What You Need to Do BEFORE Bringing Home a New Pet
by Danny Davids(39)Fast forward nine months. The cute little puppy is still cute but not nearly so little. Evidence of its existence is all over the house--chewed-up shoes, teeth marks on the furniture and walls, unsightly stains on and strange smells in the carpet. No longer allowed in the house, the puppy is confined outside, chained to a dog house or tied up on the back porch with no shelter. It barks constantly at all hours of the day and night, driving the little girl's parents crazy and irritating the neighbors. And what of the little girl who swore she'd love her pet forever? It only took a few days before she tired of helping to feed, water, and clean up after her new toy. And because she had other things in her life to do, she couldn't be bothered giving the puppy all the attention it needed. Now Mom and Dad are talking in quiet whispers about what they're going to do about the " situation " because they can't handle things anymore. It's only a matter of time before the puppy ends up in an animal shelter--or worse.
Too many times animal purchases are made on impulse. The cuteness of a potential pet overrides any logical thought as to what is involved in caring for it. Then people are upset when the darling puppy or adorable kitty they picked out turns into much more than they could handle. It's not the pet's fault; it's the owners who didn't look at all the aspects of owning a pet before bringing it home from the store.
Some of the things a persons needs to consider before purchasing a pet are: What is the temperament of the animal or breed? What is its lifespan? If purchased as a young animal, how long does it take to reach adulthood? What are the requirements for feeding and grooming? Are there any special health concerns for the animal or breed? Is the animal " high-maintenance " when it comes to things like needing attention, training, or shelter? Are ALL family members willing to help with taking care of the pet and providing it a safe, loving environment? All these things need to be considered before bringing a new pet home; otherwise the end result could be disaster.
So the next time you see a cute ball of fluff in the store window tugging at your heart strings, grab them (the strings, not the pet). Do your homework ahead of time and don't buy ANYTHING until you're positive the pet is the perfect addition to your family and that everyone will be willing to work at nurturing this new relationship!
Article submitted Monday, June 08, 2009 & read 198 times.
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