Choosing a pet

Different pets have different needs. A dog will most probably appreciate a garden, space to move around if it is to be allowed in the home, and a place it can call its own. His own bed in a specific place in the house is a good idea, it gives the dog a feeling of security and belonging. Do you live near a park where you can exercise a dog on a regular basis, or even better, in the countryside (always observing the country code of course.)

Cats also like the outdoors. If you are of the school that doesn't want their cat to roam, a covered courtyard with a tree or something other to climb, is always beneficial to them. If they must be kept indoors, you need to consider where you will keep the litter tray, although cats can be trained to use a human toilet.

A rabbit would always be best outdoors in a good hutch with a run on grass, they can be kept indoors, but you need to consider the smell. I had a house rabbit once, it lived with my rottweiler, and I did manage to get it litter trained, so it can be done. Read how to litter train your rabbit here.

Obviously smaller pets, such as mice, rats, chinchillas have their own special needs and I found this great source of information on exotic pets and their care.

Pets and children are an excellent combination. Children brought up with pets learn about responsibility and develop a kind and caring attitude towards both animals and people, but you need to choose carefully the type of pet best suited to your child. It will largely depend on their age at the time, and whether they would become involved in the care of your pet.

A large dog, for instance, cannot be left alone with a young child, they should always be under adult supervision.

Often a smaller caged animal such as a guinea pig, rat or rabbit can be perfect if your child is to share in the care and upkeep. I found this excellent site that goes into some detail on the things you should consider when choosing a pet with a child in mind.

Suffice to say, be cautious when choosing a pet that will share a home with children.

How much time do you spend at home? Do you go out socialising a lot? Do you work excessive hours (don't we all)?
The time you have available to dedicate to a pet will be a big factor affecting your decision when choosing a pet. For example, a dog will not be happy if left alone for hours on end, and can become destructive. I have a friend who cannot leave her dogs for an hour without them tearing up the home. She has a special crate, in the house, where she leaves them when she goes shopping, this contains bedding, water and toys, to keep them amused. I came across this article on crating a dog, read it, its very informative.

If you are out of the house for hours at a time, you should consider that a cat does not need as much supervision and attention as does a dog, and can use a litter tray, whereas a housed dog needs to be exercised regularly. Of course a yard or secure garden is and ideal place to leave your dog for a few hours, ensuring there is always water available.

In contrast, caged and exotic animals don't require you to be there all of the time and, so long as their basic needs are catered for (water, food, bedding, etc.), they can be left during the day whilst you are at work.

First I want to make a point here, in that it is not necessary to purchase a pet. Please give a thought to the thousands of abandoned and homeless animals, currently housed in shelters, that need kind and caring homes. Before spending money on a pet, consider homing an unwanted or abandoned animal. You should be able to find animal shelters in your area in the phone book.

Right, that said, you must think about the initial cost of bringing an animal into your home. Your choice of pet, of course, will determine how much this is, but I would advise ensuring you have a budget for the following:

Visit to the vet - all animals
Microchip/passport - dogs in all Europe, some USA
Rabis shot - dogs and cats all Europe, some USA
Spaying/neutering - dogs, cats and rabbits - RECOMMENDED
Possible inoculations - all animals
Bedding - for cats and dogs
Cage, hutch or tank - smaller animals
Food/bowls - all animals
Lead/collar/harness - dogs, cats, possibly rabbits
Tray and litter - Cats and possibly rabbits
Specialist provisions - exotic pets
Insurance - all animals

Now remember that this is just the initial outlay. There is going to be ongoing insurance, vets bills, annual inoculations, food, possible traveling, kenneling during vacations and, not forgetting, repair bills should they cause any damage.

Obviously some types of pet are less costly than others, a rat for instance wont require the amount of expenditure that a dog will.

So when choosing a pet, make sure that you can afford the ongoing cost for the type of animal you elect to bring into your home.

Have you the stamina to get through the bad times, and there will be some I promise, and not give up, leaving yet another animal abandoned?

Your pet may become ill, might cause damage in the home, or outside of it, may be difficult to train, have problems socialising, have a nervous disposition or unreasonable fears, eg. thunder and fireworks (this picture is of a friends dog during a storm.) All of these things take real commitment to see it through.

You need to be aware that vets will cost money, you may need to consult a dog behavourist, may have to apologise to neighbours for noise or damage.

You will also need to spend some time training, walking and socialising your pet (obviously not a gerbil or a hamster, although they need time being handled) and feeding them, playing with them and loving them.

If you can give all of this to your pet of choice then you can consider yourself ready to choose a pet for your home and family.

One of the main reasons for giving up on a pet is that someone in the household discovers that they have an allergy to that particular type of animal. Be very aware of this, don't jump to conclusions if a child, or indeed an adult, appears to suffer an allergic reaction once your chosen pet has entered your home.

I had a friend who gave a beautiful siamese cat back to the shelter because her baby developed sore eyes and itching skin a week after they brought the cat home. What she hadn't considered was that there might be another reason. The problem didn't go away and after months of testing it was discovered that her baby had an allergy to a new washing powder she had started using at the same time.

So, think about it before you immediately blame the allergy on the animal.

For additional information about animal allergies visit this website, its very informative, and could help you in making a decision when choosing a pet.

Be prepared for upheaval and changes when you bring a new pet into your home. Spend time making sure the environment is correct for that type of animal and read and learn as much as you can about it before you bring it home. If you are fully prepared, then you should have a smooth transition from one pet less to one pet more! The owners of this cat obviously found out it likes watching TV, so they bought it the biggest one they could get!

I hope you found this informative, helpful and interesting, if you would like to comment please feel free to do so in my guestbook below, I am also open to suggestions for inclusion, exclusion and changes.

I wish you luck in your search, hope you have a happy time with your new found friend and hope my advice has gone some way to helping you in your choosing a pet for your home and family.

All the best to you and yours
Denise

Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - Australia
RSPCA - Australia

American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - United States
ASPCA - USA

Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - United Kingdom
RSPCA - UK