Good pet, bad pet

Are you thinking about getting a pet? Then read on to see which one might be best for you.
Where to Start
Pets can be great! Who else licks your face, chirps happily, or purrs in your lap? A pet can make you feel good and can calm you down when you're upset. And caring for a pet can help you learn about kindness and responsibility.
There are all sorts of pets. Some take a lot of time and attention and need a lot of space. Others can fit in a corner and don't need much care at all. Some live just a year or two. Others may still be alive when you leave home for good! Some may be happy to stay in a cage--others may mess on your carpets and scratch your couch.
So, before your family rushes out to get a pet, why not sit down and talk? Ask your parents how they feel about it. The pet you want has to be one that they want too. After all, a parent needs to be the one in charge of pet care and willing to take up the slack if necessary.
Here are some things to do before making a decision:
* Talk to people who have a pet like the one you want. Ask them what they like and don't like about it. Find out what's fun and what's tough about having this pet. Check out how much time, money, space, and hard work the pet takes.
* Read some pet books or go online to learn more.
* Talk to a vet who treats the kind of pet you're thinking about getting.
* Check to make sure nobody in the family is allergic to pets or to pet bedding.
* Study the charts at right. (These are, of course, just the opinions or recommendations of Ranger Rick.)
* If you decide to get a pet, figure out how to divide the chores among family members.
Even if you don't end up with a pet, you can have fun reading about the possibilities!
DOGS
GOOD: Can become a best friend and a playmate. Fun to cuddle, pet, and run around with. Comes in many varieties and sizes. Can live from 8 to 16 years, depending on size and breed.
BAD: Takes a lot of time and needs to be trained. Some may not like kids. Needs supervision around young kids. May shed and have a doggy odor. May bark or bite. May pee or poop on the floor, dig in the garden, or chew up your shoes or other stuff.
TIME: An hour or two a day. Needs lots of exercise: at least three walks a day or playtime in a fenced area. Puppies need to be housebroken and trained. All dogs need time to be played with, fed, and groomed regularly.
MONEY: Depends. Cost of purebred dog is $500 to $1,000. Crate, bed, leash, collar, and toys are about $250. Spaying or neutering and vaccinations (shots), both a must, are $150 to $500. Yearly cost is $300 to more than $1,000, depending on how much dog eats and vet bills.
* Think about getting a dog from a shelter or from a breed-rescue group. It's lower in cost and saves a pet's life. Many mixed breeds are healthier than many purebreds. But shelter and breed-rescue dogs may come with some behavior problems that take extra training and patience to correct.
SPACE: At least enough room for a bed and crate plus room to walk around and sprawl. A fenced yard or a place to walk the dog. Many apartments and condos don't allow dogs.
FINAL WORD: If you have energy, time, and space and are serious about wanting to train, care for, and love a dog over many years, this may be the pet for you. If thinking about getting a purebred dog, check out the pros and cons of each breed: See Good Dog, Bad Dog: Dog Training Made Easy, by Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Margolis (Henry Holt, 1991). Then find a responsible breeder. Avoid large kennels and pet shops. Think twice before bringing a puppy into a house with very young kids. TTT, $$$
CATS
GOOD: Small size. Curious, playful, and often affectionate. Fairly easy to take care of. Housebreaks itself with litter box. Adult cat doesn't need as much attention as a dog and can be left alone during the day. Can live 14-20 years.
BAD: Sheds. Many people allergic to cats. May not like kids. May scratch furniture and scratch or bite people. May not use litter box if sick or if its routine changes. Young kids need to be supervised around cats.
TIME: About half an hour to an hour a day: scooping out litter box and feeding (twice a day usually), grooming, and playing with cat. Kittens need more attention than adults.
MONEY: A purebred cat costs $100-$500. Many adults and kittens are free. Spaying or neutering, a must, is $50 to $275. Vaccinations (shots) are $50 or more. Yearly cost is about $350, plus any unexpected vet bills.
* Think about getting a cat from a shelter or rescue group. You may have to pay a small fee, but this often lowers spaying or neutering costs. Adopting saves a pet's life.
SPACE: Big enough for at least one litter box and places to snooze and play and watch the world outside. OK in small apartment. Best if kept inside for cat's own safety and for protection of birds and other small creatures.
FINAL WORD: Some cats are friendly people-lovers that like being held or sitting on laps; others are shy and don't want to be cuddled. Still, most are affectionate and intelligent. TT, $$$


Ranger Rick, June, 2002 by Elizabeth Schleichert