Many things must be taken into consideration: do you have TIME for a pet? Do you have the facilities for it? Do you travel much? Can you afford to FEED them? Can you afford vet costs? ...! I'm sure many more will come to mind and I can address some...
TIME: Pets need TIME. Time to get accustomed to you. Time to get love from you. Time to be walked. Time to be fed. Time to be picked up after. Time to wash and/or brush them. Time to train them. Time to repair he damages to the furniture, and the extra time devoted to the shops, running to replace those Italian handmade shoes which were eagerly munched on... So you are not looking at 10 minutes a day. If you cannot set aside at least 2 to 3 hours each day, then do NOT consider a common household pet. Buy a plushtoy.
FACILITIES: If you are renting and you are not allowed pets, think twice about hiding one from your landlord. It will be more heartache than it's worth. Here again: consider a good plushtoy.
TRAVEL: Sure, Pets travel as well as people, after the usual inoculations at the Vet. We don't need to find a satisfactory kennel which charges $10-$25. a day, no, we can bring them and stop at those many rest stops along the highway, picking up pooh. Yes, we so not need a REST from THAT occupation during our holiday, we are used to it. If it gets car sick, it would probably "Thank you" for a kennel stay, if ir could talk Man Language, but let's take it with us and forego our friend's house who is allergic to our beeloved friend and book a hotel stay, a few will have a kennel attached, because most HOTELS DO NOT ACCEPT THEM. BUS COMPANIES usually refuse them, some even if they are in carriers. TRAINS also have their own rules. So if you do a lot of traveling, be certain you do not stay in hotels that will refuse your friend to stay with you. If you don't have a car and must rely on public transport, you have a problem, my friend. PLUSHTOY again.
POOH: Yes! they DO! In fact, they all have that in common!!! And it is YOUR DUTY to pick it up, wherever it may be. A cat's litter has to be changed. So does a ferret's.. A rabbit likewise. A dog usually does it outside. So REMEMBER: ALWAYS, ALWAYS carry a couple of plastic bags in your pockets. Not one. A COUPLE. So that doggie can pooh more than once if he should feel the need. He never does you say?? Okay. But you'll remember me the first time it happens. It's now against the law to just walk away from your doggies mess on the sidewalk. And if you were the kind of person who leaves it on someone lawn, you would not be bothering to read this. So congratulations *S* and keep those plastics bag handy...Just put it on over your hand, pick up the mess, turn bag inside out and VOILA! ready for the next garbage pail you see.. By the way.... plushtoys don't *S*
FEED: Silly you think??? not really. Did you ever consider how much a wolfhound will cost you in feed? or an Old English Sheepdog? Or a ravenous German Shepherd full grown? or that cute baby tiger when it has grown full size? We are not talking newborn kitten or chihuahua here.... So consider size versus income... how about that plushtoy? *smile*
VETERINARIAN: A MUST ! yes, I know. they are expensive. But well worth their weight in gold. And yes USE THEM! have your pets spayed or neutered!!!!!!! I cannot say that enough. PLEASE !!!!
GROWING: Remember the lovely chick you got in the spring...? How are you going to deal with the large Chicken ready for the oven... Do you really think anyone, one person, will want to eat it...? O.K. you want to give it, sure, remember the tears and heartache of the family when your child's best friend sits on someone's table!!!! The same applies to the Rabbit, if it did not escape to your neighbours' pride garden, the one which was in nomination for the largest cabbage..., it is still not a good enough explanation for your child to eat it... Yeah... Plush Toys are cuddly too and do not end up in the oven to give you an indigestion...
The moral to this page? I should open up a Toys'R'us store !*LAUGH*
Owning a pet should never be undertaken lightly.
Courses on "Caring for your Pets" by Joy BUTLER?
PROTECT YOUR PETS AT HALLOWEEN
Louis XIV at the Court of France???
