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Choose the pick
of the litter
In choosing a pet, my options were limited not only by size (I live in an apartment), but also by dander (my boyfriend is deathly allergic — or so he says — to just about anything with hair). With these limitations in mind, we narrowed our choices to the English Bull Dog, which we ruled out primarily because of the costly health problems commonly associated with the breed; the hairless cat, which we eliminated out of vanity; the Weimeraner, which was nixed because my boyfriend said so; and the miniature schnauzer, which was nixed because I said so. That left the Boston Terrier, which, despite my initial prejudice against small dogs, I have learned to appreciate as the finest breed of dog available for any lifestyle. The point is, it’s good to know what you’re getting into before making a commitment to a pet. It’s good to ask questions and to do some research before letting some amazing puppy’s face affect the way you live for the next 10-20 years. “One of the biggest problems is that people don’t spend time with the animals,” said Kim Franz, bookkeeper at the Humane Society on Sallie Mood Drive. “They just come in, fall in love and want to take an animal home.” In addition to taking the time to get to know a potential new pet, you should also take the time to get to know your lifestyle in order to determine whether or not you, your friends, your landlord, your bedroom and your budget are really as pet-friendly as you think. Although cats are relatively self-sufficient, indoor dogs without access to the outdoors will need to be walked a minimum of three times a day. If you can’t commit to a minimum of three walks, stop thinking about owning a dog. It just wouldn’t be fair. If you’re thinking canine, are you committed to owning a dog and not just a puppy? The thing about puppies is that, eventually, they grow into dogs. Make sure you enjoy spending time with adult dogs and not just puppies before you make a purchase. Do you live with people who dislike dogs? Don’t buy an animal that you won’t be able to keep. Just the other day a student offered to give me his dog. He hadn’t bothered telling his roommate before buying one, and he discovered too late that she was allergic. Do you plan to take lots of vacations in the next few years? Do you have funds available in case the dog is injured? Can you afford to have your dog neutered or spayed? Can you afford to maintain your dog with food, flea collars, rabies and other annual shots? These questions may seem annoying but they are 100 percent necessary before committing yourself to a dog. You wouldn’t get married before asking questions, so don’t bring a dog home before asking them either. |
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