Ms. Beucler

 People have been keeping pets for more than 10,000 years.  Dogs were first, followed by cats Cats now out number dogs  Before WWII, pets were for hunting, farm, or show animals.  After WWII, the luxury of increased incomes and prosperity raised the want of owning a pet

 Pets were a way to provide companionship in fast paced times. Help with empty-nest syndrome  They offer non-judgmental acceptance, love, and companionship, no matter what the age of the person.

 Many pets are abandoned each year because they don’t fit in with the lifestyle of the family Compare family lifestyles 50 years ago with family lifestyles now  They lose their ‘cuteness’ as they age, cost too much to feed, or put too much time demand on the family

 No matter how cute an animal appears, careful thought and consideration should be given  There are a few questions you should ask yourself or consider before you make a purchase

 Obvious answer: Pet shop Advantages  Conveniently located  They have everything you need  Reasonable price? Disadvantages  Can come from any where in the country  Don’t know the conditions the were raised in  No knowledge of pedigree  Healthy mom and dad?

 Purebred Breeders In the business for the long haul  Success depends on their reputation Advantages  Save money by avoiding middle man  Can visit the breeder, observe parents and determine traits that will pass to the offspring Disadvantages  Not conveniently located  Some breeders have high prices

 Animal shelters Where most abandoned pets end up Many of these pets would make fantastic pets, but need one thing = a chance Advantages  Get a wonderful pet and save an animals life  Cost is much less, most of the time the animal is up to date on shots and has been spayed or neutered Disadvantages  Don’t know the animals story/past  Already formed habits, need work in training or trust

 Family, friends and neighbors Advantages  Easiest and cheapest Disadvantages  Most cases, animals up for grabs are from unwanted pregnancies  Not registered  Not vet checked

 Consider your living conditions before bringing home a new pet Apartment Big house Large yard City ordinances

 How much time do you have to spend with your pet? Time for grooming Time for exercise  Maybe a smaller animal might be a better fit Hamster, guinea pig, reptile, etc…

 Most people don’t look past the initial cost of their pet. Food  Young, adult, senior Grooming Toys Vet bills Some cities have annual animal taxes

 What does your future look like? Animals don’t stay the same, they change, much like our lifestyles do  Are you in it for the long run? Have a pet at home now?  What about college?

 It should be a mutual agreement if you want to bring a pet into a family  Consider time spent home, at work, family outings…  What about allergies? Imagine bringing home a kitten and a family member is allergic – are you going to keep the kitty while your family suffers? Or are you going to kick that kitty out for doing nothing wrong?

 Animals have personalities just like people Most of them are misunderstood  The pet you choose should complement your personality Active: dogs Home body: cats Traveler or busy body: pocket pets

 Special breeds of animals become fads or status symbols When the fad fades away, there are unwanted or abandoned animals  Example: The Shar-Pei  A small group of these animals were brought to the U.S. in the 1960’s  Sloppily bred from a limited gene pool caused them to develop many deficiencies and health problems.  Other examples:  The Dalmatian: became popular after the animated movie 101 Dalmatians  Chihuahua: popularity has risen due to the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua

 Need to take some time and give serious thought to the decision to obtain a certain breed of any animal Check out different breeds Become familiar with their characteristics and needs Ask questions

 This question is most important for people who are considering a dog as a pet Most people have more than just a companion for a motive of getting a dog  Hunting  Tracking  Herding  Shows  Trials

 Most children sooner or later beg their parents for a pet When contemplating a pet for your child, consider their age  Small children should not have animals like rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters  Their movements are unpredictable and can be squirmy  Responsibility is a must  Great teaching tool, but need to make sure that someone is always going to take care of the pet  Can teach children many things  Responsibility, social skills, respect and compassion, grief and coping with loss

 Pets can be great therapy tools Pets can help us live longer  Happier  Lower blood pressure  Example: heart rate is lowered while sitting quietly with an animal near them  Help with depression  Pets are used in nursing homes, hospitals and as assistants to the disabled, deaf or blind