When does it sleep?
Is it nocturnal (coming out mostly at night)? If so,
it may sleep when you are awake, and play when you are asleep. The
result: a pretty boring pet.
What
does it eat?
Is it a vegetarian, an omnivore, or a meat eater? Will
you have to feed it live animals? If so, can you handle that? And,
how hard will these "feeder" animals be to take care of?
How much cleaning up after the
pet will there be?
Does your pet shed a lot (leave hair on furniture,
clothes, and carpet)? Will it need a litter box? If it lives in a
cage, how often will you have to clean the cage?
How will your pet get its exercise?
Dogs and horses must be walked. Cats must be played
with and coaxed to chase a toy or, allowed to go outside and
exercise themselves. Mice, hamsters, and rats must have an exercise
wheel. Reptiles and amphibians (snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles) must
have enough room to move about in their tank or cage. Birds too must
have enough room to move about, and to flap and stretch their wings.
How big will the pet get?
Remember that the cute little whatever-it-is that you
bring home today, may turn into a big whatever-it-is in a year or
two! Remember too, that as it grows it will need more food, more
room, and possibly more exercise.
How will the pet interact with
your other pets -- or with the people in your family?
Will your other pets be jealous of the new pet? Will
they want to eat it? Will your mother scream and forbid you to touch
your new friend? Will your little sister pull it's tale off?
How hardy is the pet?
Is the pet strong and healthy? Is it easy to care for?
Does it's kind of animal tend to live a long time? Can it handle it
when the temperature changes a lot -- like a very hot day in your
house or apartment. Could it survive a chilly spell if the power goes
out and there is nothing to heat the cage or tank?
Many reptiles and amphibians are beautiful to look at,
but very delicate. They should only be raised by experts.
Remember, it can be sad to lose a new pet. And also,
it is cruel to the pet to bring it home when it needs someone more
expert and knowledgeable to take care of it.
How much will the pet cost?
When you figure out how much you
can spend on your pet, remember to think about the following costs:
food -- for it's whole lifetime
containers for food and water
vitamins and special food supplements
special heating equipment and lights
a cage or tank, if needed
bedding and or litter
veterinarian visits -- shots,
check-ups, or even emergency visits.
And don't forget other special
equipment that you may need-- toys, exercise wheel, cat door insert,
saddle, leashes, and SO ON!
How much fun will the pet be?
And finally,
but most importantly....
Will you be allowed to keep your
new pet?
Of course, whatever pet you
decide on should be approved by The Powers That Be. (This saves you
the sorrow of having to get rid of your pet after you have brought
him home.) This means you pet must be okay with:
Your mom or dad or whoever
it is who takes care of you.
Your building superintendent,
mobile home park manager, or neighborhood association.
The governments of the city,
county, state, and country that you live in.
You would be surprised at the
snit some people get themselves worked into simply because you are
trying to raise pot-bellied pigs in an apartment house or chickens in
a mobile home. (I'm just kidding -- an apartment is too small for a pig.)
* Children and pets
* Traveling with pets
* Animal diseases that may be contagious to
humans
* Emergency care for your pet
. . . and much more.
From avoiding
predator-prey mixtures in your fish tank to
training your guinea pig to use a litter
box, and featuring an appendix of helpful
organizations,
The ASPCA Complete Guide
to Pet Care
is sure to become a perennial favorite among
pet lovers everywhere.
About the Author
David Carroll is the author of more than
thirty books and numerous screenplays,
including an Emmy Award-winning production
for Hallmark Hall of Fame
