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Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet

Here at Kijiji, we love pets. The pets section has given many people the opportunity to re-home pets they can no longer care for, but we hope any pet re-homed once finds their forever family! The best way to ensure that you and the animal you bring into your life are a good fit is to do your research and consider the following factors beforehand:

Lifestyle – whether you prefer a night in snuggling on the couch, or like to spend your spare time doing sports, you want to make sure your choice of pet matches your lifestyle. If you like to go out after work frequently, that should definitely enter into your decision.

Living arrangements – do you live with room mates, family, or alone? If other people are living with you, how do they feel about a pet and taking on some of the responsibility? Allergies and schedules can also be big issues, and should be discussed beforehand, as the entire household should be on board for a new pet acquisition. How settled are you in your location? Some pets are stressed by frequent moves, and having certain pets can make finding new rentals more challenging in some areas. You also need to take into account what sort of outdoor space you have access to (balcony, fenced backyard, or a nearby park) and consider if they are appropriate for the species or breed that you are considering.

Time & Timing – the amount of time that different pets require every day varies. Consider carefully whether you actually have the spare time to devote to exercising, walking, training, and playing with the breed or animal that you are considering. Also think about how long you realistically can commit to having this amount of time free daily. A pet can be a major complication in future plans such as travel, so think long term when considering the future of pet ownership, including whether you are planning a family. If you know you want a baby soon, but don’t think you will be able to handle both, consider waiting until the timing is better for your family to adopt a pet.

Lifespan – how long does the pet you are considering live? Most cats and dogs live about 15 years, but some animals live even longer. Can you commit to caring for an animal for the next 15 years? If you can only be sure about the next 5 years, consider adopting a senior animal instead. There are many great pets available in shelters that may be overlooked due to their age.

Money – pets cost a lot of money. Do you have the funds to spay or neuter, and to stay up to date on vet visits and vaccines? The Calgary Humane Society reports that the average cost for dogs annually is $1,550 and the average for cats is $850 annually – and these numbers do not include the one time costs such as adoption fee, spaying, microchipping, and unforeseen large vet bills. If your animal has any destructive tendencies, that can also lead to many surprise costs as well. Do you have the money available for both the predictable and the unforeseen costs associated with pet ownership?

Handlingdogs can pull four times their body weight, and the largest breeds can overpower even the strongest people. If a large dog got into a fight or attacked a person or animal, it would be difficult or impossible to pull them off – do you have the knowledge and skill required to ensure that your pet is properly socialized and trained so they are not a nuisance or danger to others?

Personality – the personality of you (and any other co-adopters) should match the animal! If you are always on the go and exercising, an energetic companion will suit you. If you love to play, or prefer to stay in and snuggle, the best match will be an animal with similar preferences.

Source – you want to ensure that the animal has been properly cared for. Research the source of the pet as well as the breed to help avoid unpleasant health surprises later on. We recently partnered with the Ontario SPCA to create a video on safe pet adoption.

Pet ownership is extremely rewarding, but should never be entered into lightly. When you adopt an animal, think of it as gaining a new lifelong friend.

Do your research to ensure that your new pet is a great match, and that puppy or kitten will grow old at your side!

Do your research to ensure that your new pet is a great match, and that puppy or kitten will grow old at your side!

Categories: Kijiji Pets, Kijiji Tips

Kijiji Local Classifieds is an all time Top Free iPhone App in Canada (number 9, to be exact!)

The App Store is approaching 50 billion downloads, and in honor of this, has released the charts of the all-time top paid and free applications. We are excited to announce that Kijiji Canada’s app is number 9 on their list of top free apps in Canada! You can check out the full list of top iPhone applications here.

Thank you to all of the users of the app who have helped us achieve this – we couldn’t have done it without your support! What would you like to see in future app releases?

Browse, Post, and Manage your Classified Ads with the Free Kijiji iPhone App

Browse, Post, and Manage your Classified Ads with the Free Kijiji iPhone App

Categories: Awesomesauce, iPhone

Mother’s Day Activities

Want to have a special Mother’s Day, but don’t have a large budget? Don’t fret – the best gift is quality time spent together.

Show mom you care by planning a special day for her!

The best mother’s day gift is quality time.

Moms spend so much time making sure their families are fed and looked after – take the opportunity to return the favor, and let her put her feet up and relax! Here are a few meal options to create a special Mother’s Day.

