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Having a pet in the house means different things to different people. Some view them as a nuisance that one of their children or a spouse or partner brought home while others treat them as members of their families.

I've always been of the opinion that we don't own our pets, in fact I'm of the mind that most pets own their people. Many people see pets as a burden, something that needs regular and constant care, feeding and attention. Then there are those who see their pet parenting as a rewarding experience. Follow me:

1. Unconditional love - regardless of what else has gone wrong during your day, your pet can make you feel loved. When you walk through the door typically you're welcome home by your pet regardless of what type of pet you own. They are as happy to see you when you have been gone five minutes as they are when you have been gone five days;

2. Companionship - for those who live without another person in the home the addition of a pet often provides much needed companionship. A pet is happy to sit on the sofa and do whatever they want to do regardless of whether you're watching a movie, a television program, listening to the radio or reading the newspaper. Pets can be saviors for those who live alone;

3. Responsibility - what better way to teach a child to be responsible than to help them learn the proper care of a pet? The youngest of children can learn to feed, play, or even help bathe a pet;

4. Scheduling - a pet can help you manage your time more than you can possibly realize today. They demand to be fed at pretty much the same time every day, they can help keep you focused;

5. Compassion - Pets can be very affectionate towards people and in a lot of cases they demand that same affection from you. You're compassion for your pet often translates into compassion for other people;

6. Keeps you active - regardless of what type fo pet you have they will help you stay alert and active. Pets by their nature can get into a lot of mischief and they'll certainly keep you on your toes!

There are hundreds of rewards to owning a pet - pet owners grow very attached to their animals and they often become extensions of you.

Different types of pets

For those who are seeking true companionship often a dog is a better pet for you because they tend to be far more affectionate than say a goldfish, a bird and in many cases even a cat. Cats tend to be rather self-reliant and often want attention only when they want that attention! It doesn't mean that your cat loves you any less than a dog loves you, but rather they want you there for them when they want attention from you!

Enjoy your pet!

Learn more about this author, Doreen Martel.
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