Pets as Presents

To be blunt, pets make the WORST presents. Pets should never be given as gifts – not to family members – not even to your children. Pets are not toys. Now, I could stop writing here but I want to build upon this. I want to explain just why pets make bad gifts and give other options for you as the gift-giver to consider.

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Your Child’s First Pet

Having been a child myself and going through the begging for a pet, I can honestly say the AVERAGE child is not responsible enough to be sole caretaker of an animal. Yes, the child may care for it for a few weeks or even months, but go to any shelter or rescue group and ask how many animals per year are given up or neglected when the kids stop caring for them and the parents do not want to.

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Are You Ready for a Dog?

Everyone thinks their breed or cross is the greatest. However, what is right for your family or lifestyle may not be right for someone else. Before you run out and get a dog you must stop and look at your lifestyle. Take a moment and read the following to help you decide if a dog will fit into your life. Are you prepared for a puppy or dog?

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How Much Will That Dog Really Cost?

I read a quote that stated the average dog owner spends about $600 per year on the family pet. I mentioned this figure to my husband and he replied "Yeah, if there is an emergency, I can see that." Being the loving wife I am, I did a quick calculation of what we spend per year, per dog without including emergencies. What I came up with was very close to the $600 estimate. So, I decided to go a bit further and look at numbers. This is what I came up with – the true cost of a dog.

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