Who doesn’t love breakfast in bed? Plenty of trays are available on Kijiji, which make it easy to surprise mom with a morning treat! Not a skilled cook? Look for fresh fruit and veggies from local farmers and prepare a delicious fruit salad to serve with yogurt or granola on the side.

Family brunch! Pancakes or French toast are simple and easy to make for a larger group. For a memorable experience, look after all the details to create a nice environment. Get fancy and press the table linens and decorate with some freshly cut spring flowers for mum, or, buy some plants to pot or plant, which will last all summer (or beyond).

Pack a picnic! There is lots of picnic gear to choose from Kijiji. Grab an old tablecloth, prepare a smorgasbord, and treat your mum to a lovely lunch among trees and flowers. The basket itself makes a great gift for Mother’s Day (remember to carry it to and from the destination, and do all the clean-up).

Share in her interests. If your mom has a special hobby, Sunday is a great time to share it with her. If not, there plenty of other ways to spend time together:

Go for a garden stroll! Mother’s day is an ideal time to view the spring flowers in bloom. If the weather is clear, it’s a perfect time to go to a botanical garden, or a city park with gardens, depending on what is available near you.

Does your mom love to give back to the community? Check out local volunteer opportunities in your community.

Does your family enjoy playing sports together? Play a round-robin of badminton or tennis, or, if you have a large family, try organizing a team activity.

Don’t have the funds to take mom to the spa? Pamper her at home by giving her a manicure. If you don’t have the set up, you can find beauty supplies on Kijiji (be sure to disinfect any second hand materials).

If you don’t have a big budget to spend on fancy gifts, spend your time planning and preparing a special day for her and the family. A handmade card and a lovely day spent together is really what Mother’s Day is all about.

Categories: Awesomesauce

How to Stay Safe looking for Apartments Online

Looking for apartments for rent can be a lot of stress – in many areas of the country, tenants must act fast to secure a nice space, and there is a lot of pressure if you are forced to leave your current residence by a certain date. Unfortunately, there are some who take advantage of this panic, both in person and online. What can you do to keep yourself safe when looking for an apartment?

Always deal in-person. This can be tough, especially if you are planning a long distance move, however, the most important thing to keep yourself safe from internet-based fraud is to ensure that you see the space before making a commitment, and never ever send money online. If this is not possible, ask someone you trust to check out the physical space. Don’t ever use wire transfers, Western Union, or any other service that won’t enable to put a stop on the funds if necessary.

Beware of involved tales. Does the landlord claim to be an African missionary that needs someone to house-sit? Do they say they are posted on an oil rig for months? Big red flags – most land lords are looking for a good tenant for the maximum amount of rent they can get, and aren’t going to spend precious time writing involved stories about their personal situation or making excuses as to why they can’t meet you. It makes more sense for someone seeking a long term tenant to get the value of the rent than it does for them to deeply discount the property for a quick turnaround. If they actually are abroad or can’t meet up for whatever reason, they will have someone who can meet you in person and show you around – possibly a family member, real estate agent, or a handyman who looks after their unit.

Know the market value. If similar properties in the area are posted at significantly more than this one, don’t be excited, be suspicious. While good deals are out there, scams typically will state a price that is so good that it gets prospective tenants excited and forget to ask questions. Newly renovated luxury apartment in a hot location for a low price? It is tempting to act fast, but keep your guard up – if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Great space, prime location, luxury finishes at a low price? Very suspicious!

Great space, prime location, luxury finishes at a low price? Very suspicious!

Too much detail on the condition of a building? Fraudulent posters have been known to copy descriptions from for house for sale ads from around the web. If the rental listing has many details on building condition that would only be relevant to a buyer, not a tenant, keep your guard up.

Asked for in depth personal information before meeting? If you get an email requesting a lot of personal information, such as your SIN number, age, gender, banking information, and job, be aware that this could be an attempt to harvest personal information. A letter of employment is a standard request with many landlords, but be suspicious if they want information far beyond that before they will even agree to meet you.

Avoid cash deposits. You want your transaction to be traceable – ask for ID, sign a contract, and write a cheque if possible. If a landlord asks for cash in absence of a written agreement, this is a major red flag.

Kijiji is full of great landlords and prospective tenants, and we hope that you have a great experience finding a new home. If you see any ads that you find suspicious, or that raise the above red flags when you are corresponding, please let us know by flagging the ad or sending us an email.