Pros And Cons Of Acquiring A Pet

Most children love to have a pet, especially a puppy which will follow them around the house. They love to play with it, cuddle it and even sit on it. But buying a pet for your child is an extremely important decision which needs careful planning. There are certain things that have to be kept in mind before gifting your child with his favorite pet animal.

1.Buying a pet entails responsibility: When you bring home a pet, it requires care just like a baby. It will need to be fed, cleaned, walked etc. So you need to figure out whether your child is old enough to take care of the pet, since it is for him or her and not for anyone else in the house. Is your child mature enough to handle a pet and undertake all the responsibility that comes along with having a pet in the house?
2.You must be willing to spend extra money for its care: Since a pet is a living thing, there will be times when it falls ill or needs to be taken to the veterinarian for vaccination, medication or dressing of a wound. Besides the medical attention, you may also be inclined to buy pre � cooked food for pets from the pet store. All of this means that you will have an added expenditure to take care of.
3.Pets may be the cause of allergies: Some people are allergic to dust while others are allergic to the hairs of pets, which shed during the rainy season. This may cause a lot of discomfort to your family members and increase your expenses as you will have to visit the physician to get a remedy for it. One way to allay this problem is to go in for an allergy test to rule out any such possibility.
4.Deciding which pet you want to take home: Every animal has its own unique characteristics. For example, a cat is a very independent animal and can be left alone for the day without getting worried about the cat bringing the house down. A dog on the other hand loves human company and does not like being left alone for long periods. Small animals like the guinea pig, hamster and mice make good pets for both, kids and adults. If you do not want a long term commitment, buy the hamster as it has a short life span of three years. Birds like parrots make charming and entertaining pets. Keeping fish is equally satisfying and calming. Reptiles are another choice but require special care and handling.

No matter which pet you decide to take home, there are a few things that apply to all pets alike. If you are living in an apartment building, check the rules for keeping pets. You will need to provide a shelter for the pet either within or outside your home and keep the surroundings clean. When going on a vacation, you will need someone to take care of your pet. Happy pet hunting.