Pets=presents?

So as of right now, I do not have children. But I clearly remember begging my parents for a pet every Christmas as a child. I wanted a dog, cat, horse, goldfish, hamster, I would have been happy with a llama! Instead I got a Furby. But plenty of children will be asking for a furry friend this year, just as they do every year. I just wanted to put this out there. If your little darling asks for a pet, please do your research. Do you have the money, time and space for an animal? Are you prepared to add another member to your household?

Some parents might get their children a “starter” pet, such as a hamster or a rabbit. If this is your first time to my blog, you might not realise that I am a rabbit owner. I’ve also owned cats, dogs, rats and hamsters. And so I can say with complete confidence that there is no such thing as a “starter” pet as every animal has their own specific needs depending on their species. And if you do not do your research you have no idea what you may be getting yourself into. For example, you decide to get your child a hamster for Christmas, do you know what type of hamster you would buy? A Siberian hamster or a Russian dwarf hamster maybe? And do you know if those hamsters prefer to live in pairs or alone? Do you know how much food to feed them, what food to feed them? What bedding is or isn’t safe, what is an acceptable home and how often do you clean them out? These are only some of the questions you will need to be able to answer in order to give your hamster a full and comfortable life. Or maybe you decide to get a rabbit. Rabbits can live for ten years plus and can be quite destructive, they need access to fresh grass, they need fresh hay every day, fresh veg and nuggets. They need chew toys to keep their teeth down, and lots of space for running around and exercising. I won’t list every type of pet, but I imagine you know where I’m going with this.

Here are a few key points to consider:

·         Do you have the space to house the pet that is both comfortable and safe for everyone in the home?

·         Do you have the necessary funds to look after an animal?

·         Have you considered pet insurance?

·         Do you know the correct types of food to feed that animal?

·         Do you know if you have a local vet? And if you choose an exotic animal, is there a specialist vet in the area?

·         Are you prepared to have the animal for multiple years and potentially deal with any health problems you may encounter?

·         Do you have room for the animal to exercise and play?

If you are answering “no” to any of these questions, then I would advise against getting a pet. I’m not saying that you can’t get an animal for Christmas, but I am saying that if you do choose to buy an animal then to please do your research on that animal and make sure that you know how to care for the animal. Also please ensure that you supervise your child when they are interacting with that animal, be it hamster, dog, cat or rabbit for both the animal’s and your child’s safety.

And if you do decide that you want an animal, please consider adopting a rescue. So below I will link some educational pages, please do your research and make an informed decision.

Hamster: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/hamsters
Dog: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/-/articleName/CAD_Dogs
Cat: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/-/articleName/CAD_Cats_NEW
Rabbit: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/-/articleName/CAD_Rabbits
Fish: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/fish/-/articleName/WLD_Pet_Fish
Reptiles: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other/-/articleName/WLD_Other_Pets

Finding a vet: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/findavet/-/articleName/CAD_Find_a_vet