are dedicated to uniting bearded dragons with their forever homes. Like most adoption proceedings though, there are a few specific requirements you’ll have to meet in order to add one of these special friends to your family. There are also some things you should consider first before you decide to take the plunge and adopt.
What You Should Consider First
Before you adopt any pet, there are some questions you should ask yourself and evaluations you should make about your readiness and your lifestyle in general. Take a look at your life and figure out if you are in the right place both physically and mentally to take on the responsibility of pet ownership. Can you afford it? Do you have space for one? Do you have the time?
All of these questions can help you evaluate your readiness for a pet in general, but specifically for reptile ownership. Reptiles need a little bit more attention than dogs and cats do as their habitats require maintenance. They need to have their temperature regulated, certain vitamin dusts, and their feeding varies by the day.
You need to be sure your lifestyle is right for owning a pet that needs that kind of attention to detail. If you travel frequently, or you don’t have the money or space for all of the terrarium equipment, now might not be the right time to bring a beardie into your life. It would be best for you and for the bearded dragon that you are 100% sure that you can take on the responsibility or it can lead to neglect, poor treatment, and even abandonment of the pet if they feel like too much of a burden.
To avoid that at all costs, you’ll want to be completely sure that you’re up for the task or just wait until a time when you feel you can properly manage having a beardie in your life.
What Rescues Want You to Know
By adopting from a rescue, you’re doing a great service in bringing home a pet that needs the love and attention you can provide because their former home didn’t work out. They require compassion and understanding, and by adopting instead of shopping you are giving a bearded dragon their forever home that they’ve been searching for. Rescues also want you to be sure you’re ready for the commitment, so they want you to do your research beforehand.
You should know what your bearded dragon will need before you bring them home. Having their terrarium set up and all of the supplies on hand before they come home is the best way to prepare for your new friend. You’ll want to start getting them acclimated right away, so having their area already set up will make them feel at home from the start.
They want you to have the terrarium, the lights, the heating unit, know what food they need, vitamins, and everything that is essential to proper beardie care before you embark on the journey of bringing them home. Beardies who have been through rescues or shelters have been through the trauma of abandonment and having to be re-homed, so making sure they are immediately brought into a comfortable environment after you adopt them will make them feel more steady.
Bearded dragons are such gentle creatures and are sensitive to things in their environment. If they feel threatened by another animal or a foreign object in their space, they may be fearful or show signs of anxiety. Once you bring your beardie home, if you start seeing signs of distress you should look for the source so you can ease their transition.
Having a pet is a huge responsibility so you need to be prepared for the actuality of having a pet. This is why your preparation period is one of the most important parts of the adoption process. Once you’re sure you can handle it, bringing your beardie home is one of the best things you’ll ever experience.
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