1. CHAPTER 3

2. Dogs are called “man’s best friends” and were kept as pets more than any other animal.
Currently cats outnumber dogs as pets.
WHY?

3. QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE PURCHASING A PET:
Where should I obtain a pet?
How much space do I have for a pet?
What kind of pet does my lifestyle allow?
How much will the animal cost?

4. Questions Continued What will the future bring?
Does everyone in the family want a pet?
Is the animal a fad or status symbol?
What am I going to us the animal for?

5. Where should I obtain a pet?
Humane Society
Animal Rescue
Local Breeder
Newspaper
Friend
Farm
Pet shops

6. How much space do I have for a pet?
Caged animal
Need to go outside
Size of animal
Size of house
Energy level

7. What kind of pet does my lifestyle allow?
Breed differences
Time needed
Care
Exercise
Training

8. How much will the animal cost?
Food
$25 - $40 per month for dogs
$7 - $16 per month for cats
Pet dog for 11 years average cost $14,000 on food

9. Pet owners should expect to pay:
$550 per year for dog
$390 per year for cat
$244 per year for guinea pig
$188 per year for rabbit
$130 per year for bird
$96 per year for hamster
$89 per year for fish

10. What will the future bring?
Afford later in life
Moving
College
Children friendly
Life span of animal

11. Does everyone in the family want a pet?
Allergies

12. Is this a fad or status symbol?
Wrinkled up Shar-Pei sold for $10,000 in 1960’s
Dalmations with 101 Dalmations movie in 1993
Both had an overflow in shelters after the fads

13. What am I going to use the animal for?
Needed for a purpose
Hunting
Show
Pet
Help
Rescue
Training

14. Children & Pets Must be 3 years old to be responsible for a pet
Teach responsibility
Social skills can be learned
Feeling wanted
Loved
Unloved
Comforting

15. Children & Pets Continued
Social Skills can be learned
Learn body language
Learn respect for other living things

16. Greif & Coping Shock, denial, isolation Anger Guilt, fear Helplesness
Depression, sadness, and regret
Finally acceptance of the loss

17. Pets & Pet Therapy Help people overcome illness
Heart patients with pet have 6% death rate
Heart patients without a pet have 28% death rate

18. Pets & Pet Therapy Continued
Petting an animal can lower blood pressure
Improved altertness in elderly
AIDS patients did not suffer from depression
Dogs can help disabled people

19. Euthanasia Inducing death quickly and humanely
Can be very difficult decision to make

20. Overpopulation 27 million dogs and cats are born in U.S. every year
10 million are euthanized each year

21. Steps to stop overpopulation
People must be educated about the problem
Animal control laws must be passed and existing laws enforced
People must recognize the importance of spaying and neutering.

22. Spaying Removing ovaries and uterus
Stops the female from coming into heat & becoming pregnant
During procedure female is fully under anestetics and feels no pain

23. Neutering Removing the testicles
Prevents the male from producing sperm and impregnating females.
Some pain and discomfort and pain after the procedure.

24. THE END