Choosing the Right Pet

Many families consider getting a pet
at one time or another. Owning a pet
does require time, but there are many benefits
in store if you and your family are ready
and willing to put in the work.

Benefits of Pet Owning

Pets can bring a great deal of joy to many
people by easing loneliness, providing
comfort, and helping people feel needed.
Concretely, researchers have recognized that
pets can help children in typical transitions
and can even help shy children become
more outgoing. This happens because
the pet makes them feel more secure with
themselves and increases their comfort
in interacting with others, says Robert H.
Poresky, Ph.D., associate professor of family
studies and human health at Kansas State
University. In fact, research has shown that
even adults find social comfort in pets: people
walking with their dogs are more likely
to interact with other walkers than those
who walk alone.

Owning a pet may also give your family
health benefits. People with active pets are
more likely to go outdoors and exercise with
their pets.

General Considerations

Educate yourself on the needs of the pet
you are getting. Before buying, consider
the amount of room you can afford to give
a pet--for example, dogs require much
more space to exercise and play than rodents,
and bigger dogs will need even more room.
Consider the time you and your family have
to give toward a pet (some pets require more
attention for their well-being than others). Life
expectancy is also important to consider: are you ready to provide means for your parrot
after you pass away (because they can live up
to one hundred years)?

Your children also need to be ready. They
need to understand their responsibilities
with the new pet and the seriousness of caring
for another life--let them know you are
not willing to put the animal's well-being
in danger because of neglect. Getting a pet
means caring for them for a lifetime. Before
choosing a pet, consider taking your children
to a friend's house to let them play with
an animal and learn about how it needs to be
cared for; you may even arrange to animalsit
for a friend and supervise your children
as they care for the pet. When selecting an
animal, remember that most children under
twelve aren't prepared to become the primary
caretaker of a pet.
You must also consider the cost of owning
a pet. Look into the needs of the animal
you are considering to predict your financial
obligations for food, veterinary visits, and
toys. Learning the animal's needs will also
inform you about special considerations, like
purchasing special types of vegetables for
rabbits or heating lamps for reptiles.

Pros and Cons of Different Animals

You have many common types of pets to
choose from: reptile, rabbit, rodent, bird,
dog, and cat. Though each animal and breed
has numerous important differences, here
are some pros and cons to owning each type.

Reptiles

Find a reptile that works well in captivity,
generally those bred and raised in captivity.
The most common reptile pets are the
African helmeted turtle, bearded dragon
lizard, green iguana, marginated tortoise,
and leopard gecko. Make time to observe
the reptile before you buy it, and make sure
your children know the animal's behavior to
ensure they are not frightened by it (eating
live animals, etc.). Also, check the animal's
health with a veterinarian before you buy
(ninety percent of reptiles do not show
sound health).

Pros: Reptiles are generally very mellow
creatures. They also don't need a lot of interaction,
so they are a good option if you don't
have much time to play with your pet.

Cons: Reptile care is demanding. You
must create a healthy artificial habitat (correct
temperature, heating lamps, rocks, etc.)
so they remain happy and comfortable.
Also, depending on what type of reptile you
choose, you'll need to be prepared to feed it
insects or rodents. Finally, behavior can vary,
but generally reptiles are not very social.

Rabbits

Rabbits have become an increasingly popular
pet option for families. Like most pets,
make sure you know potential health problems;
rabbits need regular check-ups. Also,
make sure you can give them time to run
around each day and can give daily attention
for grooming, affection, and play. Make sure to
neuter your rabbit to prevent territorial marking.
You should also ensure you can provide
your rabbits with adequate chew toys so they
can release their energy and not chew up your
things. Consider that their diet is also specialized
to typically uncommon vegetables.

Pros: Since they are generally clean and
can be trained to use a litter box, they make
good household pets. They are interesting,
cute, and generally docile, good at interacting
with people, and can become very
affectionate.

Cons: Rabbits can be difficult to handle;
they may resist being picked up and, if you
don't handle them correctly, can kick, bite,
and scratch. They are generally not good for
small children. They can require patience, so
they may not be good first pets.

Rodents

When buying a rodent, go to a good breeder
(rodents are bred for temperament). Among
small rodents, hamsters are kept best in solitary
environments, whereas gerbils, mice,
and rats work well in pairs or groups.

Guinea pigs are also a good option. Though they are
bigger and require more attention and space,
they are very amiable creatures and live longer
than smaller rodents. Health indications
to look for when purchasing a rodent include
even breathing, comfortable running,
straight and clean teeth, no discharge around
eyes and nose, and no stains near the rear.

Pros: Rodents have small financial obligations
and require little space and time for
interaction, so they are good for the cramped
and busy family. They are very energetic and
can take care of playing needs largely on
their own, although they do need to be let
out occasionally for attention and exercise.

Cons: Rodents can sometimes bite and
scratch, though with regular handling can
become very tame.

