Why I Love Having Pets

     In my mind, having a pet is an amazing choice as long as you're willing to put in the effort. According to ASPCA, 37-47% of U.S. households have a dog, and 30-37% have a cat. Other households have a variety of pets, including rabbits, pigs, lizards, fish, and many more animals. The purpose for having a pet may be to have a companion, a service pet, a guard, or something else, but no matter the purpose, many of the same benefits are consistent.
     The CDC lists some benefits of pet owning. Having a pet can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness, and can increase opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities, and socialization. Animal Planet claims that the top five benefits of having a pet are: fewer allergies (surprisingly!), better socialization, better heart health, more exercise and weight loss, and greater sense of purpose and mood boost. Additionally, having pets can instill a sense of responsibility and teach important skills such as awareness of others' needs.
     I can attest to the fact that having pets increases my well-being. I've experienced many personal benefits of having pets throughout my life. In my household, I have had dogs, cats, iguanas, fish, hamsters, and turtles. My hamster was the first pet I took care of almost completely by myself, and I will say that it taught me responsibility. I had to be there to feed her, change her water, clean her cage, and play with her. Fish are pretty basic to take care of, but I still gained responsibility by having to feed my fish and clean their tanks. My dogs are probably what have given me the most benefit, even though I am not the only person taking care of them. They have been the most responsive to my actions and seem to be most emotionally similar to me. When I am home alone, I have to take care of their needs, but I do more than that and actually receive something in return. Playing with my dogs not only gives them exercise but also gives me something to smile about and helps me relax. Just being in the company of my dogs helps me when I am struggling emotionally and lets me know that I am safe (at least safer than I would be alone). I love when I get to see my dogs' excitement when I bring home a new toy and their joy at going on walks through my yard, and I love hearing their reactions when my family puts me on speakerphone to talk to them. It always brings a smile to my face, and I can say having pets has made me a better person.

These pups are what give me something to smile about!

     I'm lucky to have the opportunity to have pets. I have the resources and motivation necessary to take care of them and the time to give them affection. However, some people have pets but disregard their responsibilities - these people should not have pets. A "pet" is not a dog sitting outside, chained to a fence with no food or water. A "pet" is not a cat given little attention because hundreds of other cats are piled on top of it. When having a pet, it is necessary to be able to provide for that animal and to actually do so; otherwise, no one (animal or human) is really benefitting. Make sure you have the resources and drive to take care of an animal over a long period of time before making the decision to take an animal into your home - it could save an animal from being sent to a shelter or kicked into the streets and could save your own resources and time if you aren't ready to take on the responsibility. 

Finally, here are some of my favorite pictures of my two current pets: the joy-providers and tail-waggers of my life!

Pit Bulls

     Pit Bulls are one of the most misunderstood dog breeds that exist. They are made out to be vicious fighting dogs that no one should have as a pet. Because of the common misconceptions about Pit Bulls, many cities have declared them as "dangerous." Owning a Pit Bull is illegal in many cities across the United States, but why? 

     

     According to dogsbite.org, Pit Bulls accounted for 64% of dog bite-related fatalities in 2014. Cases in which Pit Bulls caused fatalities were often put into the media, perpetuating the negative views of these dogs. However, as the infographic above demonstrates, 84% of dogs involved in fatal attacks were abused or neglected. Pit Bulls are often used in dog fighting or as guard dogs, causing them to have high rates of abuse and neglect. Many Pit Bulls end up in shelters, and most are euthanized because of their bad reputations or their aggressiveness because they were raised in a dog fighting environment. However, the breed itself is not to blame: people are almost always to blame for Pit Bulls' bad behaviors. 

     Pit Bulls are actually ranked some of the most tolerant dogs. They are great with children (ranking 4/5 stars for "kid-friendly"), and great family pets (5/5 stars for "affectionate with family"). Pit Bulls have high rankings in most categories according to dogtime.com, demonstrating that the breed's reputation isn't all it seems to be. 

     Even though Pit Bulls are a naturally friendly breed, it is still important to be careful and to ensure safety, especially around small children. Adopting a former fighting dog when you have two small children at home is not a good idea, no matter what breed of dog you're adopting. Sense must still come into play, no matter what breed of dog is being considered! 

     Finally, as a wrap, here's a video of some Pit Bulls being the friendly pups that they are! 

Images from: http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2013/11/pit-bulls-are-just-about-the-nicest-dogs-there-are/ 

Information from: http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2013/11/pit-bulls-are-just-about-the-nicest-dogs-there-are/

                              http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2014.php

                              http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/american-pit-bull-terrier 

                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLxZDX35tiI

Ignore Those Pet Stores. Adopt!

http://www.poncacityok.gov/images/pages/N504/Adopt_a_Pet.jpg

           The process of finding a pet can be quite intricate. Some people want purebred animals and partake in long searches to find the most perfect specimen of the breed, while others fall in love with an animal at first sight no matter what it looks like. Besides the health problems that arise from breeding animals, the desire to breed creates organizations that basically factory farm animals like cats and dogs.

            Puppy mills are one example of these organizations. A puppy mill is a “large-scale commercial dog breeding facility where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs” (https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/puppy-mills). Puppy mills stay in business because of the demand of certain breeds and because many people looking for pets do not know where the animals they see come from. Common pet stores often get animals from places like puppy mills but lie to customers about the origin of their animals. Because people cannot detect anything wrong with the animal at first, they assume they are doing no harm. By buying pets from pet stores, they are supporting horrible conditions and mistreatment of animals in overcrowded, filthy, disease-rampant facilities.

            Some people seeking purebred animals see no other option besides going to a pet store for a desired breed. However, there is a much better option. Shelters.

            Contrary to popular belief, shelters are not filled with only mutts. There are many purebred animals at shelters that need homes. I think saving a dog’s life is more important than having papers detailing the breed of the dog.

My Rescue, Jasper

            A website I have found that I love matches you with shelter dogs near you based on your answers to certain questions. It is called Paws Like Me (http://pawslikeme.com/). It takes into consideration so many aspects that must be considered in having a pet, and matches you up with the best options for you. Additionally, for those looking for purebred dogs, breeds can be entered, and “purebred only” is an option that can be selected. Petfinder.com is an additional website that is great for finding pets, and more than just dogs. It searches all local organizations and shelters for pets, and trust me, there are thousands of pets needing homes within a 25-mile radius of your zip code.

            Next time you’re looking for a pet, ignore the pet stores. Go to the shelter. Don’t put other animals in danger by unknowingly supporting organizations like puppy mills. Instead, save a life. The rewards are endless.

Info about puppy mills: 

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2015/05/05/missouri-has-the-most-problem-puppy-mills-in-the-us-humane-society-says

https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/puppy-mills

Adoption websites: 

https://www.petfinder.com/

http://pawslikeme.com/