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Having a pet is a big responsibility. Many people have bought a cute little puppy only to discover too late that it has grown too large for their cramped apartment or that it chewed up their best pair of sneakers.
There are many factors to consider when contemplating the purchase of a pet. For example, will you buy a purebred or a mixed breed? Will you buy from a pet store or go to the local humane society? Do you have children in the house? Will your future pet be happy in the type of home you have?
Here are some things to consider before making a final decision:
1. Puppies and kittens are very cute but they grow. They go through an awkward adolescent stage when they do not always look so cute. They also do not look so cute after they've used your slipper as a litterbox or chewed up your sofa! Training your pet is a big task.
2. Cats use a litterbox. Dogs must be taken out for walks or be allowed to run loose in a backyard. It is a big and often unpleasant task to clean up after them. Pregnant women should never clean the litterbox to prevent illness to their unborn child.
3. It is important to know what type of breed you want. Some breeds of dog grow very large. With some mixed breeds, it may be difficult to know how big they will get.
4. If you have young children, you need a pet that can cope with being "mauled" by them. Cats and kittens often lash out if their tail or ears are pulled on! Dogs that do not like this either may bite. (It is important to note that even the best tempered animal can cause injury to a child if they get fed up of being harassed)
A good way to test and see if an animal is friendly is to pet it, and see if it doesn't mind having its belly rubbed.
5. If you have small children, avoid getting a reptile or an amphibian for a pet as they carry the salmonella bacteria.
6. Reptiles and amphibians require specialized care. Some birds require special care as well.
7. Pets require companionship. If you work all day, a dog might get anxious and destroy whatever it can sink its teeth into. Cats usually cope well on their own.
8. Deciding where to get your pet is a big responsibility as well. Pet stores often have purebreds but they are very expensive. It is a good idea to see which breeder they get their animals from to ensure that the animal was well cared for.
You can also buy directly from a breeder, but the cost will be high.
Your local humane society is usually cheaper and you will be doing a good deed by rescuing an animal from being euthanized. They usually ask for a donation to cover the cost of vaccinations.
Pets enrich our lives. They become a part of our family. Chooosing the right pet will make a big difference in the quality of your lives together. I simply cannot imagine a house without a pet.
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