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Picking a Pet
4 Tips to Help You Prepare and Select Your New Family Member
By April E. Clark
There are a plethora of resources available for potential pet owners such as books, Web sites and even DVDs on the topic. However, Peterson and animal experts such as Dr. Bonnie V. Beaver of the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Texas A&M University stress the importance of resource reliability. "Seek out a variety of information," Dr. Beaver says. "Enjoy a new pet by learning as much as possible from reputable sources such as veterinarians, the Humane Society or specialized breeders. Don't entirely depend on the Internet, a book or even what the next-door neighbor says because not all resources provide the most reliable information."
Recognizing the need or desire to own a pet is also an important stride during the decision process. Reasons for pet ownership vary from not having one as a child and wanting the kids to enjoy the experience to growing up with a dog, cat, fish or iguana. "It's important to have realistic expectations about owning a new pet," Peterson says. "If someone has never had a pet in his or her life, they must be prepared for how much time, effort and money is required for the commitment."
Dr. Beaver agrees. "Parents should know that children will not be able to care for the pet on their own," she says. "A pre-purchase counsel with a vet can really help parents understand the responsibility and the cost. They will learn that there can be many positivesand negatives for children to be around pets. Kids can learn patience, how to provide nurturing care and about different animal species. But they can also learn bad habits like hitting or tail pulling and that some animals bite, scratch or chew."
