Pet Ownership - What You Need To Know
Pet Ownership - What You Need To Know
- For every person, there are 15 dogs & 45 cats born.
Lack of Love and good intentions is not the reason or answer to these questions. The answers lie in lack of proper animal education and planning.
Humans are part of the mammal/animal family. We are however, so very different from our animal friends. We do things on impulse. We often act without thinking things through, without thinking about pros/cons, without research and study. Listed below are important things you should learn about an animal before deciding to bring it into your family.
Basic Requirements:
- Does everyone in your household want a pet or this type of animal?
- How long is the life expectancy of this paticular animal?
- What does it eat? How often? What are the estimated cost of food.
- What type of housing or cage does it require? Are there any special housing needs, such as heat lamps, fencing, etc.? What is the cost?
- Are there any licenses, tags, vaccinations, permits, etc. required by law where you live? If so, how often and what are the costs?
- Are there any legal responsibilities or issues that come from owning this type or breed of pet?
- Has the animal been spayed or neutered? If not, what are the breeding cycles, do you want to breed? What is the expense associated with spaying/neutering or breeding this type of animal?
- What type of clean up maintenance is required? How often, how much, who will do it? Are there any disposal costs?
- What type of grooming is required? How often, how much, who will do it? Any special training/equipment required, if so, what are the costs?
- Does this type of animal require training? If so, what kind, how much, how often, who will do it? Any special equipment needed? What is the cost?
- What do you expect from this animal? Can it possibly meet your expectations?
- What do you want to commit to this pet? How much of your time, attention, excersize and financial resources?
- What type of diseases or illnesses can be associated with this type of animal? Are any of them transferrable to humans? Any special precautions needed?
- What will happen to this animal in the event of an emergency? What if something happens to you? Who will take care of the pet if you go out of town? What are the expenses?
- Are there any dangers or destructive behaviors associated with this breed or type of animal? Any special needs?
**statistics** A 1997 study done by the National Council on Pet Population derived the following results. 1,000 US Animal Shelters participated in this survey.
- 4.3 million animals were processed in 1 year
- Roughly 64% of these animals were euthanized = 2.7 million animals in 1 yr
- 56% of dogs & 71% of cats that enter animal shelters in the US are euthanized.
- Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter shelters are reunited with their owners.
- 25% of dogs and 24% of cats that entered these shelters were adopted.
- It is widely accepted that 9.6 million animals per year are euthanized in the United States alone.
- There are way more than 1,000 animal shelters in the United States. These statistics represent an extreme amount of animals being put to death each year and they do not even represent global statistics.
With Love From A Lonely Dog
I wish someone would tell me what it is that I've done wrong. Why do I have to stay chained up and be left alone so long? They seemed so glad to have me, when I came here as a pup. There were so many things we'd do, when I was growing up.
The master said he'd train me as a companion and a friend. The mistress said she'd never fear to be alone again. The children said they would feed me and brush me everyday. They'd play with me and walk me, if I would only stay. But now the master "hasn't time". The mistress says, "I shed". She doesn't want me in the house, not even to be fed. The children never walk me, they always say, "not now".
I wish that I could please them, won't someone tell me how? All I had you see, was love. I wish they would explain to me, why they said they wanted mine; then left it on a chain.
Author Unknown