Cold Morning......

Pets... pets.... pets. A fish. A dog. A cat. An iguana or whatever it is ... You just love them and their funny antics. But if they start to show listlessness and anxiety, don't you think you are doing something wrong?

I have always been a responsible pet owner. That sort of pet owner who would pick up the droppings of my pet, may it be wet or dry. I particularly like big dogs by the way... I give them baths, powder them and talk to them like how I would talk to a grown up. I get hurt inside if I see my dog suffering from fever... believe it (or not) I give them paracetamol to lower down their fever. I walk them (but I usually get tired easily because they'd rather run) and I would just feel myself being dragged with the leash in my hand because my dog got too excited and chosed to chase a scent. When I was a kid, I would always get bruises after I walked the dog. :)

My point is if you are thinking of having a pet, measure yourself first. You have to make sure that your pet will not feel miserable because you were their master. They need to be happy. Think that you are taking under your wing a creature that is breathing, that is alive and needs to be taken cared of.

Here's a checklist on what are the things that need to be considered when you are planning to have a pet:

1. can you promise commitment? ... Having a pet is almost similar to having a kid. You should always think about the things that could make your pet comfortable or the things that your pet needs, it could be a feeding bottle, a brush, a bone, a cushion on the sleeping basket, a toy, the right temperature (for certain pets like birds), attention, etc.. The list can just go on and on.

2. allergies? ... If you have asthma, you definitely should not get a dog or a cat. No birds too. The only choices you have are fish and exotic animals.

3. do you have enough space for a pet? ... big dogs need big space of course because they can get rowdy. Small dogs need parks and love to run around corners. For fishes, their place is fixed. Cats roam but they almost always lounge. If you are thinking of getting exotic animals for pets, they usually require a cage or a glass enclosure/ casing (whatever you might call that)...

4. have enough resources? ... this is always money and money. Are you capable of visits to the vet to have your pet's health checked? How about those vaccines? The right food to your pets can also drain your pocket. You also need to accessorize your pets. Mittens, a fancy collar, nail clipper, toothbrush are luxuries but believe me, your pet needs them. If you have hairy dogs and cats, you will need to visit a place (animal parlor or vet's clinic) to have their hair trimmed.

5. do you find yourself considerate? ... Would you care enough to pick up your pet's droppings? You must always bear in mind that there are also people living around you. The sight (first and foremost) and the smell can offend just anybody. Bear in mind that you also go "icky" over those droppings.

So, if you think that you can manage all of these on this checklist, go right ahead and get a pet. I must admit that maintaining a pet takes a lot of work but the time and energy invested on your pet will be worth it.