Making Your New Home Pet-Friendly

A lot of times when older couples empty the nest and settle into life post-retirement, they miss having someone or something to take care of. After years of being responsible for kids, work, etc., letting go of that can be very difficult for some. In our opinion, this probably has a lot to do with why so many order couples choose to adopt a pet when they retire. Will you and your partner be one of these couples?

Making Your New Home Pet-Friendly | Dockside Realty CompanyIf you plan to adopt a furry friend after relocating to Myrtle Beach, you’ll want to make sure that you create a pet-friendly environment for them. If you’ve never had a pet before this stage of your life and aren’t sure where to begin, check out these great tips:

Be Aware of Safety – Chances are, you and your partner will know better than to get yourselves tangled up in power cords and long drapes, break your way through window screens and to take a quick swig from the toilet. However, a pet will not. Keep this in mind and treat your home almost as though you are proofing for a child. The last thing you want is for your pet to get into something that can potentially cause them harm. Familiarize yourself with various pet toxins here.

Decorate With Durable Materials – When it comes to living with a pet, it’s always going to be better to swap out your carpet for a more durable type of flooring, such as tile, vinyl or stone. Why? Not only will they be more stain resistant and easier to clean, but you won’t have to worry about pet hair and dander getting embedded into carpet fibers. Additionally, you may want to choose furniture that is not only darker in color but is also made from a machine-washable microfiber just in case an accident occurs.

Provide an Individual Space – If you worry about your pet leaving a path of destruction behind himself as he runs through the house, you may want to consider giving him a place of his own. Whether it be an entire room of just a small, out-of-sight space within a room, this could be the place where you store all of their toys, as well as where your pet goes to rest. This way, you won’t have to worry about compromising your home’s décor when your pet begins to “take over.”

Just because you want to bring a pet into your home does not mean that it has to be obvious that you are a pet-occupied home as soon as your guests step through the door. You can still have your dream retirement home and the love of a pet with these helpful tips! Want more? Check out the full article here!