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17 December 2021

Tails of love: how I adopted to become a pet parent

When COVID-19 hit, it seemed like everyone rushed to adopt a new, furry housemate. “Let’s get a puppy!” they screeched. It’s ethical. It’s kind. And, seriously, it can save the life of a living creature who just wants a loving home. It’s a good thing. Whether you’re on the cusp of adopting or wondering if you can make it work thanks to a future of flexible work, this is for you. Read on to hear from five Australians who have adopted and found themselves with a loving, and beloved, new family member.

 

Belle and Juniper, the lockdown greyhound

“My boyfriend and I adopted Juniper through Greyhound Rescue in Sydney seven months ago. She’s a six-year-old greyhound who was previously used for breeding and had as many as five litters. Too many.

“She’s placid and chill. She loves little dogs and kids, and remains calm even when my partner’s four-year-old nephew pokes and prods her. In the mornings she’ll make a very loud yawn noise when waking up, a ‘Come on, get up, let’s go for a walk’ nudge. She is also extremely clumsy and awkward, which is super funny to watch.

“We’ve always wanted a dog, but living in an apartment and working full-time made it unfeasible. At the beginning of COVID-19, we (like everyone else) were like, ‘Let’s get a puppy!’ But there were no puppies available anywhere. So, after learning more about greyhounds and realising they are great dogs (apartment-friendly, too), we agreed to adopt. The price tag of $365 versus thousands and thousands for a puppy from a breeder was certainly appealing as well.

“We often ask ourselves, ‘What did we talk about before Juniper?’ As well as bringing so much joy just by being around, a dog is a great way to force yourself to be active. They offer you the responsibility of caring for a living creature while you reap the reward of unconditional love.

“We’ve had such a positive experience. We are so happy to give Juniper an amazing life with all of the love and attention she deserves for her remaining years.”

 

Charlie and his dog and cat kids, Miffy, Lily and Iggy

“We have a cool little fluffy family that all get along and are so excited to see you every single time you come home. They all run to the door like a welcome wagon.

“We adopted because we were conscious of the negative impacts that breeding can have. There are good breeders, but some mightn’t be in the business with the animal’s best interests at heart. There are so many sweet animals out there waiting for a home.

“We have Miffy, who was listed on the adoption site as a Pug x Jack Russell, but I have a feeling they were just guessing because she’s a unique-looking dog. We saw Lily the cat online as a kitten along with her sisters. She came and sat on my lap straight away and was very focused on us rather than playing. Iggy was a little different, because we weren’t looking for another pet at the time. My wife, Melissa, visited a vet clinic and saw him at the bottom of a pile of kittens. Melissa was picking me up – my car was at the mechanics – and when I got in she surprised me with a “Meet your new son”. There he was, this tiny black kitten.

“Miffy has such a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. Lily is needy and wants to be around us all the time. And Iggy was a monster as a kitten – we regretted naming him after Iggy Pop because he took on the singer’s stage presence. Now he’s very chill and the easiest pet we have to look after. Despite the little challenges, they’re our family now so we wouldn’t change anything”

Sarah and her dog’s best friend, Gigi the cat

“My partner and I rescued our cat, Gigi, mainly to help with our dog’s separation anxiety when we weren’t at home. Now, our little two-kilogram ginger fluffball full-on wrestles with our 28-kilogram dog and rules the roost.

“He’s a small male ginger cat with fluffy britches. He was part of a litter of kittens found in a box next to a river. Only he and his brother survived. We adopted him when our dog, Arnie, was one. Arnie is a velcro dog and needed a sibling to keep him company, and Gigi was the perfect fit for our small family.

“Gigi is a sass queen and the epitome of the youngest child: confident, rebellious and spoilt. He’s certainly making up for the lack of food before he was rescued – he often demands three dinners. We always say he’s a great communicator because he has distinct chirps and meows according to what he wants. This is often at 5am when he has the zoomies, or what we call his ‘witching hour’.

“We planned on introducing Gigi and Arnie slowly. We had them in separate rooms before allowing Arnie to come in for 10 minutes here and there so they could sniff each other. It went so well that within 48 hours they were completely at ease with each other.

“You often see them poking their heads out the window together, watching the world go by. They play hide and seek, they wrestle, and while Arnie is 14 times heavier than Gigi, he’s so delicate around him, even when Gigi is sinking his teeth into his chops. It’s definitely a brotherly relationship.

“There are challenging moments – the coughed-up fur balls on the carpet, them going to the toilet in the plant pots, working your social life around their needs. But there are no regrets. Gigi has only enhanced our life and our doggo’s.”

 

Lauren and her seven-year-old deaf moggy, Meg

“We couldn’t bring ourselves to buy a cat from a breeder when there are so many in shelters who need a loving home. So, during lockdown, my partner and I adopted a seven-year-old British shorthair x tortoiseshell cat called Meg – who turned out to be deaf. We weren’t specifically looking for an older cat. But when we went and saw Meg, we just knew that all the other cats there would be adopted easily, and we didn’t want her to be left behind – or worse.

