Pets add fun, companionship and love to our lives, but they're also a big responsibility. Choosing to add a pet to your family is a very important decision. Sometimes, adopting a pet may be too much added responsibility if you're experiencing other life changes at the same time. Take this quiz to assess what's happening in your life now and in the near future to help you decide if this is the best time to adopt a pet.

Check the following events that have either occurred in your life in the past six months or that you think may occur in the next six months:

  Divorce or end of a relationship

  Marriage

  Change in living arrangements (new roommates or moving in with significant other)

  Move to a new residence

  Pregnancy or new baby

  Longer hours or increased responsibility at work

  Financial concerns

  Children leaving home or moving back home

  Care-taking responsibilities for elderly or ill family members

  Significant changes in family routine

  Death of a family member

  Death or disappearance of a family pet

  Relinquishment of a pet (given away or brought to an animal shelter)

  Significant health problems of a family member

  Change in working status of a family member (new job, retirement)

  Frequent travel (either for business or pleasure)

  Limited leisure or free time

  Graduation from high school or college

  Disagreement among family members about adopting a pet

Add one point for every pet you currently have (one aquarium counts as one pet). Scoring is based on the total of check marks and pet points.

0-3: Your life seems fairly stable. Now is probably a reasonable time to acquire a pet.

4-6: You have a lot of responsibilities right now. Although adopting a pet may still work for you, a small mammal, an adult cat, or well-trained adult dog would probably be more appropriate than a kitten, a puppy or an active breed dog.

7-10: Let's think twice about this. With all the changes and responsibilities in your life right now, you may not have time to care for a new pet. It would probably be better for both you and the pet if you wait until your life settles down a bit.

10+ : STOP!!! DON'T PASS GO!!! Acquiring a pet now is not a wise decision. Why not consider a pet rock or a "computer-pet" instead?

Copyright: Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the United States