Yahoo Parenting

Want a Pet? Go In With Eyes Wide Open

Beth GreenfieldSenior Editor

Updated Mon, November 3, 2014 at 1:15 PM UTC

GOOD TO KNOW: These furry rodents, indigenous to South America but now domesticated, have a sweet but skittish temperament; if ignored by their humans, their health will suffer — and in fact, they do best with one of their own to hang with. Either way, they need time out of their cages daily, plus regular grooming, and may not be great for little kids, who may squeeze these sensitive creatures too tightly.
INDUSTRY FACTS: Bred guinea pigs abound online and at pet stores, where they are often neglected and in ill health; they are also used as, well, guinea pigs in testing for cosmetics.
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: Consider adopting from a guinea-pig shelter, such as through the Guinea Pig Adoption Network.
ANNUAL COST: Between Timothy hay and veggies for chomping on, a nice collection of toys, and annual vet visits (not to mention treatments for possible ailments, such as respiratory infections and mites), you could shell out several hundred dollars a year over its average seven-year lifespan.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: Check and make sure its cage is large enough — at least 30 inches wide by 36 inches high — and that the little cavy gets out of it for playing daily. Provide a small salt block, a source of vitamin C, and a gnawing log for wearing down its incisors.
Victoria Caverhille/Adore Photography/Getty Images

GOOD TO KNOW: Aquarium fish have high start-up costs and are generally a high-maintenance undertaking. And eve cheap goldfish, contrary to popular belief, should never be kept in a bowl, which deprives them of oxygen (and is a pain to keep clean).
INDUSTRY FACTS: Know that about 95 percent of all saltwater fish are taken from coral reefs, leading to extinction for a great many species, according to Sea Shepherd, a non-profit marine defense organization, and various studies. When fish are taken from the wild, they are often sprayed with cyanide to help collectors stun and capture them, causing irreparable damage to coral reefs; only one in 10 fish typically survive a collection. The majority of freshwater fish, on the other hand, are bred and raised in captivity. But, as Mariann Sullivan, program director of vegan think tank Our Hen House and an instructor of animal law at Columbia University, points out to Yahoo Parenting: “The fact that certain animals may have been born into captivity does not lessen our responsibility to make sure they have good lives, but actually increases it, since we have had a role in their creation.”
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: Even rescued fish can be adopted. Try Pet Finder to search by zip code. For saltwater fish, consult the Reef Fish Guide from Reef Protect International, which breaks down which breaks down the species into “take it home” and “keep it wild” categories based on how endangered they are.
ANNUAL COST: After aquarium setup, which can start as low as $200 but can easily seep into the tens of thousands, food and maintenance will likely drain you of about $600 a year.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THEM: Make sure they can breathe: A humane rule of thumb for goldfish tanks, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is three gallons of water per one inch of fish. With all tanks, be sure to stay on top of cleanings, pH levels, and light exposure. Also, be sure to research what sort of food is best for the breed of fish you have; sometimes torn lettuce leaves or even fresh bloodworms can be a healthy addition to your finned friend’s diet.
Hill Street Studios/Getty Images

Hamster — GOOD TO KNOW: Although they’re cute and tiny fur-balls, hamsters are biters, making them a poor choice as pets for little kids, Smith warns. Plus, they’re nocturnal, and won’t be interested in bonding during the day, and are salmonella carriers.
INDUSTRY FACTS: This small furry rodent, native of Middle East, Africa, and Asia, have been bred as pets and test subjects since the 1940s. They can often be sick or neglected in large pet stores, notes PETA.
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: As with guinea pigs, consider adoption. A good place to start is through PetFinder.com, which allows you to search by zip code and type of creature.
ANNUAL COST: The lifespan of these little guys is only two to four years; factoring in its cage and running wheel, food pellets and fresh fruits, and recommended biannual vet visits (the biggest price tag), you’ll only shell out about $400 to $500 over its lifetime.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: Make sure its cage is, at minimum, two feet square — and wire mesh, rather than plastic, which the little rodents can chew through.
Pyza/Puchikumo/Getty Images

