15 Things to Do Before Adopting a Pet

Adopting a pet isn’t like buying a table from IKEA. If the furniture is defective, you can return it; but once you bring a living creature into your home, saying “I wasn’t ready” isn’t fair. For both you and Karamel, Pamuk, or Boncuk, the preparation process before adoption makes a huge difference. Here’s a 15-item checklist to complete before adoption day. Once you’ve checked off each one, you can say you’re “ready.”

"1"Make a joint decision with your household.

If you’re getting a pet “just for yourself,” everyone living in that home must give their approval. If your spouse isn’t on board, if you live with your parents and your mother has allergies, or if your roommate has a phobia—trouble is inevitable. Before adopting, hold an honest family meeting at home: who will feed the pet, who will walk it, who will clean up after it, and who will contribute to veterinary expenses? Even if it’s not written down, a discussed agreement can be a lifesaver.

"2"Create a budget plan—separate for the first year, separate for subsequent years.

In 2026 Turkey, the first-year cost (adoption fee, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, basic supplies, food, first-month vet visit) is around 15–25,000 TL for a dog and 8–12,000 TL for a cat. These costs decrease in subsequent years but still range from 18,000–35,000 TL (dog) and 10,000–18,000 TL (cat). Can your monthly budget comfortably cover these amounts? You should also consider setting aside an emergency fund of 15,000–20,000 TL. Don’t make a decision without putting your budget in writing.

"3"Make your home pet-friendly.

Puppies and kittens explore the world with their mouths. Raise electrical cords off the floor or install cord guards; store medications, cleaning products, and small, swallowable objects (coins, Legos, batteries) in a locked cabinet. Research which houseplants are toxic—lily of the valley, dieffenbachia, and oleander are common and dangerous. Take a “baby-proofing” tour of your home.

"4"Prepare a complete equipment list.

For dogs: food and water bowls, leash, collar (GPS-enabled preferred), bed, crate/carrier, toys, brush, toothbrush, ID tag with name. For the cat: litter box (at least 1.5 times the number of cats), litter, cat tree, scratching post, bed, carrier, toys. Get everything ready before you get home to avoid a last-minute dash to Carrefour. The initial cost of supplies is in the 3,000–7,000 TL range.

"5"Save the vet clinic and emergency hotline information to your phone.

Visit 2–3 clinics in your neighborhood to learn about their appointment systems, operating hours, and emergency protocols. Save a list of 24/7 emergency veterinarians to your phone. The nearest clinic open day and night should be no more than 20 minutes away from you. When your furry friend accidentally swallows something, you won’t have time to look up information.

"6"Learn about registration, microchipping, and documentation procedures.

Under Law No. 5199, dog and cat owners in Turkey are required to register their pets through the local municipality or the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Microchipping is a legal requirement. Vaccination records and health certificates must be kept up to date at all times. The recovery rate for lost pets is very low if they are unregistered and unchipped. Take care of this within the first 6 months.

"7"Visualize your daily routine in your mind.

Think about your day from the moment you wake up at 7 a.m. until you go to bed at night. If you have a dog: 7 a.m. walk/potty break, 8 a.m. breakfast, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. work, 5:30 p.m. walk, 7 p.m. dinner, 10 p.m. final potty break. For your cat: morning meal, evening playtime, litter box cleaning. Is the routine realistic? Are there any gaps? Who will fill them? If there are gaps in the simulation, plan a solution.

"8"Build a support network in your immediate circle.

If you’re a single pet owner, make sure you have at least two people you can trust to care for your pet in an emergency: a family member and a reliable pet sitter or neighbor. Get to know them in advance, give them a key to your home (or have one made), and share your pet insurance policy number. This network can be a lifesaver during hospital visits, meetings, or unexpected trips.

"9"Choose your adoption source wisely.

Adoption options in Turkey: municipal shelters, non-profit organizations like Haytap, reputable breeders, and adoption social media pages. The “puppies for 5,000 lira on Instagram” model typically leads to illegal and unscrupulous breeders. Shelters are both ethical and economical; even if you’re looking for a specific breed, you should check shelters or breed rescue groups first.

"10"Decide on a training method in advance.

Don’t wait with the mindset of “I’ll get my pet first, then figure it out later.” Will you use positive reinforcement, attend group classes, or hire a private trainer? Do your research and watch reliable trainer channels on YouTube (Turkish sources are also good options). Stay away from “punishment-focused” old-school trainers—science shows these methods cause trauma and aggression.

"11"Review your vacation and leave plans.

If you have 20 days of annual leave, where will your pet stay during those days? A hotel costing 1,000–2,000 TL each time? Family? Friends? Pet-friendly vacations? A realistic plan is essential. Leaving your puppy alone for long periods, especially in the first year, is highly inadvisable. Consider canceling vacation plans or arranging a pet-friendly environment for the first 6 months.

"12"Learn the basics of animal health.

Take a basic “pet first aid” course (many veterinary clinics or Haytap offer this training). Which symptoms are urgent, and which can wait until morning? Shortness of breath, bloody diarrhea, seizures, tremors—what should you do in these cases? A few hours of first aid knowledge could save a life one day. Choose books and training over “Dr. Google” on the internet.

"13"Designate areas in your home that are strictly off-limits to your pet.

The bedroom, kitchen counter, a specific sofa, the baby’s room—decide in advance with your household which areas will be off-limits. Changing the rules after the pet arrives is 10 times harder. The moment you say, “Come on, little one, let me put you in bed”—six months later, 35-pound Leo will be sleeping right in the middle of the bed. Wherever you let them sleep today, that’s where they’ll be sleeping five years from now.

"14"Read the pet adoption agreement.

If you’re adopting a pet from a shelter or a breeder, you must sign an adoption agreement: health guarantees, return conditions, a commitment to spay/neuter, and a pedigree (from the breeder). Without a contract, your legal options are severely limited if issues arise later. Read every detail, and ask about anything you don’t understand before signing. You can’t just say “oh well” after signing.

"15"Ask yourself if you’re emotionally ready.

A pet is a long-term commitment. Your lifestyle will change; sometimes you’ll have to sacrifice sleep, sometimes you’ll cancel plans to sit in the vet’s emergency room, and one day you’ll have to say goodbye. “Because I find them cute” and “because I’m taking on morning-to-night responsibility” are not the same thing. Be honest with yourself: are you ready for the romanticized version or the reality?

In short,

Unprepared adoption is one of the leading causes of street returns—and shelters in Turkey experience this every day. This 15-point checklist makes life easier for both you and your furry friend from day one. If you can’t say “yes” to every item, postpone adoption; resolve the issue with the item you’d say “no” to. Pet ownership is a 10- to 15-year journey. Getting off to the right start makes the entire journey easier.