Jada Sayles
Currently 70% of the American population has a pet, most being dogs or cats, with almost 40% of American household pets being dogs and about 25% are cats (American Veterinary Medical Association). People have pets for lots of reasons, some have pets for companionship, some have pets for their safety such as service animals and guard animals as well, but for most people with pets they are an extension of the family who they love and cherish. Pets have a lasting impact on the people who have them, whether they adopt or buy a pet. Having a loyal companion helps people make greater connections in life, such as bonding with people who have the same pets and meeting new people.
Having pets teaches responsibility and not just in children, when you have a pet, you must learn how to take care of it. Having a pet means taking care of something other than yourself and for some people that is exceedingly difficult, which leads to animal neglect and abuse. Taking care of your pet is the most important part of having one "the best way to take care of an animal is to learn its needs and follow how they act. For example, if they usually go use the restroom at a certain time, take the initiative to take them out before they even warn you that they must go." (Taylor Nichols 11th grade). Being able to take the best care of your pet helps them to have a better and longer lifespan which benefits them and you as the pet owner.
Another thing about pets is that they need a lot of attention. For people who work and live busy lifestyles having a pet can be very time consuming, but a solution to this is leaving their pets at home, either in a crate or left to roam. An issue with leaving your pets to roam is that they can have accidents in the house, and they could get into things that are unsafe. Additionally, leaving your pet in a crate makes them feel closed in, but in most cases, it helps keep them safe. "I think pets should not be in the crate while the owner is home because it makes them feel trapped and if they have an accident, it's in the cage and they just need space to move around. They are animals and they shouldn't be confined to one small space" (Taylor Nichols 11th grade)
Another vital part of having pets is training them, when you have an animal like a dog or cat it’s a must that you train them where to go to the bathroom, how to listen to certain commands and when to quiet down. Recently there has been a debate about noisy pets and the disturbance they cause to surrounding neighbors, "Noisy pets can be really annoying at times especially when you're trying to do your work or want a quiet space" (Justin Schneider 11th grade).
The best part of having a pet is being able to nourish and watch them grow, having a pet is not for everyone, but for those who can take care of themselves and be able to balance the responsibilities of an animal, therefore having an animal companion can make all the difference in life.
Currently 70% of the American population has a pet, most being dogs or cats, with almost 40% of American household pets being dogs and about 25% are cats (American Veterinary Medical Association). People have pets for lots of reasons, some have pets for companionship, some have pets for their safety such as service animals and guard animals as well, but for most people with pets they are an extension of the family who they love and cherish. Pets have a lasting impact on the people who have them, whether they adopt or buy a pet. Having a loyal companion helps people make greater connections in life, such as bonding with people who have the same pets and meeting new people.
Having pets teaches responsibility and not just in children, when you have a pet, you must learn how to take care of it. Having a pet means taking care of something other than yourself and for some people that is exceedingly difficult, which leads to animal neglect and abuse. Taking care of your pet is the most important part of having one "the best way to take care of an animal is to learn its needs and follow how they act. For example, if they usually go use the restroom at a certain time, take the initiative to take them out before they even warn you that they must go." (Taylor Nichols 11th grade). Being able to take the best care of your pet helps them to have a better and longer lifespan which benefits them and you as the pet owner.
Another thing about pets is that they need a lot of attention. For people who work and live busy lifestyles having a pet can be very time consuming, but a solution to this is leaving their pets at home, either in a crate or left to roam. An issue with leaving your pets to roam is that they can have accidents in the house, and they could get into things that are unsafe. Additionally, leaving your pet in a crate makes them feel closed in, but in most cases, it helps keep them safe. "I think pets should not be in the crate while the owner is home because it makes them feel trapped and if they have an accident, it's in the cage and they just need space to move around. They are animals and they shouldn't be confined to one small space" (Taylor Nichols 11th grade)
Another vital part of having pets is training them, when you have an animal like a dog or cat it’s a must that you train them where to go to the bathroom, how to listen to certain commands and when to quiet down. Recently there has been a debate about noisy pets and the disturbance they cause to surrounding neighbors, "Noisy pets can be really annoying at times especially when you're trying to do your work or want a quiet space" (Justin Schneider 11th grade).
The best part of having a pet is being able to nourish and watch them grow, having a pet is not for everyone, but for those who can take care of themselves and be able to balance the responsibilities of an animal, therefore having an animal companion can make all the difference in life.
