PET OWNERSHIP PART ONE

Pets – A Lifetime Commitment

By Terry Bailey

We have all seen the TV spots showing children frolicking with puppies on a sunny, green lawn. The kids are laughing and giggling as the puppies engulf them, toppling them over as the lick their faces with their tails wagging ninety miles an hour.

Of course we have all witnessed the patient, tolerant family cat as the toddler embraces him and wobbles across the living room floor. The poor tabby has an exasperated look on its face, but does not lift a paw in its own defense.

Pets are a deeply ingrained segment of the American family. In pioneer days farm dogs earned their keep by herding animals alongside their master and serving as a watchdog alerting the family to the arrival of strangers. Cats made their home in the barns and the outbuildings carrying out their assignment of eliminating the property of any mice, rats, or other varmints. Dogs and cats were an integral part of the farm family.

While today’s typical family lives in urban areas and the duties of cats and dogs have changed dramatically, pets are still prevalent in today’s families.

Consider these facts provided by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about pet ownership in the U.S.:

It's estimated that 75 million dogs and 85 million cats are owned in the United States.

According to the 2016 Pet Owners Survey, 65% of U.S. households own a pet, up from 56% in 1988.

About 40% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat

The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. 30% of dogs are purchased from breeders, and 30% of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues. More than 35% of cats are acquired as strays.

Americans spent $21 billion. On their pets in 1996. Spending rose to $60 billion in 2014.

Expenses for dog and cat owners include:

Veterinarian including spay/neuter, vaccinations and parasite control, food, grooming by owner or professional, litter and litter

box, leashes/collars, and crates or pens. No two pet owners spend the same amount of money. However, there is a financial

commitment to the care of a pet. Consider all the factors before inviting a pet into your home.

It is evident that the typical American family has opened their hearts to pet ownership, they have also opened their pocketbooks.

Pet ownership is a lifetime commitment to the care of the animal

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA