So you want to get a pet....

We all know that having a pet is a big responsibility.  The animals we own rely on us for all of their needs, for their well-being.  What exactly does that entail?  Do we simply provide them with food, water, and shelter?  What kind of food? What kind of shelter?  What do we get out of our pets?  How do we figure out what kind of pet to get in the first place?  These, and many others, are all questions that anyone should answer before buying any sort of animal.  In this post, I will attempt to cover the things every pet owner should know before they acquire their pet.

Meeting Their Needs

The first thing pet owners need to know, even before they decide what kind of pet they want, is what it means to really meet the needs of any animal.  Every pet has basic needs just for surviving: food, water, shelter.  However, there is a much bigger list of things they need to thrive, and sadly, this list is often neglected when people choose a pet.

It's not enough just to buy food for your animal, find out their nutritional needs and make sure you are giving them the supplements to their standard food.  For example, plain old rat food is great, but rats also need fresh fruits, veggies, protein, etc.  The same goes for many other animals as well. 

Animals also need mental stimulation.  This can be achieved by giving them toys, hiding treats in their environment to find, adding things to their environment for them to explore, etc.  You don't have to spend a lot of money on these things either, oftentimes homemade toys are just as interesting as the expensive store bought ones.

Grooming is also very important for pets.  While many animals can take care of this themselves, sometimes they need just a little help from us.  Things like trimming their nails or getting knots out of fur are more difficult for pets to do for themselves.

My biggest recommendation is to do a lot of research online once you've decided what kind of animal you want.  The internet is a great tool for finding information about every pet imaginable.  There are forums, clubs, and other organizations dedicated to specific animals and what it's like to keep them as pets.  Talk to others who own the kind of pet you want, see what they have to say.  Find out what is involved in letting your desired pet thrive, rather than just survive, and then decide if that's a commitment you want to take on, or if maybe there's a different pet that would be a better match for you. If you just want something you only have to feed and water on occasion, I recommend getting a nice potted plant.

Choosing the Right Pet for You

Ok, so you know that owning a pet is a big commitment.  You're aware that a pet should be allowed to thrive rather than just survive.  The next question is: how do you know what kind of pet to get?  To answer this question, you have to ask a few more.  First, what are you looking for in a pet?  Do you want something that's just for looks or something you can interact with?  Do you want a pet you can cuddle?  How about one that does tricks?  Do you want a large pet or a small pet?  Do you want a quiet pet, or is a noisy one ok?  How much time, money, and space do you have to dedicate to your pet?  Fish are great fun to watch, but obviously you can't really cuddle with them or teach them tricks (other than coming up to the top of the tank when it's food time...).  Reptiles are also fun to watch, and you can hold them, but they aren't super cuddly either.  Rats, mice, hamsters and other small pets are great for people who don't have much space.  Dogs and cats are wonderful to cuddle, but they require more room than other pets.  Birds are brightly colored, some can learn tricks, and some love to cuddle, but they can be very loud.

If you aren't sure where to start, go to a pet store and see what catches your eye, and then go do some research.  I really wanted a fish tank, but water changes, filter maintenance, cleaning the rocks, etc. can be a really big chore.  So, I have a half fish tank, half toad terrarium.  It still needs to be cleaned, and the water needs to be changed, but because the volume is smaller, it doesn't take up quite as much time.

Hopefully this little guide helps in the decision process of getting a pet.  If you have questions related to a specific type or breed of animal, please comment and I'll be happy to help on a more specific level.