Many people are pet owners, but there is always a question on their mind: Should I get a pet? If you’ve ever been interested in getting a pet at some point in your life, then this article will be useful for you. It can help you decide if getting a pet is right for you and your family.
Should you make the decision to get a pet, it is important to fully consider what getting a new companion means to you and your household. Pet ownership can be wonderful and rewarding, but it also requires routine care, time and expense. It is natural to want to give your new friend a great home; however, consider your lifestyle first.
Pets are a great way to get exercise, learn responsibility, and spend time with friends and family. However, they can also be very expensive. You need to consider whether or not you have the time and resources to take care of a pet before deciding whether or not you want one.
If you’re thinking about getting a dog or cat, make sure that you have enough space for them and that you’re willing to clean up after them. Dogs need at least daily walks outside so they can relieve themselves. Cats need more than just bowl of food every day; they need attention from their owners as well. Pets require time and money in order to stay healthy and happy!
If you’re going away on vacation or business trips often, don’t get a pet! Pets get lonely without their owners around all day long! They also become bored without toys or other pets around for company! If you plan on leaving your home for long periods of time every week then maybe it’s better if you didn’t get a pet at all
If you are considering getting a pet, there are several things to consider before making the decision. First, how much time do you have to care for a pet? If you work full-time or are going to school full-time, it may not be the best idea for you to get a pet.
Second, what type of animal do you want? Dogs require more care than cats and fish because they need regular walks and time spent playing with them. Cats can be left alone for long periods of time if they have food and water available. Fish are easy to take care of as well.
Third, where will your new pet live? If you live in an apartment or condo, then having a dog or cat might not be an option because most landlords will not allow pets. If you live in a house or have a yard, then dogs or cats would be fine options for pets.
Should I Get A Pet
Pro: “You will never be bored or lonely if you have a companion animal at home,” says PETA’s Rachel Bellis. Her sentiment is amplified by Carlyn Montes De Oca, author of Dog as My Doctor, Cat as My Nurse: “An animal companion in your life gives you a strong sense of purpose. Dogs and cats make us take care of them, and that makes us take care of ourselves.”
Con: It’s a commitment — of money, of energy, of time. “If you’ve never had a pet before,” notes Jerry Klein, chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club, “it can be daunting. And even with a rescue animal, you need resources. Do you have the funds to feed the animal and cover its basic health care? What about emergencies?”
Pro: Whether you adopt through a shelter or a breed-specific rescue league, you are very likely saving an animal’s life. “We’re in a pet-overpopulation crisis,” says Bellis. “More than 6 million animals are at risk of going into a shelter in the U.S. every year; of those, roughly half will be euthanized.”
Con: Certain animals may outlive you. “The life expectancy of a kitten is 15 to 20 years,” says Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the ASPCA Adoption Center. So craft a backup plan: “People of any age should make provisions in writing in case something happens to you or your family,” says the AKC’s Klein. “Think of it as a living will for your pet.”
When Finny Met Danny
I’m a Vietnam vet, and when I got liver cancer I knew I was going to be ill for a long while. I figured if I was going to be sick, I wanted a dog to keep me company. I decided the ideal dog would be old, weigh about 100 pounds and enjoy lazing around in bed with me. So I went to the Humane Society and told them exactly what I was looking for.
They brought me back to look at the available dogs. A 3-month-old, 4-inch-tall mouse of a dog walked up to me and looked me straight in the eyes. I took one look and said, “That’s my dog!” Everyone laughed: I’m 6-7, and this dog could have fit inside my shoe. I didn’t care; Finn picked me, and I fell in love with him. Throughout my year-long illness, my new pug-dachshund-terrier-Chihuahua was my doctor, my nurse and my companion. He was also my empathy: He knew exactly how I felt, what I needed in the moment, what was best for me.
When I felt nauseous and weak, he would put his head under my chin, and we would both go to sleep. When I felt better, he would play with me. Now that I’ve recovered, we go horseback riding together. Finn’s too small to walk beside the horses, so I put him in my saddlebag. Finny sits in the bag with his head poking out; it looks like I’m riding around with a squirrel. —adapted with permission from Dog as My Doctor, Cat as My Nurse: An Animal Lover’s Guide to a Healthy, Happy, and Extraordinary Life by Carlyn Montes De Oca
Pro: A pet can perk you up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. A study from the University of Missouri even found that older people are likelier to take regular walks when their walking partner is a dog.
Con: Certain pets are simply the wrong choice for your lifestyle. “My grandfather got a cockapoo puppy at 72,” says Brandi Hunter of the AKC, “and that suited him just fine. But if you’re training for a marathon, you might want a collie.”
To avoid a mismatch, Montes De Oca advises, do a lifestyle assessment before you adopt a pet: “Are you a dynamo, or is yoga more your style? The answer will tell you what breed to favor.” And if you have any mobility issues, suggests Barbara Moffet of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Va., “you might consider getting a cat, a rabbit or a guinea pig, instead of a dog.”
Pro: Once you’ve rationally, objectively weighed the benefits and deficits of pet ownership, be prepared for surprises: What if an animal chooses you? Come to think of it, this phase of life may be the ideal time to let our emotions reign. As Klein puts it, “When I got my first dog in the 1960s, its food was ‘chow,’ and pets were considered livestock. But we now know that they are members of our family.”