Pets.com

A pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, as opposed to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, or for their song.

Pets also generally seem to provide their owners with non-trivial health benefits; keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress to those who like having animals around. There is now a medically-approved class of “therapy animals,” mostly dogs, that are brought to visit confined humans. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.

Local restrictions

Many cities and towns have local ordinances limiting the number of pets a person may have, and may also restrict or forbid certain pets (such as fowl or exotics). Certain breeds of dog, such as pit bulls and rottweilers, are banned in some places. Dog/other canid/wolf mixes are also banned in some places.

The cities of Berkeley, California and Boulder, Colorado have passed laws stating that people who have pets do not “own” them; rather, they are the pet’s “guardian.”

Condominium associations and rental properties often ban animals[citation needed] because of the smells and noise the animals create.

Pet popularity

Around 63 percent of all U.S. households (71.1 million) are pet owners, and more than half of these households have more than one animal. The two most popular pets in most Western countries have been cats and dogs. In the United States, a 2007-2008 survey shows that dog-owning households outnumber those owning cats, but that the number of pet cats is higher than dogs. Combined reptiles are the next popular followed by birds followed by horses.

Choosing a Pet

You need to involve everyone in the decision; it needs to be a complete family decision. Pets take time, some need more than others. High maintenance animals are those that require regular exercise such as dogs that need at least 2 hours of walking a day and horses.

You must also take into account the cost associated with keeping and caring for a pet, which comes in the form of food, leads, cages, grooming aids, blankets/beds and the most costly of all, vet bills. The average cost of a dog over its lifetime is estimated at about £20,000. You must also make sure that you have the space for your desired pet; some pets like horses and dogs require a lot of space whereas a hamster requires only a minimal amount. Some animals are more sociable than others, you must think about whether the pet will fit in with your family. Choosing a pet is lengthy process and one that can not be rushed, take your time to ensure you make the right choice.

Pets.com

It is generally accepted that pets can have a positive influence on peoples overall health, especially on emotional well-being. With that benefit comes responsibilities and some risks.