Pets

Today I want to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of getting a pet. Most of us have them or have at least considered getting one at some point in our lives. So many different pets to choose from such as: dogs, cats, hamsters, rats, fish, snakes, iguanas, etc. But today I’m going to primarily focus on cats and dogs. We will start with the disadvantages.

Disadvantages

Sitter
You need someone to watch them when you are on vacation. Either you have to take your pets to a dog/cat kennel, or have a friend/family member take your animal to their house to watch them (or check on them at your house).This can be costly and stressful every time you try to coordinate going away.

Responsibility
Pets ultimately are a responsibility above everything else. They need regular check ups and grooming visits. They also need to be fed and given water everyday. Having a pet isn’t just a once and a while commitment, it’s an everyday one. Some people even consider their pets their children. I would say that pets are similar to children in one sense and that being that they rely on you to survive.

Clean-Up
In a perfect world and after much training, you would hope that your dog/cat wouldn’t have accidents in the house. But for those of us who actually have a pet, we know differently. Even pets get sick sometimes and can do so on the carpet or tile-preferably the latter.
In addition to accidents, there are also the times that cats/dogs go to the bathroom on a daily basis. This includes in the litter box, on a walk, and in your backyard-all of which you have to clean-up at some point.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Tedious/Excercise
Some tasks that need to be done for your pets on a daily basis can be time-consuming and tedious. For example, taking your dog for a walk everyday takes time away from other things you could be doing. But on the other hand, you are getting your steps in. In this sense, walking your dog could be considered both an advantage and disadvantage. Same with playing with your dog/cat. It gets you moving around but also takes time out of your day.

Advantages

Never Alone
Unless they are outdoor cats-animals rarely actually leave the home without you;making it impossible for you to ever feel alone in your house. They are good to have when you live alone because they give you a sense of protection. They can also be a good cuddle buddy at night (if your pet sleeps in your bed of course). There’s a comfort in knowing that even if nobody else is around, that your dog/cat will always be there.

Entertainment
Among other things, pets are very entertaining. You can dress them up for holidays (if they let you of course) and if you are bored, you can play with them. You can also just watch how they react to certain things in the backyard such as squirrels and birds. If you are bored at home one day you can always just see what your pet is up to.

Cute
Most people think that the pets they have are cute. The cuteness is what draws people in when getting a pet. Once you have a pet, you can take a bunch of photos of them and their cuteness. You can also annoy them by taking selfies together.. Some people make instagram pages just for their dogs/cats.

If you were on the fence about getting a pet, I hope this helped you in making your decision. Please see pictures of our family dog Jackson below. He is super full of energy and can be quite a handful sometimes. But he also is a great cuddle buddy and is fun to take pictures with.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment a picture of your pet below! You’ll see a picture of my mom’s dog Jackson below.