Dog vs cat?
It’s the age old problem: which makes the best family pet?
Dogs are loveable, loyal and ever-faithful. They are also totally dependent on humans and need exercising at least twice a day. Hail, rain or shine. They bond well with their owners.
Cats are cuddly, purry and enjoy sitting on your knee. They are also arrogant, independent and very snooty. Yes, they too bond with their owners, but on their own terms.
Dogs vs Cats as Pets?
So which should the family adopt?
One of each, we say… or better still, two of each so that they can either play together or in two little teams.
Cats and dogs don’t always fight. Nor should they be expected to.
It has been shown time and again that they can live harmoniously together. Animal adoption agencies say the secret is to adopt when young, then they will grow up as a very important part of the family unit.
Making careful checks
Reputable pet rescue centres make careful checks on the animals coming in to them for possible adoption.
They examine all dogs and cats for parasitic infection, check whether they have been neutered and watch their general behaviour. Then they routinely call on a veterinary surgeon to give them the once over, innoculate and neuter them if this has not already been done. A general health check is always carried out on animals coming into bona fide rescue centres.
Nervous and/or aggressive animals are given extra attention to help to sort out their problems before being offered up for rehoming. Those who have suffered cruelty or starvation at the hands of their previous owners need very specialised care.
Animal aunts and uncles
In recent years, pet sitting has grown in popularity.
There is an increasing call for sitters who like to think of themselves and the animals’ aunts and uncles. Owners are making more and more use of their services.
Rather than send their pets to boarding kennels when they go away on holiday, many families now like to leave their companions at home where everything is familiar and call upon professional sitters to live in for the duration.
Pet sitting is big business today and the sitters can command high fees for looking after not just cats and dogs, but rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, goldfish and any other pets that might be sharing the family home.
Eye-catching titles
Some sitters work independently, others through an agency.
A whole host of pet sitting services can be found on line, competing against each other with their zippy, eye-catching titles.
Look out for Fluffballs, Catnips, Animals at Home, Pet Pals and Guardian Angels; to name but a few. There is even one called Barking Mad… Barking Mad? We sincerely hope they are not!
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