by Christine Cameron

Created on: February 22, 2008

Above the din of barks and mews at your local animals shelter can be heard the cries of, "Mommy, pleeeeease,he neeeeeeds me!" The best advice, especially if this is your first venture in pet ownership, is to drive home without the pet (as heart wrenching as this may be).

This may sound very harsh and easier said than done, but if you have not done your homework (literally), you are not ready for a pet. There are many decisions to be made prior to bringing your net pet home.

Here are the most important things you will need to consider:

Whether you are adopting from an animal shelter or purchasing from a pet store, it is best to make this decision prior to arrival. Pets come in every shape and size, so you will have many pros and cons to discuss.

Guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters all make wonderful pets for children or adults who would like a pet, but have little time to spend walking and playing. Young children can enjoy petting and holding these small animals, but adult supervision will be necessary. Also consider the cleaning involved with small animals; cage sanitizing is a must and will need to be done weekly at minimum. Nipping can also be a factor around very young children as small animals tend to scare easily. If you have a noisy home, you may want to consider a different pet.

Ferrets can make great pets, but these small animals actually require a lot of attention. A ferret left to entertain itself will do just that. Ferrets can and will open drawers and cupboard, steal keys and money, and rout through trash just for fun. These are the most curious of all small animals, and will stop at nothing to satisfy this curiosity. The ferret diet is straightforward, in that they eat ferret food (cat food should not be a replacement). A ferret should have a multi-level habitat (also needing sanitized at least once a week), so space should be considered.

Exotic animals should be left to adults as they may require a more intense diet, or exercise regimen. Sugar gliders, Opossum, and African Pygmy Hedgehogs all make very good pets for the more experienced pet owner. New information is still being issued on these and many other small exotic animals. Remember, just because you CAN have an exotic animal, doesn't mean that you SHOULD have one.

For many people the choice is immediately narrowed to cats or dogs. Both have their own merits and issues.

Cats are wonderful animals; great for cuddling and sitting quietly, or happy to be left alone to do whatever they want. A cat

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