These questions can be difficult to answer when looking for a companion animal. It is hard to remember sometimes that we should also be thinking about the new pet.
1. Pet care can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours a day. Today we have an array of animals to choose from. So many of these animals are cute and cuddly but often require extreme attention.
2. A small animal can be so expensive to care for. Food, vitamins, supplies, veterinary care, destroyed furniture, training classes etc. It is not wise to cut corners on any of these needs because often a small problem can turn into a crisis. A crisis leads to frustration and then often to abandonment of the pet.
3. We all lead busy lives and unexpected things can change our direction or priorities. All too often a pet becomes too time consuming due to a change in our situation or because the animal is misbehaving. The best of us can loose sight of the fact that a live creature is a lifelong commitment. We can forget that the animal is attached to his family and that the animal will probably not find a new home if a decision is made to abandon.
We must be realistic about how much time and money an animal will need. A small bowl with one fish can be a difficult task to fit in to an often fluctuating schedule. Perhaps it would be a good idea to foster a displaced animal from a local Animal Shelter Network. This practice is helpful and inexpensive. Every day healthy animals of all kinds are dropped off at private shelters. Private shelters can offer you education and encouragement.
If you are convinced that you need to commit yourself to a companion animal, then please remember that it is for a lifetime. Abandoned animals do not understand why they are not with their families anymore
4. All too often
pet stores provide little support after they sell you an animal. Often the staff is misinformed and mismanaged. Animals in many pet stores are bought from unethical breeding operations. Certified breeders do not usually sell their animals to pet stores.
Pet store animals look cute and healthy but often they are not. The baby animals you see are usually the offspring from neglected parents. This province is in the middle of an overpopulation crisis. The Pet Store Industry is enabling this problem and we are being charged hundreds of dollars for something they pay very little money for.
Many private shelters are run ethically. These shelters are non-profit and the tireless volunteers put all of their energies into providing health care, birth control protocol and a nurturing environment. These shelters are also charging extremely down to earth prices for their invaluable service. A healthy dog which has been fixed, vaccinated and nurtured will cost about $150.
Many people may not know of the pet industry consumer manipulation crisis in this province. Many animal loving people do not know that we are lacking laws for protecting animals. This embarrassing situation is actually a severely neglected tragedy. We can empower animals by making informed and responsible decisions.
Québec Puppy Mill Crisis
Where to buy a puppy? The problem with Backyard Breeders.
