Incorporating an animal in our lives can be a very rewarding experience: a being that comes to change our daily lives completely. However, brings a lifetime responsibility. And if we think that our friend could live at least 10 years, we are talking about a long-term commitment. My experience as a volunteer for years of protectionism has taught me that people often do not adopt for the right reasons, leading to the subsequent abandonment of the animal, confinement in a small and inhumane space, the development of an aggressive asocial personality and, in the worst of cases, death. So before thinking about adopting a furry friend, reflect: • Generally, in my protectionist group we like to talk of a “new child” in the family. Yes, a dog or a cat is a new child. It is not a “friend” that we can get rid of when we are tired. It is a son that will remain a child for life. A child who needs to eat, drink water, bathe, be groomed, play and sleep in a warm place until the last day of its life. Think: are you ready to have an eternal child in your family? • People adopt for several reasons. Some are good and some not so. The problem is when the balance is more negative than positive. A dog or cat is not a toy for your child, not a birthday present, a test before the first child or a whim. It is a living being time-consuming duties of our daily lives. If it's Christmas, Epiphany, your birthday or Children's Day, go to the toy store and buy your child a toy. An animal is not an object; it has a life, feelings and needs. • Another common mistake we see when parents give in to the insistent whims of their children and ask a child or a teenager to take care of another “minor”. Do you really think your 10 year old son could feed it, bathe it, take it out for a walk every day, take it to the vet when sick, give it medications and many more, etc? No. Let's go back to the first point: a pet is a son, and only adults are responsible for their care. Sure to be very healthy to teach their children to socialize with the new family member to care for and love, but can not claim to deal with all daily care. That is YOUR responsibility as an adult of the herd. • When I see aggressive dogs I wonder: What happened here? What supposedly rational reason would make that a four-legged child serves as a weapon of defense? As if it was not clear: a pet is not to serve the defense of a home … for that is the police! Both dogs and cats are pets and are not naturally aggressive; unless a human hand trains it or an inconsiderate master educates it badly. Think: Would you like your 10 year old to be in charge of keeping a gun to defend his family? So why expect the same of your four legs? Examples of improper reasons of adopting a pet are various. The only valid reason is that you want to share your life with another living being, and after analyzing your personal situation, feel you can devote sufficient time to feed it, daily exercise with your pet, in addition to possessing the necessary resources to carry the veterinarian as often as needed. The arrival will not be easy: you and your new four-legged child will learn to communicate and live together. And as in any odd couple is not an easy task. You are solely responsible for your furry member to be adorable, friendly and sociable. At the slightest sign that something is wrong with the behavior of your pet, do not be shy and talk to your veterinarian friend. After all, no one was born knowing parenting. ** This was written by a concerned animal rights activists in Argentina. BM
