PETS

How to PICK A PET

The pros and cons of dogs, cats, fish, and birds

BY JACK SAVAGE

Let it be said here that a life is not complete without the companionship of a beloved pet. Nearly 60 percent of households in the United States and Canada have pets of one kind or another. Most popular, of course, are dogs and cats. Almost 40 percent of U.S. households (41 percent in Canada) have at least one dog, with the average being 1.6 dogs. Apparently even half a dog is better than none. A quarter of all U.S. households have an average of 1.8 cats, or perhaps two cats who go missing 10 percent of the time, while in Canada, 38 percent of households have at least one cat.

Choosing a pet successfully requires knowing yourself and your lifestyle. Are you a dog person or a cat person? Or perhaps neither, and a fish or bird is more your style.

Pets take time and dedication. Will you really take the dog out for walks? Are you willing to clean your fish's tank? Perhaps the best advice is to ask a trusted friend what kind of pet they think would be good for you. If they say "a bottle of wine on a leash," listen to them.

A good match between pet and pet owner/caretaker/provider may come as a result of natural symbiosis, an ideal complement of personalities and lifestyles. You get out of the relationship what you put into it. Your pet will live a better life thanks to your care, and they in turn will allow you to be a better person.