KVSV

PET OWNERSHIP PART TWO

Responsible Pet Ownership
By Terry Bailey

Animals and humans have one thing in common. Their lives can come into peril when they are taken for granted. Once the initial joy of pet ownership wears off, the responsibilities of pet ownership become work. And…nobody likes work.
The cold hard facts of life for all too many pets is that their life as a well-cared for member of the family rests on very tenuous circumstances. At first everyone argued about who got to feed the cute little puppy and the playful kitten. Arguments broke out about who got to give Lassie her daily stroll around the neighborhood. In the beginning the changing of the litterbox was performed with no complaint. Overfeeding and overwatering the pets was often a problem. Mom and Dad are happy. The kids are happy. The pets are happy.
Then reality sets in. Let’s face it. Having pets requires some work. Some take a little work and some take a lot of work. All the chores that were gladly accepted at the beginning become work. The feeding and watering, the grooming, the exercising, changing of the litterbox are not fun. But, they are necessary.
It is important for everyone to understand that owning a pet is a privilege. All too often acquiring a pet is an emotional decision and the long range responsibilities are overlooked or not even considered. When the fun becomes work, the pets’ future can be a problem

Not only is pet ownership a privilege, it comes with responsibilities. To be a responsible pet owner please consider the following. You must be willing to:

Commit
Avoid impulsive decisions when selecting a pet.

Select a pet that's suited to your home and lifestyle.

Keep only pets for which you can care for properly.

Commit to the relationship for the life of your pet(s).

Provide appropriate exercise and mental stimulation.

Properly socialize and train your pet.

Invest
Pet ownership requires an investment of time and money.

Provide health care (vaccinations, parasite control, etc.)

Obey
Clean up after your pet.

Obey all local ordinances regarding pets.

Don't allow your pet to stray or become feral.

Identify
Properly identify your pet. (i.e., tags, microchips)

Limit
Don't contribute to pet overpopulation: limit your pet's reproduction through spay/neuter procedures.

Prepare
Make arrangements if you can no longer care for your pet.

Recognize any decline in your pet's quality of life and consult your veterinarian.

Please consider this –
Pet ownership is a lifetime commitment to the care of the animal.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA