Picking the Best Pet for You
By: Angela Mose, ZimmVet Daycare Staff
Nothing is as exciting as bringing home a new fur baby! In order to assure that your new family member gets off to the best start, it’s important to consider a few questions. Taking the time to carefully choose your new companion will enable all of you to fall in love at first sight.
What Are Your Expectations?
When adding a pet, it’s helpful to picture how that pet will fit into your family. Are you looking for a hiking buddy, guard dog or a couch pal? This will help you narrow your search. If you are looking for a companion to go on outdoor adventures with, selecting a breed or a mix with athletic tendencies will ensure that Fido won’t poop out on that 4-mile hike.
On the other hand, if you are wanting a companion to binge-watch the latest Netflix show, then selecting a dog breed that prefers being a homebody might be a perfect couch cuddler. You may find that a caged pet will be ideal for your family. If no one is home for long periods of time, then a calmer cat or a small furry pet may give you the companionship you want with the flexibility to accommodate a busy schedule.
Type of Accommodations
Beyond considering what you might want in your furry or feathered friend, it is helpful to evaluate how much room or exercise you can provide. Though Great Danes are wonderful companions, bringing one home to a third-floor one-bedroom apartment is probably not going to be a great plan. Unless one can ensure that these gentle giants are given plenty of opportunity to exercise, a cramped living space may bring about anxiety and stress to both owner and pet.
On the other hand, though a macaw may be able to live in a cage, it also requires supervised playtime to stretch its wings and its intelligence. Keep in mind, that a Chihuahua does not require a large living space, Chico will be just as happy in a two-bedroom apartment as he would in a palatial estate.
Who Is the Pet Intended For?
Though many people believe that pet ownership teaches a child responsibility, the primary caretaker will still likely be the parent. Children who live with pets do show increased compassion and empathy, but even the most well-intentioned child may forget to feed or water that hamster. They may also grow tired of scooping the yard or the litter box. Parents who are willing to step in when their child grows bored are less inclined to grow weary of pet ownership.
Many times, a pet is adopted to bring companionship to an elderly or shut-in relative or friend. While this may be the perfect solution for many who live alone, it may not work out as hoped. If the recipient struggles to get around, then it may be too much to walk a dog when it’s icy or too cold. In addition, bending down to scoop a litter box and clean and fill food bowls may also be a challenge. It’s always best to discuss the arrival of a potential pet before it is brought into a home.
There is a Companion to Fill Every Need
Adding a pet to a home is more than ensuring that the pet’s physical and emotional needs are met. It is bringing in a family member who will add much more love to life than it requires. Regardless of whether you choose a cat, dog or goldfish; animals enrich our lives and our homes more than we would ever imagine. Whether it’s for a few years, or a few decades, we will never be the same once our hearts have been touched by the pet that’s perfect for our situation.
Because your chosen pet deserves the best that you can provide, selecting veterinarian care and support are just as important as choosing your companion. The staff at Zimmvet work hard to provide the best care possible for your beloved pet. We offer a full-service vet clinic as well as doggie daycare and hotel services. We can also help get your pet up-to-speed on obedience training and offer a full-service grooming salon to help Fido or Fi-Fi set out in style.
