by Melissa Knight

Created on: July 16, 2008

So you're ready for a pet. You think about how cool it would be to come home and be greeted by a joyfully wagging tail. When you go to the park, you watch others throwing the Frisbee for their happy animals and you imagine that it's you and your rover.

Maybe you would rather a cat, or hamster Maybe you'd rather a snake. Regardless of what kind of pet you're considering, it's important to think very carefully about your responsibility and obligation to any animal you'll invite into your home before you go out and get one.

So many times, I hear people talking about their pets and saying they have to get rid of them because it's too much work. Yes, this is true. Pets are work. They are love and joy and fulfillment, but any reward requires work.

Consider the cost of a new pet. Think about vet bills and preventative care. Think about how much food is going to cost and if you will need to be home at a certain time to let it out. Will you have to board it if you go away for the weekend? Are you ready to give up your vacations and pay the expense of boarding?

While a snake or hamster requires much less care, they may not offer the level of emotional attachment that you are looking for. Dogs and cats, however, have the ability to bond with their owner and give, as well as receive love. On the same side, dogs and cats can also misbehave when they feel slighted or bored.

Cats, if you're one of the lucky ones to not be allergic to them, can be loving or aloof, but they know their owner. With most cats, you don't have to worry about working late, because they're litter box trained. Cats can be the perfect companion to you if you have a small apartment and want the emotional commitment without all the work. Cats can be wonderful and loving. They can be frisky and playful, plus you won't need to go to the park on a daily basis.

Mention the park and people think about dogs. While I, personally prefer dogs because I'm not allergic to them, I admit they are a lot of work. Take me, for example; eight years ago, I bought a Border Collie. I hadn't studied up on them; didn't know how much attention they needed. I didn't know that they needed to be put to work or they would tear up your house. I was completely unaware that if you let them go with nothing to do for too long, when you finally did let them out to play, they would become easily distracted and you'd wind up going for a more invigorating run than they did.

These are things that need to be considered before you make the leap to

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