Responsible Pet Ownership

Many of you may have pets or be considering getting a pet. But do you really know what responsible pet ownership is? Minimum standards of care, per Virginia state law, is that all pets will have access to food, water, and shelter at all times. This means that a dog must at least have a doghouse, food bowl, and water bowl. You might be surprised at how many dogs don't even receive this much care. Did you know that cats and dogs can feel emotions similar to us? They know happiness, sadness, love, anger, etc. So many people do not consider this when they purchase or adopt a dog or cat. Cats generally do all right if left to themselves, but dogs do not.

A dog tied to a doghouse, day in and day out, begins to display behavioral changes. He may bark excessively, become very hyper, or become vicious. A dog is a pack animal, a very social animal, and being tied to a piece of wood, by himself, for very extended periods of time, is unhealthy for him. Imagine being locked in a tiny room for your entire life. Wouldn't be much fun would it?

Responsible pet ownership does not mean just tying an animal to a doghouse and throwing food and water at him once a day. A dog should be trained, socialized, spayed or neutered, and kept up to date on vaccinations, deworming and heartworm preventative. A cat should have daily attention as well as plenty of food and water, be spayed or neutered, and kept up to date on vaccinations and deworming. Cats who are strictly outdoor cats live an average of 3 years. Indoor cats have longer lives. They may live 20 or more years if kept inside.

So before you adopt or purchase a pet, please consider whether you have the time to properly train and socialize it, the finances for its medical care and upkeep, and the desire to make it a part of your family. A pet is a lifetime commitment, not an old pair of jeans to be tossed when outgrown.