“She’s a typical ‘naughty torti’ – doesn’t mind a pat, but will bite you if she’s not in the mood. The people at the shelter didn’t know she was deaf, but we found out pretty quickly. She makes these weird ‘yowly’ meows because she can’t hear herself. Apparently a lot of deaf cats do that. It’s handy having a deaf cat, though, because she doesn’t mind the vacuum cleaner at all. And when we want to call her, we just beckon with our hands. We still talk to her, even though we know she can’t hear.

“COVID-19 accelerated our decision to adopt. We’d been contemplating getting a cat for a while, and while we were both home seemed like the perfect time.

“Meg has certain habits that you can’t explain. We don’t know where she came from or what she’s been through – she’s a mystery. It just felt better adopting than it would buying a kitten from a breeder. We knew she needed us more. She makes our house feel complete.”

 

Liz and her surprise adopted doggo, Wendy

“Some days I really wonder who rescued who. I love taking Wendy out for walks, playing with her, singing with her (Wendy loves to sing, seriously) and going camping with her.

“I adopted Wendy from the Save a Dog Scheme (SADS) rescue centre. My partner and I had made an appointment only to go in and chat, and to look around the centre. They showed us around and I was taken aback by every single dog I met – I wanted to take them all home. We walked by Wendy’s cage and the staff mentioned that she had been with them for a full year – she was only two at the time, so that’s half of her life.

“I was immediately drawn to her – that girl knows how to work her puppy-dog eyes. We asked to take her out for a walk. After 30 minutes, I couldn’t let her stay one more day in the centre. She’s been a part of my family ever since.

“Wendy makes coming home that much more special, as I get the most energetic greeting when I walk through the door. She’s full of life and seems so grateful for every day. She also absolutely loves coming camping with us.

“The best part is having a dog who just shows so much love and affection every day.”

Protect your furriest family members with ING pet Insurance.

If they’re about to join your family, consider protecting them with ING Pet Insurance. Our insurance specialists are here to help with all your questions, so give them a call on 1800 619 495 8am - 5pm Mon-Fri (AEST).

ING Pet Insurance is issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd ABN 42 111 586 353 AFSL 285571(AGIC) as insurer (Insurer). It is administered by Pet Health Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 59 638 910 675 as authorised representative 1282153 of AGIC It is distributed by AGIC and by ING Bank (Australia) Ltd ABN 24 000 893 292 as Authorised Representative 1247634 of AGIC. ING is a business name of ING Bank (Australia) Ltd (IBAL).

ING will receive a commission from AGIC for each policy purchased which is a percentage of the premium. For further details see the Financial Services Guide.

An ING Insurance policy issued does not represent a deposit with or liability of, and is not guaranteed or otherwise supported by, ING or its related bodies corporate.

ING Pet Insurance is subject to AGIC’s underwriting criteria and ING’s Customer Eligibility and Name-Screening Assessment. For ING Pet Insurance, new policy cover is for dogs and cats is between age of 8 weeks and under 9 years at the time of application. For renewal policies, if pet insurance cover has been maintained continuously from the initial policy for that pet without any break, then the pet can continued to be insured past 9 years of age.  If there is any break in cover after initial policy inception, the age limit restriction will apply.

This is general information only, and does not take into account your particular objectives, financial situation and needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you having regard to these factors before acting on it. Conditions, limits/sub-limits, waiting periods, exclusions and excesses apply.  Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination, Financial Services Guide and the ING Customer Eligibility and Name-Screening document and consider if an ING Pet Insurance product is right for you before deciding to purchase or continue to hold the product.

The price we quote is at the Insurer’s sole and unrestricted discretion. It is based on the profile of the risk to be covered and any other factors the Insurer may choose. These factors may change at any time without notice, as may the prices. If the policy renews, the price may exceed the price paid for the previous policy. Premiums are subject to change. You will be responsible for all applicable GST and other statutory charges.

The information is current as at publication. Any advice on this website does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. Deposit products, savings products, credit card and home loan products are issued by ING, a business name of ING Bank (Australia) Limited ABN 24 000 893 292, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 229823. Living Super, a sub-plan of OneSuper ABN 43 905 581 638 is issued by Diversa Trustees Limited ABN 49 006 421 638, AFSL 235153 RSE L0000635. The insurance cover offered by Living Super is provided by Metlife Insurance Limited ABN 75 004 274 882, AFSL 238096. ING Insurance is issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited (AGIC) ABN 42 111 586 353 AFSL Licence No 285571 as insurer. It is distributed by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd (AGS) ABN 61 003 617 909 AFSL 241411 and by ING as an Authorised Representative AR 1247634 of AGS. All applications for credit are subject to ING's credit approval criteria, and fees and charges apply. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Terms and Conditions, Fees and Limits Schedule, Financial Services Guide, Key Facts Sheet and Credit Guide available at ing.com.au when deciding whether to acquire, or to continue to hold, a product. Before interacting with us via our social media platforms, please take a minute to familiarise yourself with our Social Media User Terms https://www.ing.com.au/pdf/Social_Media_User_Terms.pdf.

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