C
hoosing a pet can
be hard. Whether
you know exactly
what you want or are
completely clueless,
choosing an animal to
adopt into your family
can be as nerve-racking as it is exciting.
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eventually come back to you.
Pets can bring incomprehensible
joy to your life, and all they want in
return is a kind, loving home with
you. In my own experience, I talked
to my parents about exactly how they
chose my childhood dog. The morning my parents brought Rudolph into
our home a little girl received the
friend of a lifetime. With his kind
exterior and loving instincts, I have
always been curious how my parents
picked such a good dog that fit seamlessly into our family home. When
I asked my mom how exactly they
chose him she said, “We chose him
because he was the most active [and]
curious. He came right over to us.”
They took one look into his
“bright shiny eyes” and knew he was
the dog they had been looking for.
The benefits of owning a pet
are extraordinary, especially when
chosen correctly with research and
planning these pets can bring happiness to an entire family.
To find pets up for adoption in
Parker County visit: ci.weatherford.
tx.us and follow the prompts.
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Appointments available Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-6pm; Sat. 8:30am-4pm
Dr. Randy Langerhans
Dr. Jennifer Parsley | Dr. Jaime Doherty | Dr. Crystal Terry
Dr. Matthew Noland - General and Advanced Dentistry
3713 Fort Worth Hwy., Hudson Oaks, TX 76087
817-341-3331 | www.I-20animalhospital.com
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
Doctor and staff on premise 24 hours daily
for Emergencies and Critical Care.
DECEMBER 2016
With so many factors to consider
in the choice of a pet, if done
incorrectly it can be disastrous,
but approached with forethought,
research and some old-fashioned
horse sense, you could end up with
a new best friend or possibly your
child’s best friends. Choosing the
right pet with the right mentality is
important to you, your family and
vitally important to your children.
How do I know what kind of pet
is right for me?
There are several factors to
consider before selecting a pet.
Step 1: Research the type of pet
you’re interested in. You should think
about a pet that matches both your
lifestyle and your home environment. You probably wouldn’t want
to adopt a Great Dane if you live in
a minuscule loft with no yard. You
might rethink the whole issue of dog
ownership if you never have the time
to come home and play with him.
That would be simply cruel.
Step 2: Think about why you
want a pet. Are you longing for
companionship or are you simply
going through a phase? Before you
adopt a pet, you do well to consider
if you have the time and energy to
give it the care and love it needs.
Unlike potted plants, an animal needs
more than food and water to survive.
They seek companionship. Dogs
get lonely just like people can. You
have several other factors to think
about. Are you at a point in your life
where it is appropriate to add a pet?
You also have to think about how
long the pet you are considering will
live. For example, a small dog will
live anywhere from 12 to 15 years,
a horse will live from 25-30 years, a
pot-bellied pig from 30 to 40 years
(that’s quite a commitment) and
tortoises have been known to live
for over 150 years. Factoring in how
long these animals are expected to
live is paramount.
Another important consideration
is whether you can meet the financial and social needs a pet requires?
Are you financially equipped for the
responsibilities of vet visits, grooming, medication and vaccinations
your pet will require?
Step 3: Shop around for the pet
you want. This step involves going
to places like animal rescue groups
or the Weatherford/Parker County
Animal Shelter to see if they have the
animal you have been looking for.
This may require several visits, but
it’s worth it.
Step 4: Select your pet and love
him/her unconditionally. Once you
have a pet that fits in your family and
lifestyle, whether it’s a loving ball of
fluff or a huggable bunch of scales,
the pet you have chosen will be a
member of your family. After taking
all the proper steps to choosing your
pet the love you give to them will
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