WHY PETS????

DO YOU WANT TO FIRE YOUR BOSS?




WHILE KEEP A PET
This is a very important question. The demand for pets determines the supply. Many people can see the use of keeping cattle: they serve as food for people. But what use are pets? The most common reasons for keeping pets are:

• company
• socializing
• they are beautiful, nice and interesting
• status
• something to do

Company
Many people have pets to substitute relationships with partners, children or family members. Many elderly people for instance, like having a dog instead of being all alone at home. This is usually a lap dog, very affectionate and strokable.
The animal serves people's need to cherish, love and fight boredom. But this is really a distressing reason for keeping a pet. The animal is a replacement for normal human contact, something that apparently is too much to summon in our individualistic society. Their pet keeps them from pining. But of course, it has to be a type of dog that suits them and that has been bred especially for their needs.
Socializing
Pets make socializing with others easier. People are more inclined to start a conversation when they can focus their attention on the animal in a moment of silence. Just like with any other hobby, it's nice to talk to people that have the same hobby.


Beautiful, nice and interesting
People find animals attractive. No matter what kind of animal it is, you can always find an interesting characteristic. Birds sing, dogs and cats are playful and funny, and there are animals that look uncommon.
Status
Pets give status. When an animal looks dangerous, for instance, this reflects on its owner. Many people (sub) consciously pick animals that best suit them and most reflect their status.
Something to do
Preventing boredom is another important reason to keep pets. An animal needs attention. It can need a lot of attention, as dogs do, but there are also animals that don't need as much attention, such as fish or turtles. Besides, you can look at them. Animal-watching is a nice way to spend your time, just like people-watching.
But do these arguments put forward by people balance against the animal's arguments or the drawbacks for human?

DRAWBACKS FOR HUMAN
Keeping a dog as a pet has its downside. It is important to realize this beforehand. A few examples:

• Responsibility
• Time
• Holidays
• Education
• Social limitations
• Costs
• Sorrow

Responsibility
Having a dog is a big responsibility. With al of your daily routine you must take the needs and existence of your pet into account.
Time
A dog can live ten to fifteen years. It will dictate a great deal of how your time is filled in. Some one has to be at home every few hours to walk the dog and to feed him.
Walking the dog, education, play, care and giving attention takes up a lot of time.
Practically all dogs, be it with longhair as shorthair, lose their hair. Hair spreads around your house and cleaning it takes up a lot of time. When molting you have to vacuum clean your house daily and brush your dog to keep things tidy.
Holidays
When you want to go on holiday alone you have to provide for a dog shelter or ask some one to take care of the pet.
Education
A dog can show or develop behavioral problems. A good education is important and how to do this is not common knowledge. Bad education can cause the dog to demolish your furniture or the animal can behave aggressively towards others. Some dogs obey no one and listen to no command.
Social limitations
Dogs are not allowed every where. Think of public places like shops, restaurants, public service, etc.. But also when you visit friends taking your dog along can be a problem. A lot op people are annoyed by barking dogs (neighbors f.e.).
The decision to go out and get a pet goes far beyond going to the pound and picking up an animal. You will need to think about food, vaccines, pet care, and more. For instance,when the pet needs to go outside to use the bathroom, you will need to think about cat and dog doors. Otherwise, you will always need to be there to let your pets in and out of the house.
Costs
The purchase of a pet can be expensive. A few hundred dollars is nothing for a dog. Besides that, there are necessities like a basket, leash etc. and of course veterinary bills. Some municipals demand tax to be paid.
Not all dogs remain healthy all of their live. When you are down on your luck the bill can rise sky-high. The extra care can be time consuming.
Environment
The excreta of companion animals will contribute to the production of greenhouse gases, although this is relatively limited. Horse manure produces methane, ammonia and/or nitric oxide, depending on
storage conditions.
The 3.2 million cats, 1.8 million dogs and 400.000 horses in The Netherlands require an equivalent of 820.000 ha for their nutrition, which is about 40% of the total arable area in The Netherlands.
Extrapolating these data to the EU-level with an estimated 60 million cats, 56 million dogs and 5.8 million horses, 19 million ha of arable land are required.
Apart from the drawbacks for yourself and your environment there are other consequences.

• Dogs eat meat from factory farms
• Dogs produce shit

Dogs are carnivores so they eat meat. This meat is likely to come from factory farms. If not, it will be much more expensive. Apart from that you let other animals be killed to feed your pet.

Dog shit
Dog shit on the streets means a lot of irritation to a lot of other people. It is scattered all over public places, suitable or not to dropped like pavements, playing fields and country roads. It always stinks, sticks to your shoes and clothes and will cost the community a lot of money to clean up. In some municipals dog owners are obliged to clean up the shit with utensils.
Dog shit has been a national pain in the ass for a long time.
Grief and sorrow
Most dogs die before their owner. Their death can have a heavy impact.
Old age
Just like the situation with older people vets can prolong animal life. How far we you go along with the prolongation of the live of a sick pet? By taking the dog as an example a lot of various factors are mentioned that some people are likely to ignore. Not all but most reasons apply to other pets. On the other hand there are unique circumstances with particular pets that do not apply to dogs.