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Choosing the right pet

Choosing the right pet for your children could become a very hard decision to make. Ask yourself and your children if you’re ready and able to provide a safe and loving home. Go over all the responsibilities that come along with owning a pet. There are a wide variety of pets and each has its own pros and cons. Let’s cover the different kind of pets, the expense of each and the responsibility that goes along with each one.

Dogs:
A dog would be a good companion. With time and practice you could have him playing ball and fetching items. A dog is more likely to love you more than any other pet.
Dogs take a lot of time and energy to care for. Some people are allergic to dogs.
Every dog needs the room to run around especially large ones. You will need to feed your dog twice a day and walk him once a day and don’t forget the four or five times he needs to go outside to do his business. Dogs lose a lot of hair and need frequent grooming. If you go away you will need to find a dog sitter or kennel.
The cost for a dog varies in price. At your local shelter you could adopt one free or buy a purebred, which could cost you up to $500 or more.
The cost of taking care of your dog could vary from $300 to $1,200 a year. This varies depending on how much your pet eats and the number of visits to the vet.

Cats:
Many cats can be quite playful and purrs to tell you they are happy.
Cats are more distant than dogs. They don’t always come when you call them or play with you when you want them to. Some people are allergic to cats.
Cats need to be fed daily. They need to be litter trained and the litter box will need cleaned on a daily basis. Since cats look after themselves, with plenty of food and water, they may be left behind for a few days.
A purebred cat could cost up to $500 but many other varieties are available for free. 
The cost of caring for your cat could cost up to $400 or more depending on food, brand of litter and quantity of litter change.


Birds:
Birds could be colorful and beautiful to watch. Some birds like to whistle and talk. They are active during the day.
Birds are not as playful as other pets. Many birds scatter their seed, which adds to your clean up.
You’ll need to feed and water your bird daily and clean its cage at least once a week.
The cost of birds depends greatly on the type you purchase. A cage and equipment will also be needed.
The cost of caring for your bird is about $50 a year.


Hamsters & Gerbils:
Hamster and Gerbils are friendly, curious and cute. They don’t take up much space.
They’re not as playful as a dog or cat would be. Hamsters and gerbils sleep during the day and are awake at night (which could be very noisy while your trying to sleep).
You will need to check their water and food everyday. Change their bedding in the cage every week or so.
The cost of a hamster and cage would average about $50.
The cost of caring for your hamster is about $50 a year.

Fish:
A fish is relatively easy to take care of and takes up very little space. They come in lots of shapes and colors.
Fish are not playful and they don’t really live that long.
Setting up an aquarium takes several hours. Feeding a fish daily and water changing weekly is necessary.
Initial cost, which would include, a tank with accessories, fish, shell and decorations would be approximately $150.
The cost of taking care of your fish will be about $20 an year.

Now that you know the different types of pets, and the care and expense that come along with each, you should be able to make the best selection for your family.