by Jerica Collins

Created on: February 06, 2008

Owning any pet is a big responsibility. From the little goldfish to a large horse, every pet deserves love, proper health care, a clean environment, and a good diet. Every pet deserves much consideration before it comes into your home.

First of all to be a good owner you must consider the cost of the pet and if you can handle the feeding and other expenses for the entire life of the animal before you get the pet in the first place. If you can handle these expenses, plus have a way to pay for emergencies whether it be in payments at the vet or having a savings account just for those cases, there must be a way to pay.

After considering costs and the lifespan of the animal, and you still want the pet, be sure you are ready to invest the love you must give the animal. Fish may not require petting or playing with, but they still require a considerable amount of time invested to care for. Dogs require a lot more love and attention, playing and training, as well as they live longer than most fish and are likely to be more expensive. Horses require love and attention as well as need training and do enjoy some play. They live even longer than most dogs and are more costly in the long run. Be sure you can commit plenty of time to your pet for loving, playing and training. A pet that isn't given enough of these will be a very sad and lonely pet.

Most pets need a considerable amount of cleaning up after. Fish bowls or tanks need to be cleaned properly and water quality maintained to keep the fish healthy, they live and breath in that water. Dogs, even though they may potty outside may still need to be picked up after to keep a clean yard, plus need bathed and brushed. Hamsters generally need weekly cage cleaning. Chinchillas usually need cage cleaning, to be brushed, and given dust baths at least weekly. Many birds need their cages cleaned often and have the added cleaning of their seed husks, feathers, and some even produce a dust that gets all over. With any pet there is cleaning, from their cages, to the pet themselves as well as any type of mess they may make (like my dog Shiloh who loves to get in the trash).

Exercise is needed for every kind of pet, though a fish can't be walked, they need plenty of swimming room. Some dogs may need long walks as well as long periods of play to stay happy. Some dogs may only need short periods of play. Some are content just to be let out to potty and then come in and doze, which is fine as long as the pet is happy and not overweight.

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