No Pets Allowed

One great reason why I say no pets allowed is because of how expensive they are. Food costs, worming tablets, leashes, collars.... the list is never ending. If you think you can handle that then remember the insane cost of vet visits and surgeries. Don't think you can get around any of these costs because if you, for example, didn't feed your dog then you will likely be fined. And that fine will probably be a lot more than the cost of the food in the first place. Just a few examples of how expensive pet food is can be found just below. In 2010, the U.S ALONE spent an estimated 47.7 million dollars on their pets. Whichever way you slice it owning a pet, whether it be a goldfish or a golden retriever, has the ability to drain your bank balance faster that a particularly skilled scam artist. In these times where money is scarce, there is no need to provide yourself with extra expense and stress.

Photo Credit goes to andersrasmussen

Many parents think that getting a pet for their children, such as a cat or dog, is a great way of teaching their child responsibility and this is largely true. However I believe that young children, specifically children under the age of 10, should not be have pets in their household unless you are totally sure that your child will not harm that pet. An animal deserves to be treated with respect, and not abused as many children would do. Not to mention that this could prevent harm coming to your children as well because, as we all know, if you pull a cat's tail it likely won't hesitate to scratch or bite back. Pulling a cat's tail could also potentially be damaging your cat's spine

Another thing you must consider as a parent is whether your child actually wants a pet. Ask them, and if they say no then don't push the issue. A pet that is not wanted is much more likely to be neglected.

Photo Credit goes to gniliep

Pets also tend to carry many bugs and diseases with them that don't openly affect the animal, but can be potentially lethal to humans. These diseases and illnesses include rabies, Leptospirosis, Parvo virus and a myriad of other harmful parasites. Would you want to be responsible for a family member, especially a child, becoming dangerously sick because of something that was completely preventable? I know that I would feel terrible if something like that happened to one of my loved ones. At the very least have all your pets and, where possible, children vaccinated against these diseases and keep up to date with things such as worming your pets. Your family's health should be of highest priority.

Photo Credit goes to ChanceAgrella

I think the hardest part of having a pet is the distress when your pet passes away, and it is especially hard when it is a child's pet because they do not know how to deal with pet death. I know people who have been semi-catatonic for days because their dog died. With so many of our human loved ones passing away around us, my opinion is that we do not need to grow attached to an animal just for it to die. I realize everything living must die eventually but, unless you own a tortoise, the life expectancy of an average cat or dog is far less than a human, setting us up for heartbreak when Mittens does pass.