WE have around 12 to 15 cats outside the house at any given time, five old cats inside the house, and two dogs who go in and out of the house whenever they want. Living with them can sometimes be challenging, especially during the rainy season when we have to set up temporary shelters so they do not get wet, or when nursing them after a trip from the veterinarian, or even cleaning up every morning. But for all the inconvenience of taking care of them, they have proven to be significant parts of our lives.
One of the benefits of having a pet is the companionship they provide. Of course this means you get a pet who matches your personality. Different pets have different temperaments and activity levels, so choose one which complements your lifestyle. We have cats and dogs but you can opt to get a fish, a bird, or even a reptile. It all depends on the amount of time you are willing to spend in taking care of them. But you have to do a little research on the kind of pet you want and what they need, so you can make informed decisions on what pet to get and you can properly prepare for them.
And when you do get a pet, remember that they will always have their own personality. It is not true that a dog will always be friendly, nor a cat will always be aloof and distant. We have a cat with broken hind legs who wants to be petted and rubbed all the time, but he can become so territorial against visiting cats and fight them off even if he is disabled. We have another one who follows me everywhere when I am outside the house, and has the nasty habit of crossing between my legs when I am walking. And another one who does not want to be touched at all, but after a few months has learned to enjoy being petted. The more time you spend with your pet, the more you discover their charm and idiosyncrasies.
Which brings me to another advantage of having pets. They can offer stress relief especially after having a rough day. One of the best parts of getting home after work are the faces of my dogs who could not contain themselves and wag their tails and jockey to be petted. By then, you would have forgotten the woes of the day and you get to spend a few minutes just taking in the unconditional love from your pets. This in turn helps calm you down and might even lower your blood pressure. I guess it is the feeling of being wanted by our pets which gives us a feeling of contentment and happiness. It is no surprise that during the quarantine period, people adopted pets from shelters so they can have a companion and someone to fuss over.
A big part of having pets is being active. Having a pet means taking care of them and cleaning after their mess, which also means you are forced to actually move more than your usual. You may also be forced to be more active especially when your pet needs to release pent-up energy or just wants to roam around so they can get to know their surroundings. Taking your dog for a walk, cleaning the aquarium, or washing the bird cage will help you burn more calories which will benefit your heart in the long run. When you have a pet in the house, you will always have something to pick up, clean, or wash. So be prepared to move around because your pet will keep you moving.
If you have kids, having a pet will teach your kids responsibility and a chance to think of others’ needs. Having a pet is a big responsibility. One which involves taking care of another life. Which means that you cannot just dismiss them or throw them away when you do not want them anymore. So if you are looking for pets, please start looking in shelters rather than pet shops. An Aspin can love you as much as an Akita or a Rottweiler. And if you are getting a pet for your kid, bring them along so when they do choose what they want, you can tell them what they need to do to make their pet healthy, and you can make agreements on what they should do every day to take care of their pet.
Aside from this, you also need to factor in other considerations like budget, time needed to take care of them, and a trustworthy veterinarian. We used to have a dog who was left in front of our house. He had the worst case of mange I have ever seen and when we were able to befriend him, we took him to a vet near our place. The vet who took care of him waived her professional fee and even gave us medicines to treat his mange and malnourishment. From then on, she would waive her fee because it turned out she also owned a dog shelter and since we were taking care of the dog, it meant one less dog from her shelter. Make sure you have a trusted veterinarian who will really take care of your pet.
“Dog is man’s best friend”—thus said Frederick of Prussia in 1798 as a beloved reference to his Italian greyhound. While this may have been the first reference to dogs, they may have been domesticated earlier. Archeologists have discovered skeletal remains of dogs in Iraq 14,000 years ago suggesting they may have been man’s best friend even earlier. While dogs may have been a popular choice for pets, countries like Egypt revered cats as enchanted creatures and even adorned them with jewelries and fed them treats which would shame even the most lavish of cat treats today.
But one thing is clear: pets will continue to play a significant role in our lives. And when you do decide to get a pet, understand that while they may not outlive you, what they bring to your life is unconditional love, unbridled laughter, and the joy of having made an impact in someone’s life.