Decades ago, a family only consisted of parents, children and grandparents. Owing to the changing times, pets have become an important member of many families around the world. Not do they add happiness to your lives but also teach us important lessons on being empathetic, responsible and patient. In essence, pets encourage character development in people.
Where pets offer the best companionship, they also come with a list of responsibilities. Whether your new addition to the family will have feather, scales, fur or hooves, there are a few points you should consider before bringing your pet home.
1. Right Pet for the House
The most important thing is choosing the kind of pet you want to bring home. Some pets tend to be energetic and curious when they first come into the house while others tale their time to adjust to the new surroundings. Pets too have personalities. You might see a dog excited and happy to see the new house and a cat roaming around tense and confused in the new environment.
So, it is important to do your research on the pet, the kind of environment in can survive in, what it cannot digest, how friendly the pet is towards babies (if any in your house) etc. to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
2. Affordability
There are quite a number of costs involved with owning a pet. Upfront cost for a dog or a cat maybe, include vaccination. However, you should be prepared for the ongoing costs as well which will include food, toys, health checks, bedding and other accessories. In case of an emergency or accident, costs for the immediate vet treatment would also be required.
Interestingly, these costs vary from pet to pet, however a pet can be an expensive addition to the family.
3. Family Health
Have your family checked for any allergic reactions they might have to the pet. For example, some people are allergic to cats, but are completely healthy with a dog whilst others have similar effects towards a dog but are unaffected by cats. So, keeping this in mind, make sure your family is not prone to any allergies towards the pet you decide to bring home.
4. Commitment
Having a pet is a long-term commitment. The Hyacinth Macaw parrots can live up to the age of around 50 years, whereas cats and dogs can live up to roughly 8 to 14 years. So, before you start looking for a pet, make sure to know how much time you can commit. Pets are emotional just like human beings, hence, not spending enough time with them or not caring for them properly tends to affect their mood and health.
So, you should ask yourself if you will be able to take your dog out for walk every day or comb your cat twice a day. If your answer is no, then go for a low maintenance pet such as a fish.
5. Training
Most animals require extensive training from the owners. The process is long and requires a significant amount of patience. Never rush the process as it takes a lot from a pet to learn. Always reward the pet with a treat when it follows through with the training regimen. If the pet seems to be having trouble learning something new, go back a step and reinforce its spirit by telling it to do something it already knows. Their emotion plays a pivotal part in their learning.
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So, as loving as your pets can be, it requires compromise, patience and strength before the pet starts getting used to the rules of the house. Once that is done, a pet is a undoubtedly one of the most treasured addition to the family.
Looking for a pet? Explore your options on OLX and choose what best suits your preferences and budget. With thousands of ads posted daily, OLX is the smarter choice.
OLX Pakistan as an online classifieds’ marketplace is providing access to affordable devices to a large population of this country, and playing its role in the digitization of the country.
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