A dog? Well, who can resist a Jack Russell puppy? They're cute, they're smart, they're cuddly.....they're HIGH MAINTENANCE! And as they get older, their uber enthusiasm for life and quest for high-energy activities can inadvertently get them into trouble with their humans! Jacks need stimulation, a job, mind-stretching activities! And left to their own devices, they'll create their own version of "fun." They're too often found languishing in shelters and foster homes when their unsuspecting owners have finally had "enough" of what is truly just natural behavior for these special little dogs! Do the research!!
Border collies, beagles, toy breeds......they all have their special redeeming qualities but they all have certain requirements to remain happy. They're not happy being cooped up in a cage all day! Dogs need to be walked and played with on a regular basis. And they need to learn manners if they're going to live inside a house with humans. All of this takes time and commitment!!!
Do the research!!
A pony? A mini horse? Oooohhhhhh......TOO CUTE! Oooooohhhh.......high maintenance!! Ponies and minis come with an entire card file of "don'ts" and many people unfamiliar with equines, especially the smaller breeds, can literally kill a horse with kindness. If your child is begging for a pony, do everyone a favor and pay for riding lessons first. And if you can, find a stable that will allow your child to actually spend some time working there as a volunteer. I've seen many little girls who at first thought that owning a pony or horse was simply "put on the saddle and go galloping off into the sunset" have their enthusiasm dampened by learning that what goes in one end of that horse comes out the other.......and they're responsible for picking it up every day! And they have to feed, water, and groom the horse, too. AND pick that guck out of their hooves! Unless they're REAL horse enthusiasts, the novelty is going to wear off very quickly.
Rodents? Sure, those mice and gerbils and hamsters looks cute and fluffy in their cages. But again....those cute little critters can get scared easily and the first time a child grabs onto it, what's the animal's first reaction? "GAAAAA!!! Monster's got me!" CHOMP! And suddenly you have a screaming, bleeding child. Take the time to learn how to properly handle these little guys and you'll have a pet you can enjoy.
And please, before you spend a lot of money on any pet, check out your local shelters and rescue organizations! Some of my best animals EVER have been rescues! One of them is actually featured on this blog! The little beagle pictured here was a rescue - literally 24 hours from euthanasia. She'd been raised as a bitch in a puppy mill and had lived most of her life in a cage, producing one litter after another (please don't buy a puppy from a pet store, especially the chain stores!). She was a jolly little gal but totally ignorant about how to live life outside of a cage. She wasn't house broken, she had no idea what a leash was or how to walk with one, she was afraid of grass and snow.......But look at her now!!!!!
Rescues aren't free and there's a reason for that. If you're willing to get a pet, you should be willing to help out the rescue organization. They incur a lot of expenses when they take in an animal and your donation to them when you adopt an animal is but a drop in the bucket for them!
So, yes, get a pet. But do the research and make sure that you know what you're getting into!!!
I did the research.........and still ended up with 2 dogs, a pony, a mini donkey, a cat and a guinea pig. My husband's biggest fear is what I'm going to bring home next! LOL But I knew what I was getting into and I love caring for all my animals! When I take Jelly out for a walk and she bays enthusiastically while on a rabbit scent, when my cat is curled up on his special fleece in the livingroom, when Lucy (minipin/chi cross) curls up beside me to watch TV....it's all worth it! Even when it's 20 below zero and the wind is blowing a gale and I have to schlepp water out to the barn 3 times a day, when I open that barn door and hear those nickers and little donkey brays.... it's all worth it!
Love of animals is a universal impulse, a common ground on which all of us may meet. By loving and
understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other.
— Dr. Louis J. Camuti
understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other.
— Dr. Louis J. Camuti
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