Choosing A Family Pet

Article Title: Choosing A Family Pet
Author: Dawn-Elise Snipes

Pets are popular because they provide companionship, joy,
unconditional love, a sense of safety, and often a service.
These are probably some of the reasons why you're thinking
about getting a pet. Animals are fun to be with every day. They
make us feel good!

Before acting on impulse to acquire a pet, take time to
consider the commitment. A dog, cat or any other pet is a
living, sensitive creature. Each one is an individual,
requiring life-long care. The cost of medical care, pet food
and supplies should also be considered. Large-breed dogs and
rabbits live an average of 8-10 years. Smaller dogs can live up
to 15 years or more. Some cats, kept indoors with regular health
maintenance, may live up to 20 years. Pets require continued
daily investment of your attention and energy. Their needs do
not cease when you are tired or preoccupied, when you leave for
vacation or when the weather is bad.

Your pet-owning experience will be most enjoyable if you take
the time to consider which animal best suits your family. Don't
let the playful antics of the first puppy, kitten, or bird you
see or the latest status-symbol pet charm you into accepting a
responsibility for which you and your family are not prepared.

Before adopting a pet, consider:

• Your motivation.
• Financial investment.
• Do you have room for this pet
• Required environment. Fencing? Puppy-proofing? Litter box?
Other?
• Adult size. Small? Medium? Large?
• Breed characteristics and physical attributes. Activity
level. Hair length.
• Time and energy for pet's daily maintenance. Exercise.
Grooming. Play. Affection.
• Municipal and state regulations regarding pets.
• Your previous experience. Basic obedience training. House
training.
• A secondary caretaker. Vacation. Illness of yours.

Your goal is to identify the best animal(s) for your living
space, lifestyle, and budget.

Do You Have Room for a Pet?

Active animals need more space and more daily exercise than
older or more sedentary ones. Some pets may get enough exercise
in a house or apartment. For their own safety, dogs, cats and
rabbits should not be allowed to run uncontrolled, but should
be walked on a leash or exercised in an enclosed area. Most
animals are better kept indoors or in a suitable kennel while
you're gone. The key is while you are gone. Most pets were
initially wild, but became domesticated. Before you think about
keeping an animal in a cage all of the time, think about how you
would feel if you had to stay in your closet for hours or days
on end. All living things need exercise and a place they can
call their own. Dogs, cats and rabbits can all be house/litter
box trained and thus can often "free roam" in your house
without being dirty or destructive. Some creatures by nature
are den-animals and do not mind spending a portion of the day
in a crate.

Additionally, you may need space for a litter box and a crate
or pen. Properly kept, a litter box should not smell
(especially a rabbit's). Nevertheless, many people do not want
to look at a litter box in their guest bathroom or bedroom.

What Activities Do You Enjoy?

You and your family should discuss the reasons you want a
companion animal and what you expect an animal to do with and
for you. If you are looking for an animal that likes to sit on
your lap, remember that some animals are more suited to that
than others, but there are wide variations between animals
within a species or breed. I have had dogs, rabbits and cats
who were very cuddly and others who were very lovable, but
would rather do anything than sit still. Many dogs, cats and
rabbits can be taught to walk on a leash with a harness,
although only dogs are good for walking/jogging with you when
you exercise.

While most dogs enjoy playing with people, cats and rabbits can
generally amuse themselves. Most cats and rabbits enjoy
interacting with their owners but are often content to play
alone. Cats and rabbits do not need to be let outdoors to live
a happy and healthy life. In fact, they are better off
remaining exclusively indoors. They may adapt better to smaller
homes or apartments than do some dogs. Cats and rabbits do not
need to be walked, though a cat can learn to walk on a leash.
Though their activities can be more solitary, cats and rabbits
thrive on daily attention and social contact with their owners.

If your leisure activities take you away from home, it is
important to consider who will care for your pet during your
absences? Cats and rabbits can withstand short (i.e. weekend)
absences of their owners without having a pet sitter or needing
to be boarded. Dogs are more of a challenge, needing to be let
out every few hours. Smaller animals like hamsters and guinea
pigs can tolerate longer absences, and can have a "home" set up
that provides ample room for exercise (i.e. adding extra "rooms"
and crawl tubes to the cage.) This does not mean that they do
not need love and human contact daily, but it means that the
required time is often less.

Do You Have a No-Pets Clause?

Most rental agreement no-pets clauses apply only to dogs and
cats; rabbits, birds or small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs,
chinchillas) may be acceptable.

How Much Will Your Pet Cost?

The purchase price of an animal varies greatly. All pets need
food and shelter, and most should have regular visits to a
veterinarian for health checkups and vaccinations. Depending on
the type of animal you choose, other cost considerations include
emergency medical treatment, grooming, boarding, licensing,
obedience training, and accessories.

What If a Pet Doesn't Fit Your Lifestyle or Situation?

Selecting a pet should be a family project with everyone's
needs, concerns, fears, age and medical history (including
allergies) considered. Family members should decide together
what kind of animal they want, the amount of time they
anticipate spending with it, and the amount of responsibility
each person is willing to assume. Be realistic.

After discussing the role a pet will play in your life and
talking with knowledgeable people, you may conclude that your
first choice for a pet is not appropriate, so be flexible. Do
not be misled by popular misconceptions that all cats are
antisocial toward people or that no one should have a dog
unless they own a house with a yard. Neither should you limit
your options to a dog or cat. You may find great pleasure in a
pet rabbit, bird, lizard, turtle or an aquarium of fish. Be
open-minded and consider all the options.

About The Author: Dr. Snipes received her PhD in Counseling and
Education from the University of Florida. She has worked for 10
years in community mental health and is an ordained Christian
minister: http://www.stlukesfamilychurch.info . Currently she
runs an online private practice http://www.dr-is-in.com and
online continuing education site http://www.allceus.com.

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