During these days of hard economic times, it should come to mind to help our friends in need with furry family members too. The HSUS Program: "Pets for Life Program: Helping People with their Pets" is one of those great programs that promotes people with pets who need some help in keeping them at home with them while healthy and fed too.
It's so easy to forget that when your friends and neighbors are having a hard time paying their mortgages and other bills, their animals also suffer under the budget cuts. And this is where the more fortunate of us can offer some help by dropping off some extra food, taking the animals to our vets, or even offering to take their dogs along for a walk when we're taking our own pets.
This is also the time when we start to think about getting a new pet of our own. Shelter animals make great pets for anyone, but before you go out and take the big jump, it's important to ask yourself: How do you know when you or your family is ready for a pet or not? Believe me when I say, that there are a lot of things you should take into consideration before bringing any pet into your home.
Primarily, someone needs to be around enough to give the pet of choice the companionship it really deserves. If everyone is so busy with their lives and their 'extra' activities, and the pet is the last project on the to do list, then you shouldn't even consider bringing in any animal, including the small caged ones like hamsters, mice, and birds. All of them are social beings and need the love and attention of their families, whether they are furry or not. If you are not going to be home more hours than not, then you aren't ready for a pet.
Here are some great sites that will help you decide if you are ready for a pet or not:
HSUS: Humane Society of the United States: http://www.hsus.org/
HSUS Pets for Life Program: Helping People with their Pets: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/index.html
ASPCA: American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer
PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: http://www.peta.org/
Comments