27/01/2023
Are you ready to be a pet parent?
I feel there are two types of people in this world. Those who melt every time they see baby animals of any kind, and soulless monsters. Lol, just kidding. Being a pet parent does this to you.
Any pet parent can relate to that rush of love that hits when you look at your little goober spread out on your bed, drooling on your favourite quilt and farting in their sleep. While the pandemic first saw a horrifying wave of pet abandonment, stoked by rumours that animals could be COVID-19 carriers, that was replaced with something more heartwarming — a rise in pet adoption rates. While being confined to four walls of our home increased depression rates among individuals, it was these furry friends who came to the rescue of many. Whether brought on by the fear of social isolation or the need for unconditional love after one too many fights with your partner, it seemed like the perfect time to become a pet parent
You’re at home all day, you have all the time in the world to give them the attention they need. You can train them and cuddle them. What could go wrong, right?
Well, think again. Bringing in a pet into your life requires lot of commitment, just like deciding to have a baby. I have seen many who without giving a proper thought, decides to get a pet. Well, seeing that Hutch/Vodafone ad of a cute pug following a child, those cute dog movies on OTT, or may be while visiting a friend’s home they would have seen how their child bonds with their dog/cat, many jump into the conclusion that they too should bring in a pet to their family. But please don’t ever rush into this conclusion. Do a proper research. Think deep, are you ready to a responsible pet parent, are you willing to spend quality time with your pet, taking care of their dietary and medical needs, do you have a proper support system with whom you can leave your pet in case you are travelling somewhere, will you have the same love and care for your pet when they grow up in size? Once you decide to bring in a pet into your family please ensure that he/she stays with you for their lifetime. Even if you plan to migrate to another country, please be aware that there are a lot of options available now for you to take your furry friend along with you.
In short, a responsible pet parent is one who is willing to spend some time with their pet on a daily basis, monitor their dietary needs and providing them with right food, supplements, comfy space in the home for them to sleep, taking them out for walks/drives, etc as per their requirements, providing proper medical check-up and care vaccinations and general health.
