The responsibility for a pet

Hundreds or thousands of photos you have of him. And you can’t stop clicking pictures as he is so adorable and cute. Your best friend, the love of your life, your buddy, your biggest support or your baby. It doesn’t matter how you see him, the main important thing is that he plays an important role in your life; your pet.

Many of us have the privilege to live together with a pet. Or even more than one. But not everyone is taking good care of their pets. Some people don’t want to pay the high costs of a vet, some people don’t know what to do when they go on holidays or some people don’t have time. 

Just like humans 

A pet is not a toy, it is a living being. With his own needs, character and oddities. A pet is not only sleeping and eating. He is also a living creature who is interested, can be naughty, will break something or can be annoying. Just like humans are. 

You need to have a stable life, where you can give him the care he needs. Healthy food, enough places to sleep and toys. You need to have time to play or run with him. And you need to have enough money to take care of him. To prevent any issues – for yourself and for the welfare of the pet – please get informed and be aware of the responsibilities before you are considering having one. 

Important questions 

# What kind of pet do you want and does it match with your lifestyle? 

Do you work at the office for five days in the week? Are you away for ten hours per day? You can’t bring your pet to the office? In this case it’s not responsible to choose a dog. But if you work from home and are planning to do that for a longer time, you can think of having a dog. 

I would advise you to check first which animal and also which breed is matching you and your lifestyle. If you would like to have a dog for example, many people only talk about how many times you need to go out so he can pee or poo. But that is not all he needs, he also needs to play, run and get challenged. Some dog breeds need daily runs, so a slow walk for 10 minutes will not be enough. 

It also depends on the breed what they need. If you choose a Norwegian forest cat for example, you need to be aware that he likes to play a lot. So you need to have time for that. This type of cat also likes challenges, so he also doesn’t like to play with the same toys every day. 

Be honest with yourself. Don’t let your ego make this choice. Think about the welfare of the animal. It is not only about what you want, but can you give the animal what he needs? 

# Do you have enough time for a pet? 

When you choose a pet, you hope he stays healthy and gets old. So in the case of a dog, you can think of at least seven years (depending on the breed). Or when you choose a cat you hopefully live at least ten years with him. But he can also get twenty years old. Do you have any plans for the future that will cause issues? If yes, reconsider first what is important. 

Taking care of a pet is not only giving water and food, but also cleaning his litterbox, cage or cleaning his poop. When he throws up, you need to clean it. His fur also needs to be taken care of, brushing his teeth and checking his ears. Playing and running with him. When he gets sick, you need to give him medication. It’s the same as with small children, it is not only fun. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people chose to have a pet, but when people could go to the office again, suddenly they didn’t have time anymore. So many pets found their way to animal shelters. Think before you act. The welfare of the animal is always number one. 

# Do you have enough money to take care of your pet? 

Be sure you have enough savings so you can buy healthy food for your pet and visit the vet when necessary. When you give him healthy food, he also remains healthier, so you can prevent health issues. Choose for the food that is the best for your pet and not for your wallet. 

When your pet gets sick, you need to visit the vet. Going to the vet is expensive, but necessary. You can also consider having pet insurance. Mostly they don’t pay 100% of the costs, but it will definitely help. Start with the insurance when your pet is still small. You can also consider saving money by yourself every month. But be sure you save enough. An extensive blood test for a cat can easily cost about € 250. So it’s better that you already have some savings.  

# Do you understand your pet? 

The problem between humans and animals is that we don’t speak the same language, so we don’t know when a pet is in pain. It is important that you have enough knowledge about the behavior of your pet. Also observe him every day, so you will notice it when there are changes in his behavior. 

For example, when a cat is in pain, mostly you can see it in his eyes and he will hide. It’s better to be too early than too late. If you love your pet – and I am sure you do – think about his welfare. You don’t want him to suffer. It is your responsibility to take care of him.  

Also an important note; never use any violence against a pet. Because you are a human, it doesn’t give you the right to hurt an animal. It also definitely does not help, as the animal only gets trauma and fear because of this. An animal will not forget and it can cause behavior problems. Animals are sensitive, they respond to your energy. Encourage good behavior instead of getting angry because of the bad behavior.

# Do you have friends or family where your pet can stay?  

Do you have friends or family who will take care of your pet when you want to travel? You can also consider a pet hotel, but mostly animals (especially cats) like to stay in their own home. 

Anything can happen any time. Life is constantly changing and insecurity is part of life. Before you make the decision to have a pet, be sure you have an alternative family or home where your pet can live when something happens to you. Check with your friends and family who will take care of your pet and who also matches your pet.