Choosing the right pet for your family can be difficult. It is very easy to fall in love with a friend or a neighbor’s pet without considering all the work involved. Children especially will beg for a pet without thinking of the consequences. One of my all time favorite TV shows was The Cosby Show and I so enjoyed listening to Vanessa’s inventive, but persistent ways of pleading for a dog.
I have to admit, but as a child, I too begged for a family dog. We had several during my childhood who never did last long until a poodle named Precious. She was my 13 year old birthday present, but because my parents were the ones to feed her, take her outside, clean up after her, train her, and take her to the doctor; she loved them more. The dog that was supposed to be mine, would rather cuddle with my Mom and Dad than me.
Now that I am a Mom myself with a 7 year old daughter, to say we have had many pets come through our home is an understatement. My daughter is a huge animal lover who even desires to be a Vet one day, but that could change any second. Up until recently, we have had 3 dogs, 1 cat, 7 fish, 2 crabs who are more interested in mating than cleaning the aquarium and have turned our 2 crabs into 25 crabs. We also have had 2 frogs, 3 lizards, and 4 turtles; of course, the lizards and turtles were released within a few hours.
Even after all these pets, I still longed for my own dog; the human-dog relationship I had never had as a child. The Big Three, which we call our outdoor labs are my husband’s, and the rest belong to my daughter, who I must say takes great care and responsibility for her animals. It took me thinking about the kind of dog I would need for over a year.
Choosing a pet should not be a decision taken lightly if you are serious about adding a new forever member to your family. After considering my chronic illnesses and how some days they leave me bed ridden, I knew I wanted an adult dog who had been well trained and was already house broken. I also knew I did not want to buy from a breeder, because not only would that involve a great deal of money, but obedience training as well.
Just last week, I began calling around to various shelters and ended up visiting one of them. After visiting with almost every dog there, I took several of the dogs for walks and spent one on one time with each of them. I thankfully can say, I found my angel and our whole family loves her. Her personality fits with our family perfectly. Just like every family is different, so are pets too; and I honestly believe that there is a perfect pet for every family. Take your time when choosing a pet and realize that you will be the sole care taker no matter the age of your children. If you do decide to find a pet for your family, take your time, don’t be embarrassed to visit them often, but keep in mind the time constraints of your local shelter. We are so in love with our dog and very glad we took our time finding our Chloe.
Alicia Ivey has been married for over 15 years, is a mom to a wonderful little girl and has traveled singing and speaking at different venues for over 25 years. During her down time Alicia enjoys writing for mybabyclothes.com, a company who prides themselves on their customer service and products. Get your little ones dressed for any occasion in their baby clothes, baby tutus or baby hats.
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