Choosing the right pet for you
Adopting a pet shouldn't be a snap decision. A lot of thought and
planning is necessary before bringing an animal into your life.
Considerations include identifying how much time and space you have
for a pet, the temperament of the animal and the preferences of
household members, especially if the household includes children and
other pets. You'll also want to take into account any health issues
such as allergies to pet saliva or dander and whether it's legal to
have the kind of pet you want where you live.
It's also important to research your choices before making a final
selection. Tracy Wagner decided to look at pit bulls after moving into
a house with a yard in Lower Paxton Twp.
"My boyfriend had had a pit bull in the past, and when I volunteered
at the Humane Society I saw how misunderstood they are," said Wagner, a
community relations representative at Belco Credit Union. "Pit bulls
can be just as loving as other breeds despite the stigmas and
stereotypes. It's all in how the animal is raised."
When Wagner met Dominick the pit bull -- that's "Dom" for short -- and eventually adopted him from the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area Inc., she was happy to see the dog lived up to her expectations by licking her face and wanting his belly rubbed.
For other pet owners, an animal's companionship also provides a form
of aid. When Linda Ekelman's husband developed dementia, she was afraid
to leave the room because he needed her constantly. The couple's
Labrador was "too energetic" to help. Ekelman found respite for herself
as well as distraction and comfort for her husband in a cat.
Through Castaway Critters,
the Perry County woman adopted a kitten who liked to climb on her
husband's shoulders and put its head under his chin. "My husband was
reasonably unemotional then, but he developed a real affection for the
cat," Ekelman recalled. "When the cat got sick and we had to put him
down, my husband kept asking for it."
Ekelman adopted two more kittens before her husband died. Both were "very therapeutic" for him.
But the search for the perfect pet can be challenging. To begin,
make sure every member of your household is ready to adopt. Lillian
Byers of Etters was seeking a dog who could get along well with her
surrogate family: a child with hearing-impairments she cares for while
his mother is at work, his mother and her dogs. Byers found and adopted
Dozer, a Shih Tzu mix, from Castaway Critters.
Though abused and sick before a foster parent took him in, Byers said
Dozer is now "the sweetest dog in the world." Her friend's child
considers the pet as his own.
"Owning a pet is a big responsibility," said Kelly Hitz of the Humane Society.
"A lot of people don't think ahead. If they get a puppy, they may be
looking to a 10- to 15-year commitment and that's hard, especially with
busy lifestyles and with kids. They may not have the time needed to
spend with a pet."
With dogs, it's important to research breeds in terms of their level
of activity. Often people come to the Humane Society with firm ideas of
which type of animal they want and which personality or breed they
prefer. "But when they describe their circumstances, we might say the
choice is not so good," Hitz said. "We try to get a handle on the
animals' personalities. Dogs get a temperament test to see if they're
good with men, women, kids and other dogs."
It is recommended that every human member of the household spend
some time with a pet before adopting it. Of course, there still may be
surprises, said Nina Mantione, a veterinarian with Good Hope Animal
Hospital in Mechanicsburg. "An animal doesn't always behave in a
shelter or in foster care the way he would otherwise," Mantione said.
"The animal may seem more withdrawn because of the stress of being in
the shelter."
It may be hard to give specific advice if you don't know the
prospective pet owner's situation, but the veterinarian can offer
general tips. For example:
- Have young children? Avoid large-breed dogs as they tend to be too energetic and require a lot of exercise.
- Have teenagers? Your family might benefit from having a dog with
energy to burn. "You might want to avoid extremely shy or extremely
aggressive dogs," Mantione added. "A very shy one can be aggressive if
threatened. You probably want to look for an easygoing, friendly dog
without it being 'wild and crazy.'"
Annette Reiff,
a longtime volunteer with Castaway Critters (and Patriot-News
columnist), urged potential adopters to think twice before choosing a
specific pet. "I've seen cases of people who returned kittens to rescue
groups or shelters because they were "too active," when a little
research would have told them to expect this," she said. "It's great to
ask a lot of questions."
But along with information you need determination. It can be
stressful for an animal to be adopted and then returned, Reiff
emphasized.
Unwilling to meet the demands of a dog or cat, some people may
consider a smaller animal as a pet. Hitz agreed that a rabbit may be a
good option to provide companionship and teach responsibility to a
family who's not yet canine- or feline-ready. Prospective owners should
familiarize themselves first with the requirements for caging, bedding
and handling of these pets.
"With a bunny you have more husbandry," she said. "You have to clean
the cage and change the water bottle, and the bunny may not be as
personable as a dog or cat."
Small animals in general can be more delicate. Guinea pigs, for
example, need vitamin C (through supplements or fresh vegetables) to
prevent scurvy. And, "you may have to watch kids around hamsters,
gerbils or guinea pigs," Mantione advised. "They're not recommended for
families with kids 5 and under."
Kids and holiday time might lead to the thought of giving pets as presents. But that's not recommended, the experts noted.
"Everyone in the family should meet the pet before it comes home,"
Hitz said. "If someone wants to pay for the adoption fee, that's fine.
But a pet shouldn't be a gift the family doesn't know about. At the
very least you have to make sure the primary caregiver is compatible
with it."
Caring for your pet
Make sure the pet you select is home-ready, which means it has been
spayed/neutered and given all of its necessary shots. A license and an
initial round of shots are offered by the Humane Society of Harrisburg
Area Inc. as part of the adoption fee. The society also provides
twice-a-month low-cost vaccinations, microchipping (for identification)
and other pet products.
Area rescue groups offer periodic spay/neuter clinics for existing
pet cats and feral ones. Vaccinations and other services are available
at community events such as Woofstock.
"But we want people to know getting shots for their animals is not
enough," cautioned Kelly Hitz of the Humane Society. "It doesn't take
the place of an annual visit to the vet."
From pennlive.com: http://www.pennlive.com/bodyandmind/index.ssf/2009/11/choosing_the_right_pet_for_you.html
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