GOOD TO KNOW: Gentle bunnies, which need calm, quiet environments to thrive, do generally not mix well with young children (especially toddlers!). They also need ample space for indoor housing, as outdoor hutches put these furry creatures at risk of predators or overexposure. Also, warns Smith, “Rabbits are prey animals in the wild, so when they are sick or injured, they hide it.” People need to keep a close eye on them because of that, and feel for things like lumps or bumps on a regular basis.
INDUSTRY FACTS: Mass bunny breeders are typically run like puppy mills — poor conditions, sad lives for mothers — and those sold to pet stores are typically weaned too early, at just four weeks, which can lead to illness.
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: Again, look toward shelters or rescue organizations, which are looking to house rabbits given up by owners who couldn’t deal with them anymore, or who were rescued from lives of being used as test subjects for cosmetics companies. Visit the House Rabbit Society or Pet Finder for resources. If you do opt for a breeder, be sure to visit the source in order to inspect the welfare of the creatures there, the Humane Society advises.
ANNUAL COST: Beyond the adoption or purchase price, figure in the price of food (including Timothy hay and fresh veggies), chew toys, annual vet visits (and possible treatments), and housing, which could add up to at least $500 a year over its 10-year lifetime.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: Keep feeding them a veggie diet that includes fresh fruits and veggies, and make sure they have enough space — preferably, at minimum, a cage that’s five times the size of the rabbit. They can also be kept loose in the house, Smith adds, and easily trained to use litter.
Angela Lumsden/Getty Images

Dog — GOOD TO KNOW: Depending on the breed, a prospective dog owner should be ready for an average 15-year commitment — as well as for constant caregiving, frequent walking, and all the responsibilities that come with having “a child who never grows up,” as the Humane Society notes.
INDUSTRY FACTS: Beware the puppy mill, which the Humane Society defines as “an inhumane, commercial dog-breeding facility in which the health of the dogs is disregarded in order to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits.” While “some breeders are wonderful,” Smith notes, “they are few and far between — and the price tag is no indication of the conditions they are kept in.”
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: Smith recommends never purchasing from a breeder without first visiting the source, but also stresses the importance of adopting through a shelter, which welcome approximately eight million dogs and cats each year. “Then you are truly saving a life,” she says, noting that up to four million of the animals in shelters wind up euthanized each year.
ANNUAL COST: Small dogs can cost at least $1,000 a year and up into the tens of thousands depending on food of choice, medical needs, and services used (such as dog walkers and boarding facilities), with the costs of large dogs going a bit higher, but spread out over a dozen years rather than 15 because of their shorter lifespans.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: Make sure to stay on top of vet checkups, frequent walks, and behavioral issues, considering a trainer if you haven’t already turned to one.
hartcreations/Getty Images

Cat — GOOD TO KNOW: Kittens, among the most popular creatures at shelters, need lots of attention, tend to have crazy behaviors (especially at night), and are not necessarily great companions for little kids. They can also live up to 18 years, so it’s a long commitment.
INDUSTRY FACTS As with breeders of dogs, cat breeders are running a business, and some will be better than others.
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: If you go the breeder route, be sure to research the source thoroughly and never buy without first paying a visit. Alternately, opting for a shelter cat helps save it from being one of the four million pets that get euthanized each year. Also note that the Humane Society opposes the practice of declawing (banned in many other countries), which can make a feline more likely to bite, less likely to use its litter, and lead to lasting medical issues for your cat.
ANNUAL COST: Figure on at least around $1,000 per year, depending on food, medical, and caretaking needs.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: If it’s still young, consider training your indoor cat to walk outside on a leash, or at least make sure it’s got a cozy perch in a sunny window. And whether it’s indoor or outdoor, make sure it’s spayed or neutered.
Maisie Peterson/Getty Images

Reptile — GOOD TO KNOW: Critters in this category, particularly lizards, and especially iguanas, are not well suited to be pets, notes the Humane Society. Why? They are extremely sensitive in their habitat needs, don’t bond with people, can live for up to 30 years and grow up to three feet long, and are salmonella carriers.
INDUSTRY FACTS: “Many reptiles are captured from the wild for the pet trade, which is both cruel and unsustainable,” Teresa Telecky, director of the wildlife department with Humane Society International, tells Yahoo Parenting. Turtles, when captured in the wild in other countries, are crammed into cardboard boxes for shipment to the U.S., living for many days in their own excrement and often getting injured, she added. The wild pet trade has also pushed many species to the brink of extinction.
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: “If people want to keep a reptile as a pet, they should ensure that it is captive bred and they should check with their local shelter to see if there are any available for adoption,” Telecky suggests. Pet Finder often has cast-offs for adoption, as do rescue agencies such as Forgotten Friend.
ANNUAL COST: Between the startup costs of a tank, tank furniture, UVB lighting, heaters, and a hydrometer (for checking moisture levels), you'll have to spring for food (such as live mice or crickets) and vet bills, which, all told, could be several thousands of dollars a year over a reptile’s 10- to 20-year lifespan.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: Make sure you’re on top of its specific habitat needs, particularly requirements for light, heat, humidity, and space — such as an 18-foot closure for an iguana and at least a 30-gallon tank for reptiles.
Fuse/Getty Images