Birds

When considering a pet bird, species is
almost everything. Novice bird owners are
encouraged to start with a small or mediumsized
bird because larger birds require more
commitment. Different birds also require
differing amounts of attention. Expenses
also depend on species. The top three recommended
birds for kids are finches and
canaries (easy to care for, soothing "music,"
and minimal interaction), parakeets (beautiful
colors, tolerate handling well, can learn
to talk, can bond strongly with caretakers),
and cockatiels (talk, whistle, do cute tricks,
but require more time, care, and attention).
Try birds.about.com for more information.

Pros: Birds can learn interesting tricks,
are beautiful creatures, and can bond closely
with their owners (depending on species).

Cons: Birds can require frequent cleanup.
Some species are very dependent. Birds
can also contribute to the noise component
of the house.

Dogs

When considering a dog, remember that
larger dogs are better with younger children,
and that young children need a breed with
a patient temperament. Larger dogs usually
require backyard space for exercise, whereas
small dogs can just run around the house.
Consider the breed especially carefully if
your family is prone to allergies or asthma.

Pros: Dogs are typically loving creatures
because they depend so much on human
company. They can be housetrained and can
learn to do tricks. Generally, they become
protective of their owners.

Cons: They must be emotionally tendered
during their training, and training
requires patience. They also bark, which can
be distressing to both family and neighbors.
Some dogs, particularly as puppies, may
be chewers. The risk of biting is also always
present.

Cats

Consider allergies when buying a cat. Unlike
dogs, there is no cat breed that is safer for
people with allergies. Cats are generally
independent creatures, so they don't require
doting attention. They are also very docile,
so they fit calm, relaxed personalities and
environments.

Pros: Intelligent, entertaining, small, tidy,
and less dependent on their owners than other
pets. They provide love and attention without
persistently begging for attention. Cats are also
relatively inexpensive.

Cons: They require daily feeding, grooming,
and litter-box cleaning. They also shed
and scratch.

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Veggies for Rabbits

Lorita in San Diego, CA

I really appreciated this article, and was delighted to find rabbits included as a good pet for either an individual or family. Each one is unique and has a personality all their very own. I would take exception to the idea that rabbits eat vegetables out of the mainstream. Again, each rabbit is different, and while one may just chomp down on carrots, another may turn its nose up at them (believe it or not!). The bunny we have now loves romaine lettuce, kale, parsley and cilantro -- all of which are readily available and generally cheaper than other "mainstream" veggies. Green leafy veggies are best ... no iceberg lettuce. It's more expensive, plus there is virtually no nutritional value. For an excellent source of dietary helps, I would recommend that anyone contemplating adding a bunny to their family consult either their local House Rabbit Society; if there is no local chapter in their area, they can find info by searching for "House Rabbit Society" on-line. Bunnies are wonderful, amazing, cuddly and just downright cute pets. I wish much happiness and good luck to anyone who shares their home and their hearts with them.

Rats and Fish

Clara in Fresno, CA

My husband and I have 30 pet rats. They make wonderful pets. They are prone to upper respiratory illnesses. They have never bitten us in over the 1 1/2 that we have bitten us on purpose. I say this since 1 has bitten when he was in an extremely deep sleep since all of a sudden there was someone touching him and another has bitten when it was a relatively new shy and timid rat that thought we were taking her food. Overall, you just need to get to know the personalities of them and you will get along just great. Make sure to get a size-able cage since females love running around while the males get fat and lazy. Fish was a type of animal that was not mentioned in this article. They require water changes about once a month. There is a large start-up cost with getting an aquarium, filter, water pump, air stone, chemicals, etc. You want to get your water tested about once a month. Most pet stores will do that for free from my experiences. They are great pets to have if you like looking at them. They do have their own personalities as well. Just be careful to only add a fish or two at a time and to not over-populate or overfeed.

Rats!

Wayne in Minnesota

I have a couple of rats: Moose and Badger. Well, they sort of look like a moose and a badger.... Anyway, they are both "dumbo" rats - their ears are larger and located on the sides of their little ratty heads, rather than on top. They are a black and white breed, called "hooded" rats. I made a large cage for them with three separate levels, with a flexible tube running outside the cage from one level to another (they love to have a dark tunnel). Most people generally get to like my little guys, even the long hairless tails, after holding them for a few minutes. Rats are clean and well-groomed - no fleas. They love massages and ginger snap bits as treats. Lots of personality! Kids love to hold them and let them run around on them as they sit. Rats are very inquisitive and love to poke their noses into everything. They generally live for about two to four years and then simply pass away quite quickly. You can get rats for about $10 at most pet stores - be sure that they have been handled quite frequently at the store, otherwise you'll have a long road ahead trying to get them to enjoy you. Buy them young and you won't have any problem and buy males unless you want to them to breed and breed and breed. Good luck with your ratty little buddies!