Pet Problems Solved!
Dear Apartments.com,
I’m moving out of my parents’ house and into my own apartment for the first time. Everyone keeps telling me, “Get a pet, it’ll make things much easier.” I’ve never had a pet besides Orange, my carnival-born goldfish in the second grade. Orange didn’t fare so well, and I’m worried that I might not be able to take good care of a pet on my own. What do you recommend for the first-time pet owner? I will be out of the apartment for about 8 or 9 hours a day.
Thanks!
Lonely in Lisle, IL
Dear Lonely,
As an avid animal lover and owner, I know from experience that the most important thing a first time animal owner needs to do is be prepared. Owning an animal like a cat or dog takes patience, time, money and a lot of hard work. You won’t be able to be away from your home for an extended period of time without a “babysitter” or making other arrangements to feed and care for your pet. From the tone of your note it seems like you’re more inclined to get a pet because your friends are telling you that you need to have one. There are thousands of animals that end up in shelters every year because their owners didn’t realize the commitment that animal ownership entails. Plus, since a fish is probably the easiest of all the animals to take care of, you need to ask yourself if you’re truly ready for animal ownership. Since you will be out of the home for a good chunk of time, why don’t you try first with another fish, if you start with that and determine that you’re ready to make a step up, take a look at some of our other articles on which type of animal is best for apartment life. Having an animal is a lot like having a kid that never grows up, if you’re not ready to give up your independent lifestyle, you’re probably not ready to own a pet.
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