Pet Care: Beyond Food And Shelter

(Page 3 of 3)

January/February 1990
By Randy Kidd, D.V.M. 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Other often-overlooked factors vital to an animal's well-being are the amount and kind of space in which the pet will live. A full-ofenthusiasm hunting dog simply does not belong in a small city apartment. Likewise, a highstrung, easily frightened critter can't be expected to live comfortably in a family with two or three energetic, boisterous children. And certainly no dog deserves to be tied to a tree and left alone all day, every day, simply because its owners have to work and don't have time to give their pet some attention.

RELATED CONTENT

Animals that are forced to live in environments that don't suit their natures can't be happy-and you can bet that unhappiness will manifest itself in behavior problems.

On the other hand, if you provide an appropriate and loving home, you can expect your pet to be content and eager to please.

The Rewards

The responsibilities that come with owning a pet can be weighty indeed. It takes time to teach a pet how to get along in a humandominated world; it takes time to feed, groom, and provide for the health and social needs of a pet; it takes time to show love for that pet. What's more, bringing a pet into your home reflects a long-term commitment, not just a short-term whim.

But don't forget for an instant that your efforts will be rewarded several times over in love and loyalty and companionship. Don't become too busy living up to your responsibilities as a pet owner to stop and appreciate what you're getting back.

Our pets have to condense a whale of a lot of living into a relatively short span of time. Life and death come within a decade or two (much less for some). You can help make those years fun and fulfilling for you both.

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.