What you should think about before getting pet
Not so long ago I made a post about the benefits of having a pet (link here). Today I want to talk about things you should be ready for before actually getting one.
🐾 There are right and wrong reasons for getting a pet
You should always have reason but not all reasons are good. If you have a bad reason, you might end up neglecting the animal and hurting it in the process. Not to mention you might also get hurt.
Examples of a bad reason:
To teach someone responsibility (especially children) -Don’t teach anyone how to be responsible with something that can actually get hurt
Boredom
“I never had a pet, I might as well try it out.”
Surprise for someone -NEVER EVER. I know it’s a sweet surprise but please don’t. Unless you know the person’s reasons why and you are 100% sure they are ready and they want a pet and even then you should discuss it with them beforehand.
Some good reasons why:
You want something to love, give attention to and that you can focus on
Animals and pets are your passion
You want to give an unhappy animal good home
You know it will be good for your mental health even with all the ups and downs
🐾 Way messier than you could imagine
I’ve never had a dog before but I have plenty of different small pets and trust me, they stink and I mean literally.
You need to be ready for cleaning cages, digging your hands into poop, all kinds of smell and oh boy all the hair/feathers (unless you have a snake... then good for you).
Even the pets that are told to be not smelly will be little stinky balls.
🐾 Happy pets take a lot of work
You definitely want your pet happy and that takes a lot of work.
Examples of things you will have to do very often:
Feeding, changing their water -daily
Giving them enough entertainment and movement -daily
Spending time with them -daily
Cleaning cages/general environment -weekly (depends on the pet)
Shopping for supplies -way too often
Vet check-ups -when necessary but trust me you can’t really avoid it
🐾 It’s really expensive
I’m a highschooler so my income is very low. My parents still pay for most of my stuff but I pay for everything incuding my pets. 50% of my income goes to the usual pet supplies like food and bedding. Then there are toys, vet bills, new cages and all that costs so much more.
🐾 You’ll have to change
Your lifestyle will change
Your priorities will have to shift sometimes, especially when it comes to finances
Your environment will have to be safe for your pet, so for example no matter how much you love your poisonous plant, it has to go
Leaving your home for longer than a day will be a much harder for planning
🐾 Pets have personalities and they might not be what you imagined
Every pet is different, just like people are. Some pets will be cuddly and will show you how much they love you all the time. Some pets will be grumpy and won’t let you touch them. Some pets are lazy and some are energetic. They can be little destroyers, they can be loud and wild.
🐾 They’ll die one day and it will hurt as hell
It’s something you probably don’t want to think about but it’s the harsh truth you have to be in peace with before getting a pet.
🐾 Love is what really matters
Every pet shows love differently, but if you’re patient, you’ll figure out the ways they show you how much they love you back.
I had a little degu, who never let me touch her. One day she gave birth to 7 small babies and when I found out, she brought one out of the nest and showed it to me. She even let me play with them.
My chinchillas won’t let me hold them without making a scene but sometimes they’ll just sit by my side while I’m reading.
Moments like these is what truly matters and why it’s worth to have these little best friends.


















