We all know how wonderful it is to have a pet or to dream about having one some day but many times due to bad advice, over enthusiasm, lack of knowledge about the pet or just bad luck we end up with a disobedient dog, dead fish, bald parakeets & a furniture warring cat. I have had all kinds of weird & amusing pets ranging from a chicken, squirrels, parrots & now with cats, dogs and fish. I remember my mother accidentally killing our goldfish (overfeeding) but it was not her fault just her lack of knowledge. But even if it is a fish we get upset over anything bad happening to the pet and us because of them. So from my personal experience with animals I have pointed a few things people should keep in mind while getting a pet

Why….

did you choose to have a pet?

A question that you must ask yourself before getting a pet and must make sure that you get the right answer. I got my pets for the reasons ranging from companionship to plain “wanting” & to help me with my depression. So why are you getting your pet, because your reason moulds your future with the pet. The common mistake people make is that they get a pet because it looks “cute” but as the baby grows along with the responsibilities the pet owner gets tired and has the pet disposed or neglects it. And always get a pet that your family is comfortable with (physically & emotionally) because allergies & phobias/anxiety can turn up at anytime. Another mistake people make is that they feel a pet might make them or the family kid(s) responsible, do not take that risk as the plan might backfire on you and end up causing you more pain

How….

to choose the pet for you?

Now that you know why you want another family member joining you, you need to decide or rethink about what the new addition should be… Like what I said earlier, be practical while pet selection because every action has its consequences, wrong pets equal poverty, migraines & sometimes broken bones. The best way to choose a pet is to get one according to your lifestyle, hectic lifestyles? Get a semi independent pet which are usually hamsters, fish, birds & cats because dogs require exercise and more of the cuddly bonding kind as they eternally live in packs. Have a semi hectic lifestyle? Get a pair of cats or 2 dogs (small) or rabbits, mix up by getting a dog and a cat. Lazy Lifestyle? Don’t worry about the pet of your choice

Your family, house and budget size are also deciding factors. Big houses for big/lot of pets. Small pets for small houses/family, allergic people would be happier with fish or birds. Do not opt for pedigree pets if your budget is tight because they normally are less sturdy than mixed breeds. Babies and delicate/sensitive pets should not mix until the kid understands about an animal because pets/babies can get harmed physically and emotionally. Pets also get insecure when they are not showered 24×7 love like their human counterparts and it can show in their behavior.

When….

is the perfect time to get one?

Many people while choosing pets usually postpone it due to their lifestyle so all that I can say is that any time is good for getting a pet. Those who worry about getting an animal right after a baby is born need not worry if the baby is healthy for mild exposure to animals makes a baby more loving and immune. Just make sure  not to get an odd pet if your lifestyle is nomadic as it will do nothing but stress you and your pet.

You do not have to worry much about the timing of the pet unless you are always on the move or pregnant, housing a long term guest or people with allergies. If you worry about getting a pet with a new born around, the only concern is the stress of taking care of multiple babies. But the advantage of introducing pups/kittens to babies is that both parties learn to accept each other and grow up stronger (My immune system is better due to the extreme exposure to fur ).

Where….

is it from & where is it staying?

Though pedigree pets are very alluring and awesome to have, they have their shares of woes. Compared to mixed breeds pedigree pets are less immune and many of them cannot have a rough diet (Anything goes kind of a diet). I personally believe that the best place to get pets from are from shelters because they truly deserve a home and many of them come from nice homes but get dumped. All of my pets except Diana(she came from a pet store) have come from shelters/streets and they are truly a robust team. If your pet plans on sleeping inside the house you need to set the rules immediately as to which piece of furniture it is allowed to sleep on and which places are not allowed. If outside, then you need to make sure that its water bowl is always filled with fresh water along with fresh food. If you have a big place, you can move an old sofa/couch into the room and let your pets make the room their den, personally my room is the den for my pets & I am the intruder/visitor lol

Who…..

will take care of the pet?

Now that your pet is in your house and has his/her territory, some one needs to take up the responsibility of taking care of the pet. If it is a joint affair then I must laud you for the achievement but if it is a soloist like in my case where I do everything for my pets then you have a rough time ahead of you because you will be expected to do everything from cleaning them, their poo, their dishes, feeding, walks, grooming and vet appointments. Trust me, sometimes when my vet expects me to turn up at his office with 5 bratty children I pray to the first person whom I see (usually one of the brats) to get me through but being in a cab with squirmy, skittish and mostly angry babies can make even a grown man cry. Walking the dogs is the most important ritual for if you miss even a single day, you will be visited upon by someone not so special in not so discrete spots. When they get sick, you will have to personally give them their medication and I sympathize with you if in case you are asked to administer pills to your cat. Bathing is fun but always make sure to put on water proof armor if your cat absolutely hates water (It might just rip out a chunk of your flesh while trying to escape). I do not have problems with medicating/bathing my dogs or 2 cats but Cleo would rip me into shreds before I let anything foreign touch her.

What….?

are the things to remember while keeping a pet?

1. Make sure to consult your vet as often as you can to make sure your kid is fine.
2. It is like you so make sure to love it as much as you can and do not neglect the babe

So enjoy pet hunting and make sure to help me make this post better. I will add points as I remember them. Best of luck and maybe you could share your pet’s pictures here