Planning for a companion animal's entire lifetime - from acquisition through old age and end of life - is essential to responsible ownership and good welfare.
Companion animal welfare is a lifetime commitment that begins before acquisition and extends through the difficult end-of-life period. Animals relinquished to shelters when owners cannot cope, those whose medical needs are unmet due to financial inability, and those kept alive beyond a welfare-positive quality of life all represent failures of lifetime welfare planning. Education and counselling before acquisition is one of the highest-leverage welfare interventions available.