GOOD TO KNOW: “We do not recommend parrots as pets,” Smith says. That’s because the outrageously intelligent birds have not been domesticated, have complex behaviors and loud squawks best suited for wild jungles, and lifespans that rival those of humans. “They live 80 years. Crunch those numbers out and there’s a lot of unwanted parrots out there,” says Jamie McLeod, founder of the Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary, speaking in the PBS documentary “Parrot Confidential.”
INDUSTRY FACTS: Before the implementation of the 1992 Wild-Caught Bird Act, which outlawed the transport of exotic and endangered bird species into the U.S., more than 800,000 captive birds were captured and brought here, according to the Animal Welfare Institute. But they continue to be bred here for the pet industry, with many breeders keeping birds in squalid conditions similar to those of puppy mills.
IF YOU STILL WAT ONE: Rescue one of the thousands of birds abandoned or given up each year by going through a sanctuary; find resources through the Avian Welfare Coalition.
ANNUAL COST: You’ll need to shell out several hundred to several thousand dollars a year, depending on the size of the bird and the scope of its medical needs.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: Consider adopting a suitable companion for your bird. Also, for optimal happiness, allow your feathered friend time out of its cage on a daily basis, possibly even creating one bird-proofed room for it to use as an aviary. Lots of toys and fresh fruit will also enhance its life.
GK Hart/Vikki Hart/Getty Images

Guinea Pig

1 of 8

GOOD TO KNOW: These furry rodents, indigenous to South America but now domesticated, have a sweet but skittish temperament; if ignored by their humans, their health will suffer — and in fact, they do best with one of their own to hang with. Either way, they need time out of their cages daily, plus regular grooming, and may not be great for little kids, who may squeeze these sensitive creatures too tightly.
INDUSTRY FACTS: Bred guinea pigs abound online and at pet stores, where they are often neglected and in ill health; they are also used as, well, guinea pigs in testing for cosmetics.
IF YOU STILL WANT ONE: Consider adopting from a guinea-pig shelter, such as through the Guinea Pig Adoption Network.
ANNUAL COST: Between Timothy hay and veggies for chomping on, a nice collection of toys, and annual vet visits (not to mention treatments for possible ailments, such as respiratory infections and mites), you could shell out several hundred dollars a year over its average seven-year lifespan.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE: Check and make sure its cage is large enough — at least 30 inches wide by 36 inches high — and that the little cavy gets out of it for playing daily. Provide a small salt block, a source of vitamin C, and a gnawing log for wearing down its incisors.

Victoria Caverhille/Adore Photography/Getty Images

It’s the rare parent who has not been faced with the following scenario: Young child sees cute little creature in store window. Said child cries and begs, must have furry pet now! Depending on your state of mind, you either grab her hand and keep walking or consider the request. And this is the crucial moment: Will you make an impulse buy and find yourself with an adorable (and often troublesome) new member of family? Or will you say you’ll think about it, and that you have to do some research first? Experts, of course, strongly suggest the latter.

“This is something you really need to research before you make a commitment,” Cory Smith, director of pet protection and policy with the Humane Society of the United States tells Yahoo Parenting. “On one hand, we want people to want to have a pet, and we want parents to foster and cultivate the animal-person bonding in their children. And how easy is it to walk through a big-box pet store and see a cute little fuzzy thing for $10 and think, 'Why not get it?'” But with that split-second decision can come a slew of pitfalls — food bills, health issues, and behavioral problems, not to mention various behind-the-scenes practices you may be unwittingly perpetuating.

“One of the main issues we have with the pet trade industry is that it allows people to only see the cute babies, and not the miserable lives their mothers are experiencing, being forced to breed while being kept in really bad conditions,” Smith notes. Other possible problems: an industry’s contribution to animal extinction (such as with many types of aquarium fish), and the casting off of unwanted pets by parents who didn’t do their homework, realizing they’ve bitten off more than they could chew.

So we’ve done some of your homework for you, preparing a non-sugar-coated pet primer for anyone who wants in on the joys of animal companionship for their families, plus a way to foster empathy in their kids.

“The more we raise children who can put themselves in the shoes, or paws, of another, the greater their capacity for empathy and compassion — as well as their ability to address challenges in our world, be it environmental degradation, oppression of others, or cruelty — will be,” Zoe Weil, president and cofounder of the Institute for Humane Education, and the person behind the top-rated TEDx talk, “The World Becomes What You Teach,” tells Yahoo Parenting. “Through the decision of what pet to bring into a home comes an opportunity for parents to help children think about that other being — where it came from, what it feels like to be that being — and it opens up a while new world of learning.”

About Our Ads

Solve the daily Crossword

The Daily Crossword was played 11,212 times last week. Can you solve it faster than others?The Daily Crossword was played 11,212 times last week. Can you solve it faster than others?

Crossword

Solve the daily Crossword

Recommended articles