Top Ten Reasons to Have a Pet



10. Teach kids about selflessness. Owning a pet teaches discipline and responsibility to a child. Children can learn how to share their time, savings, and companionship with a being that is solely reliant on them. If your kids really want a pet that you know they're not ready for, start smaller: if they can't handle a dog, start with a hamster. If they can't handle a hamster, opt for a fish…and if a fish is too great a burden of responsibility, begin with aTamagotchi.

9. Pets can increase your sense of security — personal, private, and psychological. Depending on whether you have a feline friend or a canine companion, cats and dogs can increase your sense of security. How so? Dogs can augment personal security when walking alone at night, while cats can ward off potential burglars by meowing to alert you to thieves' proximity. And because you know that someone you trust is always around, any pet, small or large, winged or ground-bound, can instil a sense of mental well-being by merely being close-by.

8. Personal growth 101: For pet owners. Of the countless reasons to own a pet, learning invaluable life skills that enable a person to become a better person is one of the most rewarding. Learning to share love, provide affection, and give attention to a pet are three qualities that enhance the personal quality of human life. Not convinced? Ask any pet owner about the satisfaction of caring for a pet…and whether they'd do it all over again if they could.

7. Need an excuse to get physical? Exercise is a great side effect of owning an active pet. If your pet requires frequent physical stimulus, you'll find that the amount of time you spend outdoors will increase dramatically. Dogs and other quadrupeds revel in enjoying larger spaces than the indoors allow, and will appreciate the time you make to take them on walks. Who knows? Your waistline might even thank you for it.

6. Preparing for parenthood? If you can't keep the fish alive, you'd better rethink your potential parenting skills. Puppies are especially good primers for parenthood, since, like children, they require bladder-control training and need lots of hands-on care and affection. If you're practising for a baby someday, but not ready to take the leap, why not rescue a pooch from a local shelter and put your care-giving capabilities to the test?

5. Looking for a constant companion? As well as love, pets offer continual daily companionship. Even pets like fish, which have a lower maintenance factor than dogs or cats, can be steady friends. Though some pets require frequent litter care and physical attention, like walking or play-time, it's all part and parcel of pet ownership and can quickly become a much-loved routine for you both.

4. It's a great way to meet people. People who have the same types of pets often exchange stories and compare experiences about the progress and histories of their pets, and generally love to talk about them with those who show interest. Whether you're walking your canine in the park or talking about your exotic reptile collection at work, pet ownership breaks the conversational ice and generates curiosity from strangers and friends alike.

3. Getting and giving unconditional love. Animals give you one thing better than R-E-S-P-E-C-T. They give you unquestioning, unbridled, unwavering love. Did your boyfriend or girlfriend suddenly take the high road, or your boss hand you your final paycheque? Never fear, Fluffy is near. Treat your pet with the respect it deserves and you will be repaid in kind with lifelong attention and affection, especially when you need it most.

2. Take a stand on a humanitarian cause. There are so many animals in need of adoption, yet not enough people willing to make the commitment and sacrifice it takes to look after them all. Make a difference in the future of a living being: figure out which animal would best fit your lifestyle, then adopt a pet at your local shelter. Go to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies to find out more about the closest humane society or pet shelter in your neighbourhood. Sleep better knowing that you have taken on the responsibility of raising a pet while rescuing an animal in need. Your pet will love you for it.

1. Pets are a prescription for good health. How can owning a four-footed friend or winged companion help you live longer? Pets can increase a person's level of activity and ease stress. Medical studies have shown that seniors benefit especially from pet ownership, since owning a pet can decrease blood pressure, fight loneliness, comfort the pain of a departed spouse, and combat depression.






by Viviane Kertesz


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Five Tips for Having a Pet in College



If you can’t bear to leave behind your dog or cat when you go to college, there are ways to make it work. Some schools are paying more attention to the connection students have with their favorite animals by creating pet-friendly residence halls, which have their pros and cons.
But for those of you still trying to decide whether bringing your pet to live with you at school is a good idea, here are five things that you must  consider about having furry friend with you.

1. Don’t forget Fido in your plans.
The biggest adjustment is planning your day around making time for your pet.
You have to plan class, work, whatever else, so that you don’t have surprises on your floor. It’s the same way when you’re wanting to take a road trip with friends. If you can’t bring your pet with you, you’ll want to make sure people are willing to watch the pet or that you have money saved up to board your pet.

2. Plan ahead of time for a new pet.
If you’ve always wanted a dog and you figure college is the time you can get one on your own, or if you miss your family pet so much that you want one, certain times of the year are better than others to add an animal to your life. So think about that when you see a cute stray.
Getting the pet early in the summer and setting aside that time for socializing, behavior training, and potty training is recommended. Your apartment and neighborhood should be chosen with the pet in mind and you should bring the pet to those places before school starts and the craziness of classes, work, and other activities begins.

3. Set aside spending money.
Learn to budget differently to include food, treats, toys, a crate, and grooming for your pet. Also, you need to put away extra cash for unexpected trips to the vet or the groomers. Money and schedules are obstacles that must be faced as a pet owner, and it’s amplified when you’re a college student.

4. Protect your place.
Also add into the budget money for furniture protector so that your pet won’t destroy items in your dorm or apartment. If your pet ruins something owned by a roommate, you need to replace it.

5. Get your roommates’ honest approval
Give special thought and consideration to roommates who may or may not have been honest with you about their fondness for or familiarity with pets.
Be upfront with your roommates about the character of your pet, such as if they bark a lot or are messy. Be respectful, and don’t let your pet in their room unless invited.

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CAT as pet

Cats are best pets for strong personalities.
Everyone knows that cats are rather independent. They are often satisfied when you simply leave them alone. However, when they want to play, you better play with them.

The idea of that warm, furry pile purring in your lap simply makes you happy? Then get a little kitten and I am sure you are going to adore it from the first moment. They truly are adorable.
Make sure, before you get a kitten, that you are not allergic to cats.

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DOG as a pet

Puppy dog as petDogs will be the best pets, as long as you have time for them.
Folks have very strong connection with dogs. As we all know, puppies are actually excellent pets. However let us not overlook that dogs need the most attention. Kids may often promise to clean after it as well as take it for long walks but these promises are rarely kept.
From time to time,"who is going to take a dog for a walk" might develop into a big problem in a family. Our puppy had to go out at 6 AM every morning and believe me, it was terrible for me, a 12 year old back then, to get up that early and go out. He was still being trained so he did not know better.


For those who have young children - it is highly unlikely the kids are going to take the dog out or perhaps clean after it. So, before you get a family pet dog you need to make a deal with all of the family members.

Everyone needs to understand exactly what their part of the job is going to be.

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