Pets of all kinds are abandoned for a variety of reasons. Maybe that dog had more strength than anticipated. Maybe that cat just won’t behave. Maybe that fish just doesn’t seem happy in its small little glass bowl. Whatever the reason, a lot of the time, it often boils down to someone just not being prepared to take on that responsibility so soon. It’s a good idea to research and read up on a pet before committing to purchasing or adopting whatever kind of companion you may be looking for.
In the middle grade adaptation of Our Dogs, Ourselves, Alexandra Horowitz goes over the rather contradicting way humans treat dogs. Owners pick out the perfect name for their pup. Children practically scream out of excitement and joy when they finally get that puppy they’ve been begging for. We give them beds, toys, food, anything and everything they could ever want. People also discard dogs at shelters when they’re no longer needed or wanted. Christmas dogs overwhelm shelters once families realize they just are not ready for a pet. Don’t even get me started on the impact pure and selective breeding has had on dogs. Horowitz illustrates and reveals how dogs may be “man’s best friend”, but we, as people, are not always dog’s best friend.
Of course, the confusing and mixed signals we send dogs also applies to cats as well. Cats are often misunderstood, but they are still just as loving as the average dog. It’s important to know and understand how to care for a cat, even if it seems like it’s as easy as laying out food and litter. Before committing to caring for a cat, especially if it’s your first cat, maybe give 77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat a read. Even if it’s not your first cat, it never hurts to do a little reading up on how and why a cat behaves the way they do. Essential Cat : the ultimate guide to caring for your cat is a bit older, but still contains valuable information for current and future cat owners. No matter the pet, it can only be beneficial to do extra research into the care and commitment required.
What I believe to be the most often mistreated pet is the fish. There’s a lot of misinformation that goes around about how to properly care for various fish, such as bettas and goldfish. Did you know that a betta needs a minimum tank size of 5.5 gallons? Or that the standard goldfish needs about 20 gallons to swim around in? Although I personally do most of my fish research online or in person, there are a handful of books in our collection worth checking out for that little extra information that could seriously impact the entire life of a fish. The Perfect Aquarium is written to walk anyone through the process of starting and maintaining a fish tank while the The Complete Fishkeeper will go more into the specifics of what certain fish need out of their tank (stuff such as temperature, tank size, tank mates, etc). Those two are a bit older, but they’re still quite useful today.
It’s important to give our pets the homes and lives they deserve. If you’re uncertain about getting a pet or just don’t know what pet to get, do some research. Read a few books, do several google searches, ask a few friends and some professionals, if you can. Every animal is different and requires special attention that just might not be common knowledge. When looking for a pet, it’s crucial to know exactly what you’re signing up for.
To end on something positive, I recommend reading Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul. It’s heartwarming and endearing, and it tells the stories of animals being astounding companions and amazing friends. Following Atticus is a standalone non-fiction book about the bond between a man and his best friend, Atticus the Schnauzer. Researching pets is always good, but sometimes, a nice heartwarming tale, whether it’s true or not, is exactly what someone needs on a rainy day.
