As you may have noticed, the first three “Pet Care” columns were quite season-specific. However, the intention of these articles is primarily to advise pet (we prefer to call them Companion Animals) owners how to recognize and deal with all aspects of pet care which could ensure their pets’ perpetual health, recognizing impending ailments and actual sickness, therapeutic (treatment) interventions (sometimes necessarily even before you visit your veterinarian). Physical, psychological and emotional problems and symptoms associated therewith will also be discussed.
Every now and then, we will take a break from the description of specific maladies and deal with issues like dog/cock fighting, grooming, training, (in)breeding and so on. Within this context, let us look today at the matter of ADOPTION/ACQUISITION of companion animals.
Before we even think of adopting/acquiring a pet, there are certain important considerations that must be factored into our desire to make a pet part of our family.
We have notice that, especially at Christmas and immediately at the commencement of a New Year, pups and kittens are shared out to children as gifts. In fact, some “breeders” (“in-breeders”) make this a commercial undertaking – ensuring that their cute dogs are mated at such a time that would produce puppies at the appropriate Season. (Female dogs come into “heat” about twice yearly and their pregnancies would last for approximately 2 months; therefore, it is not difficult to make the calculation as to when the pups would be ready for sale).
Like all babies, puppies and kittens are the cutest things. It is no wonder that parents and children fall in love with these wonderful, interactive animals.
Before we actually acquire/adopt a pet let us now engage in some general and specific discussion on the matter.
General
It has been said that mankind is divided into two categories – those who love dogs and those who love cats. Well, whether you prefer the gratitude-showing, devoted tail-wagger or the independent, aloof feline with its quiet grace and mysterious charm, there are certain common activities that you as owner/caregiver must carry out if the pet is to be happy.
All children love animals! Whether it is a child at Kabakaburi with his pet monkey or the little city girl who has just acquired a live ball of fur and fun.
All animals require love unconditionally and infinitely. However, love alone will not keep the pet healthy and the owner happy. Care for your pet is a huge responsibility. Affection isn’t enough. You need some degree of ‘know-how’.
So, when we are talking about your choice of pet, right away let me advise you that although most animals can become pets to a lesser or larger degree, one should shy away from keeping those ‘exotic’ animals as pets about which one knows very little.
For example, one would have to know a lot about physiology and behavioural and dietary habits of snakes before the latter can be kept as pets. In fact, much debate can be generated as to whether monkeys or birds (macaws, parrots etc) or deer should be kept as pets. That discussion is for another time.
How often have we not seen ‘Polly’ come into the clinic with all sorts of problems due to poor feeding regimes and parasites in her ungroomed feathers.
Poor ‘Jacko the monkey, that is instinctively mischievous, harvests the wrath of his owner who only a couple of months ago found his antics cute. The belt around Jacko’s waist is tied tighter and the chain is made shorter.
And ‘Bambi’ the deer invariably succumbs to a nutritional imbalance.
That is not caring for your pet; that is torture.
Now, let’s look at our more common pets (cats/dogs).
The situation here is also clear. If you for example, have an allergy to fur, you can’t keep cats, because they are largely house animals and will shed hair in those places where the best pointer broom or vacuum cleaner will not reach.
And if you wish to keep a dog, do you have enough yard space for its kennel and its exercise?
In fact, one of your decisions is whether you will choose to keep a cat or a dog, because even though they are both four-footed and furry that’s the end of the similarity. You’d better recognize this at once.
A dog craves your attention and affection; he will fawn over you and his tail is the barometer expressing his happiness.
A cat, on the other hand, doesn’t even remotely consider the need to please you. She is individualistic, and full of surprises.
A dog is a mixer! A cat is often a loner and mixes only when it wants to.
So, as a potential caretaker of a canine or feline ward you have to decide whether you want a dog because of its responsiveness to you, or whether your personality prefers the more subtle signs of affection of a cat.
Be sure you don’t take into your family a cat that you wish to act like a dog or vice versa. No such animals exist.
Next week, we will deal with specific issues before your ultimate choice is made.
