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ADVICE ON ADOPTING A PET
Take 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 Veterinary Surgeon.
Always introduce your newly adopted pet slowly and carefully to any pets 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 this site.
Don't forget that horses and ponies require a valid passport and you can find out more on
our fact sheets. It is sensible to have a veterinary inspection of the horse you are adopting and ask for a trial period before
fully committing yourself to the adoption.
Remember that farm animals are subject to strict regulations and will need a movement licence before they can be
transported. The regulations also apply to any farm animal being kept as a pet.
Contact DEFRA for full details.
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