With days getting shorter and autumn blues starting to seriously kick in, it’s only fair to dream of a fluffy companion if you still don’t have one. It may even be tempting to make a spontaneous decision, but adopting professionals all warn you against it. After all, becoming a forever family to your chosen pet is a huge responsibility, the kind you cannot get away from if things become difficult. And they often do!

So Bored Panda spoke with Yulia Popyk, a pet behavior expert from Pet Emergency Fund, who said that the best way to prepare for adopting a pet is to do your research. Not only do you want to think about what kind of pet would be a good fit for your lifestyle, but also to find out as much as you can about that type of animal. Think of it as some mandatory homework you have to do before knocking on a shelter door.

You may also want to have a dialogue with yourself and take a little test before you make a decision to adopt. Take a piece of blank paper and write down the answers to the questions. According to Popyk, you should ask yourself: “What kind of animal do you want? A dog? A cat? A reptile?” and “What kind of breed or mix of breeds do you want?”

Among more difficult questions are more practical ones that sound like “How much space do you have for your new pet?”, “How much time can you realistically spend with your new pet each day?”, “Can you afford the upfront cost of adoption?”, “Can you afford the continuing costs of food, toys, and veterinary care?”When thinking of these aspects, you want to be as realistic and as honest with yourself as possible.

Popyk also reminds prospective adoptive parents to think about whether they are prepared to handle the messes and messiness that come with having a pet, as well as if they’re ready for the daily routines required to care for a pet, such as feeding, walking, and exercising.

Another thing to consider, according to the pet behavior expert, is whether you or a person you live with have any allergies that could be aggravated by having a pet in the home. Also, if you already have a pet at home, you also need to take that into account. Popyk says other questions to ask yourself include: “Do you live in a pet-friendly apartment or home?”, “Do you have a yard for your new pet to play in?” and “Do you have a place for your new pet to sleep?”

There are a number of reasons for the increase in pet adoptions in recent years. “One reason is that people are becoming more aware of the many benefits of owning a pet, such as the companionship they provide, the health benefits associated with owning a pet, and the positive impact pets can have on families and communities,” Popyk explained.

Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of people who are interested in rescuing animals from shelters or adopting animals from rescue organizations, Popyk argues. She explained that “this is likely due to the growing public awareness of the plight of homeless animals and the importance of adopting animals from shelters or rescue organizations in order to give them a second chance at a happy and healthy life.”

Moreover, “adopting programs today make it easy for people to adopt pets, including online resources and reduced adoption fees,” Popyk added.

If you’re considering bringing a disabled pet into your family, there are also some particular things to consider. “First, you will need to make sure that you have the time and resources to care for a disabled pet. This includes having patience, as disabled pets may require a bit more time and care than a typical pet,” Popyk explained. She argues that you will also need to make sure that you are comfortable with the level of care that a disabled pet will require.

“Finally, you will need to make sure that you are prepared to make any necessary accommodations for your pet, such as wheelchair ramps or other assistive devices,” Popyk told us. “Be sure to do your research on the specific breed or species of disabled pet you are interested in to make sure you can provide them with the best possible care,” she added.

Popyk concluded that it would be smart to consider some kind of pet insurance that will take care of any unexpected situations and obstacles your new doggo (or kitty!) might face. For example, Pet Emergency Fund is a helpful service that has updated traditional pet insurance to meet the most common emergency needs at an affordable price, so you may want to check it out.