With kindest regards from Mary Robbins dba Alagahi,
http://www.alagahi.com
"PETS"
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM.
CHOOSE AN ANIMAL THAT FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOUR HABITAT, YOUR TIME
CONSTRAINTS, AND YOUR CHECKBOOK.
ANIMALS ARE NOT TEMPORARY. DO NOT GET ONE IF YOU CANNOT COMMIT TO
LIFETIME CARE.
Those of us who commit to life time care are in danger of losing our
rights to keep animals of any kind, exotic or domestic.
There are always going to be animals in need of "new homes" due to
families who were stricken by some disaster that makes it impossible to
keep them, just as there will always be children in need of foster
homes. Please do not exacerbate the problem because you "want it right
now", with no regard as to whether you can provide for it in the future.
Before you get ANY kind of an animal, ask yourself these questions:
(1) Have I researched the life-span, care, feeding, enrichment, habitat
and licensing requirements?
(2) After researching #1, can I provide this for the expected life of
the animal? (Do you own your home? Is there a reasonable chance you
could lose your job or move to another city?)
(3) Do I have time for the animal?
(4) Do I want the animal to interact with? (If the answer is to look at
and show off, please get a plant.)
(5) If I had to choose between a new car or my pet, would I choose the
pet? (If not, get the car and forget the pet.)
(6) Can I afford the animal? (Is there a reasonable chance my finances
could nose-dive during the animal's lifespan?)
(7) If a new (a) child, (b) grandchild, (c) spouse, (d) pet, (e) other
came into my family, would I still want this animal? (An animal
accustomed to being part of the family should not be relegated to a cage
it would never be happy in.)
(8) If I come home and find my new shoes, furniture or other wordly
goods chewed to pieces, will I call a trainer for solutions rather than
(a) becoming violent or (b) getting rid of the pet?
(9) Would I change my plans, my lifestyle, or give up worldly goods for
the animal's welfare?
(10) Do my (a) state, (b) county, (c), city (d) subdivision regulations
permit keeping this animal? (Would my neighbors be happy to see this
animal arriving in the neighborhood?)
If the answer to any of the above is "no" or even "I don't know", you
are NOT ready to take this animal home. Please give yourself a few days
cooling-off period...after which you may choose something that does not
eat, poop, sleep, run, jump, play, throw up on the carpet, chew up shoes
and furniture, or pose a danger to your friends and family if you do not
spend $35,000 on a cage.
by:
Mary Robbins dba Alagahi,
http://www.alagahi.com