TEN REASONS OF HAVING A PET

Elisha, my 6 year old daughter, got her FIRST PET last weekend.
I know, it's funny and people will find it unusual because she got a chick as her pet.
I didn't really care about the chick at first because, I thought, it won't live long.
I was expecting for the chick to die the next morning but it didn't!
My daughter was even dreaming of her pet, and was talking while asleep and instructing people what to do with her pet's cage.
Okay...She was bugging me to have a pet for a year now and I really wasn't expecting that we'll be having a chick at home....
We went to Pasay last weekend for my niece's birthday party and that's where the chick came from.
Elisha and her older cousin, Chinchin were arguing about losing their money from a pick-a-prize along the sidewalk outside our house. If you'll win you can choose from a variety of colored day-old chicks in a big cage.
My daughter insisted that she won't be picking for a prize anymore but thinking of asking the owner to buy a chick instead. And she did.
So, she took the chick home and is taking care of it.
She named the chick TWEETY.
She told me , she thinks of Tweety while she's in school, she wonders if Ate Rose fed her lovely Tweety already.
One more funny thing is...since I was not expecting for the chick to live this long, we didn't buy food for her and gave biscuit instead.
Tweety loves butter flavored sunflower biscuits and ignores to eat whenever given rice, bread, or unflavored biscuits.
My daughter talks to Tweety and plays with it because Tweety likes chasing her when she's out of her improvised cage.
Whenever she does her worksheet in Kumon and her school assignments, you will see Tweety walking on top of her things and on her study table.
But ...I told her already not to expect for the chick to live with us forever because it will die sooner or later .
For the mean time, she is enjoying Tweety's company.^^

So, I researched and got these ten reasons of having a pet:

by Viviane Kertesz
(used with permission by Lifenetwork.ca)

10. Teach kids about selflessness. Owning a pet teaches discipline and responsibility to a child. Children can learn how to share their time, savings, and companionship with a being that is solely reliant on them. If your kids really want a pet that you know they're not ready for, start smaller: if they can't handle a dog, start with a hamster. If they can't handle a hamster, opt for a fish…and if a fish is too great a burden of responsibility, begin with a Tamagotchi.

9. Pets can increase your sense of security — personal, private, and psychological. Depending on whether you have a feline friend or a canine companion, cats and dogs can increase your sense of security. How so? Dogs can augment personal security when walking alone at night, while cats can ward off potential burglars by meowing to alert you to thieves' proximity. And because you know that someone you trust is always around, any pet, small or large, winged or ground-bound, can instil a sense of mental well-being by merely being close-by.

8. Personal growth 101: For pet owners. Of the countless reasons to own a pet, learning invaluable life skills that enable a person to become a better person is one of the most rewarding. Learning to share love, provide affection, and give attention to a pet are three qualities that enhance the personal quality of human life. Not convinced? Ask any pet owner about the satisfaction of caring for a pet…and whether they'd do it all over again if they could.

7. Need an excuse to get physical? Exercise is a great side effect of owning an active pet. If your pet requires frequent physical stimulus, you'll find that the amount of time you spend outdoors will increase dramatically. Dogs and other quadrupeds revel in enjoying larger spaces than the indoors allow, and will appreciate the time you make to take them on walks. Who knows? Your waistline might even thank you for it.

6. Preparing for parenthood? If you can't keep the fish alive, you'd better rethink your potential parenting skills. Puppies are especially good primers for parenthood, since, like children, they require bladder-control training and need lots of hands-on care and affection. If you're practising for a baby someday, but not ready to take the leap, why not rescue a pooch from a local shelter and put your care-giving capabilities to the test?

5. Looking for a constant companion? As well as love, pets offer continual daily companionship. Even pets like fish, which have a lower maintenance factor than dogs or cats, can be steady friends. Though some pets require frequent litter care and physical attention, like walking or play-time, it's all part and parcel of pet ownership and can quickly become a much-loved routine for you both.

4. It's a great way to meet people. People who have the same types of pets often exchange stories and compare experiences about the progress and histories of their pets, and generally love to talk about them with those who show interest. Whether you're walking your canine in the park or talking about your exotic reptile collection at work, pet ownership breaks the conversational ice and generates curiosity from strangers and friends alike.

3. Getting and giving unconditional love. Animals give you one thing better than R-E-S-P-E-C-T. They give you unquestioning, unbridled, unwavering love. Did your boyfriend or girlfriend suddenly take the high road, or your boss hand you your final paycheque? Never fear, Fluffy is near. Treat your pet with the respect it deserves and you will be repaid in kind with lifelong attention and affection, especially when you need it most.

2. Take a stand on a humanitarian cause. There are so many animals in need of adoption, yet not enough people willing to make the commitment and sacrifice it takes to look after them all. Make a difference in the future of a living being: figure out which animal would best fit your lifestyle, then adopt a pet at your local shelter. Go to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies to find out more about the closest humane society or pet shelter in your neighbourhood. Sleep better knowing that you have taken on the responsibility of raising a pet while rescuing an animal in need. Your pet will love you for it.

1. Pets are a prescription for good health. How can owning a four-footed friend or winged companion help you live longer? Pets can increase a person's level of activity and ease stress. Medical studies have shown that seniors benefit especially from pet ownership, since owning a pet can decrease blood pressure, fight loneliness, comfort the pain of a departed spouse, and combat depression.