Animal Cruelty

Help put an end to animal cruelty.  If you know of any animal that is being abused or neglected, please contact your local animal shelter or law enforcement.  No animal deserves to be beaten and starved.  Even if it's unintentional, it is still wrong and needs to be take care of.  If you can't afford all that animal requires for proper care and feeding, don't get or keep it.  Let someone else who CAN afford it take care of it.  Animal abuse, no matter what kind of animal, is uncalled for and needs to be stopped.  You can find out more by checking out your local Humane Society and animal shelter.  If you know of a case of animal cruelty or neglect, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, don't stand by and do nothing.  This is everyone's business.  Donate what you can when you can to animal rescue in your area.  Every dollar helps in the fight to save the lives of animals everywhere.  Donate to the wildlife fund of your choice to help wild animals to survive.  We can make a difference for both domestic animals, and wild and/or exotic animals too.  My personal favorite charity is the wild horse fund.  Thanks for your time and consideration. 

Fish

Fish can be great pets for those who don't have lots of spare time to spend on an animal.  All you have to do is make sure they get fed, and that your aquarium is clean and the equipment is working properly.  Freshwater fish are the easiest, like goldfish, and little sharks.  Saltwater fish are a little harder, as you have to constantly monitor the salt content of the water.  An aquarium can add color and life to a room.  It can be a very calming and soothing to watch fish, and care for them.  Fish, like other animals, have their own personalities and uniqueness.  I recommend fish for someone who wants a pet without having to worry about a lot of playtime, or outside time. 

Service Animals

Service animals fall into their own category.  They are only pets and helpers to those whom they provide a service for.  Those services include leading the blind, helping those who are wheelchair bound, and also visiting different facilites to help the elderly or handicapped get contact with something other than just the caregivers.  Service animals make it possibe  for some to be more independant and able to do things that they normally wouldn't be able to.  Service animals can include dogs, ponies, and miniature horses.  These animals are most generally welcome in any public place because these are workers, just like the employees at a store or company.  They are well trained and won't cause any hassle or disturbance, except people wanting to pet them.  Never do this without the owner's permission, as these animals are "on duty", and it may not be wanted or appreciated.  However, these animals are never mean, and most owners are fine with the attention of others for their animal.  So here's to the working animal, helping people get out on their own and become more independant, may you always be welcome everywhere the public goes.

Service Animals

Service animals fall into their own category.  They are only pets and helpers to those whom they provide a service for.  Those services include leading the blind, helping those who are wheelchair bound, and also visiting different facilites to help the elderly or handicapped get contact with something other than just the caregivers.  Service animals make it possibe  for some to be more independant and able to do things that they normally wouldn't be able to.  Service animals can include dogs, ponies, and miniature horses.  These animals are most generally welcome in any public place because these are workers, just like the employees at a store or company.  They are well trained and won't cause any hassle or disturbance, except people wanting to pet them.  Never do this without the owner's permission, as these animals are "on duty", and it may not be wanted or appreciated.  However, these animals are never mean, and most owners are fine with the attention of others for their animal.  So here's to the working animal, helping people get out on their own and become more independant, may you always be welcome everywhere the public goes.

Horses

If you have the time, space, and can afford the expense, a horse can make a great pet.  Horses are very loving and social animals.  They can be a person's best friend, and trusted companion.  A horse is a huge investment, however, and will be around for a long time.  In fact the average lifespan of a horse can be well over twenty years.  The famous Trigger lived to be 31. 

Horses can be trained to do many things, like hunting, swimming, trick riding, roping, barrel racing, showing, trail riding, and much more.  Horses are very hardy creatures, and can survive extreme cold and heat as long as they have some kind of shelter to block wind and sun, and access to food and fresh water.

Horses can be very expensive, however, and not just horse feed and hay in the winter when there is no grass.  You have to think about finding a farrier for shoeing and hoof care, regulare vet care, deworming, supplements to keep him at his best, and tack and supplies.  Take all these things into consideration before you buy a horse so that you have some idea what you're getting into.  Once you know you can afford it, a horse can be great for the whole family, maybe even one horse for each person!  Horses are herd animals after all.

Hamsters

Hamsters are amazing little creatures.  They make great pets for kids and adults alike.  Hamsters are small and easy to handle, and fun to play with.  You can buy a little ball to put your hamster in and let him roll around the floor in it.  This is really fun to watch.  But you also have to remember that, even thought they are fun to hold and play with, hamsters are still very fragile.

Something you do need to watch is their diet.  Hamsters are prone to diabetes, and therefore you need to pay attention to what they are eating.  When you buy a package of premixed food for hamsters and gerbils, look at the label.  Check for ingredients that include sugars and glucose.  You don't want your hamsters to get to much of these.  If your food lists all natural ingredients and no sugars, great.  You can buy a little extra treat to mix in with their daily diet a few times a week.

Hamsters need to chew on solid things to keep their teeth from becoming overgrown. You can buy little chew sticks, or have your local pet shop employee help you find some toys just for this purpose.  The chew sticks are more recommended than the toys.
 
Something else that is really important is to give your hamster(s) fresh food and water every day.  This way, they keep eating healthy.  And you wouldn't want your hamster to drink warm water on a hot day.  Plus, water does go stale after a few days.

Clean the cage regularly.  This will keep the animals healthy and happy as well as keep any odors down.  Clean any toys, wheels, and "houses" that are in the cage as well.  This will help keep the cage area clean and get rid of any germs and bacteria that may be lurking from before the cage was cleaned.

If you just use some common sense, and take good care of your pets, they will be happy, healthy, and long lives.

Cats

Cats are interesting and independant creatures.  Don't get me wrong, cats do need love and care just like any other animal.  They just tend to be a little more self sufficient.  Cats, like dogs, are good companions and have many fine qualities.  They each have their own attitude and mind for sure.  But they do show us love and affection and fill a void that would otherwise be empty.  Cats do have an advantage over dogs in the winter, they don't have to go outside.  So if you hate the cold, take this into consideration.

Like dogs, different breeds of cats have different attitudes.  The Siamese varieties are more "it's about me" and more self reliant than a lot of other feline breeds.  Kittens require more work than adult cats.  But you can weigh the advantages and disadvantages of cat or kitten against your lifestyle to make a good decision.