Pets

We love our pets!  Do you have a pet, or are you thinking of getting one?  Do you wonder if a pet would fit into your life?  There are so many kinds of pets to consider.  Read our article and learn about a few pets that might be perfect for you! Want more information?  Here are some Books about Pets.  If you don't see what you want, just click on the Amazon logo and browse their online store.  Amazon.com is the best place to buy Books, DVDs, Clothes, Electronics and EVEN PET ITEMS (see the ads in the article) - and at Great Prices!

To Pet Or Not To Pet? by Lynda Rey   11/1/08 They can be large and furry, small and fluffy, rough and scaly, and soft and feathery. There's even the ones that are slippery and floppy, but in that case, they should be returned to their tanks as soon as possible! Oh the wonderful world of pets. I'm willing to bet that more than half the country has either had or currently have their fair share of animals wandering around the house, leaping around in their cages, or swimming inside their watery glass. Sure, to some people they're just animals they've come to adopt against their will, but to so many others, they're more than mere animals. To them, they are members of the family, worthy of the utmost care and love like their own flesh and blood. It's no mistaking that for millions of people around the world, their animals have their hearts. Okay, so it's pretty obvious to a good number of people that pets can really turn their worlds around for the good if they let it. Sure, for some people that experience may be a negative one, but for others, it's an adventure waiting to happen. These are the sort who are thinking, "Yes! It's time to jump in and get a pet!" But then there's another issue to be solved for them. After all, having an animal in the house can be a pretty big deal, especially for people who have never tried it before and who are very curious which route to go. In fact, it can be a good possibility that some of those aforementioned individuals may be staring at their monitors this very moment thinking, "Hmm, well, it'd be nice to have a pet, but I have kids at home! Will my world come tumbling down if I choose the wrong kind of animal to be around them?" Now I'm no Dr. Doolittle by any means. I am certainly not declaring superiority of being the ultimate person to have the final say on what kind of critter would be best for households, whether there are kids or there aren't. Like people, animals have unique and personable characteristics. I mean, it certainly wouldn't be fair to say that every two people are exactly the same in this world, and the same should be applied to animals. What I can say is, generally speaking of course, that certain species have their strengths and weaknesses. A perfectly sweet animal for one family may be the most atrociously horrible beast for another, depending on one's viewpoint. But with a little bit of research and self-teaching techniques, you may just land the most perfect 4-legged or 2 winged creature to join your family. Seeing as how dogs and cats are the most common pets around, let's talk about some of the other common pets, like this furry little cotton puff called a hamster. You got it, the most popular little fuzz balls around. With mazes and portable wheels and all sorts of cage designs to boot, it's no wonder they're highly sought out for kids. Not much is needed for their care either, save fresh bedding, food, lots of chew toys, and of course water. They're fun to watch and oh so cute. Find a nice one and you can't help but utter an "awww" now and then. Find a temperamental one, though, and I highly doubt you'll be wanting to stick your fingers too close. Hamsters can have some very short fuses, especially when frightened. The best luck in preventing nasty bites is to find a youngster and, after it's been allowed time to acclimate to his new home, handle it often in a gentle fashion. In time, they can learn to trust their owners, but only in time. "More than one?" you ask? Well, hamsters are not particularly social with each other either when they've matured. What does this mean? A hamster would rather be a loner than have another hamster friend. Unless a parent wants their little ones to witness some brutal massacres, hamsters are best kept alone. But come on, hamsters can't get all the attention. What about their counterparts, the--dare I say it---rats? Now don't get all disgusted with me for suggesting such a thing. Go on and ease your gasps. Most people avoid them under the false assumption that they're filthy sewer dwellers with rabies. Their tails don't help much either. You may disbelieve that a rat can be a pet because of those unfair labels, but trust me. You should give it a second thought. Rats are among the most sociable of the small animals. This means that they absolutely love the idea of bonding with not just other rats, but a human caretaker, including children. They are actually a very intelligent species. Ever wonder how they always know the way to escape in the movies? Ironically, they're even among the cleanest of rodents, grooming themselves constantly, just like cats. They're capable of learning tricks or better yet, their names. But the best a rat has to offer is its temperament. That's right. They're so sociable that they're not very interested in biting as hamsters may be. Aggression is simply not a known trait of rats. And as far as their tails go, they're nothing but cooling agents, a way to expel heat. No matter how much praise I can give rats, or how much attention I can give hamsters, it's still possible that they'll never steal away everyone's hearts. Some people just aren't built for rodents. So what other options can there be besides the obvious cat and dog? Birds of a feather flock together. Like rats, birds are social creatures too, and can be a joy to interact with. In fact, interacting with birds, especially those belonging to the parrot family, is a requirement based on their intelligence alone. Like people, birds love to be around their cage mates, even if that mate is a human. Ignoring them would be an act of cruelty. Their beaks and claws may be a little prickly for small fingers, and their needs are a little more demanding than the smaller, furrier critters. However, for the right family with the right personalities, or the right people with the right amount of patience, birds can be fun and loving companions. And come on, everyone loves a bird that can mimic the voice of its family. Perhaps it's still quite likely that no animal with fur or feathers is your ideal companion, but you still want something alive to care for. Spiders or scorpions perhaps? Alright, that was probably a little mean. How about something along the lines of reptiles and fish? Bearded dragons, for instance, are among the most popular of the scaly critters, thanks to their docile nature. At about 2 feet of lizard fully grown, they need a good amount of living space and heat sources, plus a diet of both vegetables and proteins to really thrive. But if a lizard is still unsatisfactory, one may want to resort to the watery world of fish. Sure, you can't pet them or hold them or cuddle with them, but for some people that's just what the doctor ordered. Certain species of fish, like the common Oscar, a South American fish, can learn to recognize their owners. Some will even allow a hand to reach in and stroke their sides. The most crucial task to achieve is perfecting their environment, which isn't difficult as long as adequate time is allotted for water to age properly. But once that hurdle is surmounted, it can be quite easy to imagine the possibilities of having an aquarium. Oh the wonderful world of pets. Obviously, I've barely scratched the surface of the choices of animals out there to adopt into your family. There are far too many to mention, but there can be no harm in providing just a tad bit more education on the more common species. In the end, it will always be up to you the parent, you the singleton, or just simply you the individual, to decide what would suit you best. Personally, when it comes to children, I believe one of the best ways to teach them about responsibilities, dedication, commitment, and yes, even death is to have an animal of some sort living among them. So just give them a chance, the animals I mean, even the ones that make you cringe. Sometimes, ladies and gents, it's the ugly ones that are the best ones! Lynda is 26 years old, lives in Indiana, and hopes to one day pursue a career working with animals. She enjoys many forms of self-expression, including art, poetry, and writing, which is one of the latter additions to her list of hobbies. Comments

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