What pet should I choose?
The first question you should ask yourself and the rest of the family is
As a dedicated animal lover, I believe that all creatures kept as pets, whether they be mammals, fish, reptiles, birds or insects, should be treated well, their lives, however short or long should be healthy, happy and worthwhile.
The answers you give to the five questions above should tell you whether you are ready to take on the commitment of a pet and give it what it needs and deserves from its time with you and your family.
I am not a great lover of stickers in the rear window of cars pronouncing who or what is travelling within the vehicle, however, the one that always sticks in my mind is ‘A Dog is for life and not just for Christmas’
I feel it is wrong to give a pet as a present.
PONY
There are no exceptions, yes the look on a young girls face when she sees her ‘new’ pony standing in a field covered in decorative ribbon and a Happy Birthday sash may bring a tear of joy to the parent along with many photographs of the happy occasion but let us not forget that, all being well, a pony is going to live for many years, during which time the young owner will mature quickly and before long will be distracted by educational commitments, social commitments, possibly leaving the area for further education, employment and not forgetting boyfriends.
Meanwhile during these phases of the young girl growing up, the pony will still be in the field requiring food, water, exercise, mucking out, veterinary care and blacksmith visits, none of which are free! and of course there is the added expense of all the clothing required for the rider, which, as they mature will need duplicating plus the various tools and equipment the animal will require in the form of brushes, combs, blankets and buckets.
It is true many young girls will be dedicated to their pony during its entire life and may even achieve great things and a career from that first pony, it’s a gamble though that many parents take without adequate thought and find themselves looking after the animal or worse still having to sell it on once they realise it was a short lived affair with a creature that deserves better.
Ponies are of course the ultimate pet in most peoples’ lives and are perhaps the least common example of what sort of pet the average family might be considering.
(to be continued)