Pet Keeping: A Blissful Journey

Mahatma Gandhi once said that “a person’s true character can be judged from how he treats people less fortunate than him”. He also acknowledged that his epiphany was based on what the German philosopher Immanuel Kant once said that “we can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals”.

Man-Animal Relationship

Animals have been a very essential part of human existence. They have rambled on our vast planet even before we pioneered. And since the inception of our breed, they have always shared a very intimate relationship with us. It all started with the early men who depended on animals for food, clothing and companionship. And now when we have reached the zenith of dominance over all other species, animals hold a very special place in our otherwise very complicated lives as pets.

Common Pets

Most of us have our own reasons to keep pets. Some of us consider them as valuable assets that provide security while most of us keep them for the sheer joy of keeping a pet. While the former post is usually held by dogs due to their known credentials of unfettered loyalty, even cats, birds, rabbits, horses and fishes can be wonderful pets. It must be kept in mind that every animal belongs to a particular ‘genus’ and naturally possess some distinct characteristics particular to that family of animals. Therefore, not every animal can fill in the shoes of any other pet. A dog is inherently aggressive when situation requires him to be so and most amiable when exhibited with love and care. Similarly cats are adorable creatures and known as the ‘most popular pet’ around the world.

Pet Care

The question of how to take care of pet depends upon the type of pet one has. But what is common for all pets is that they all require a healthy diet, effective grooming, proper training and domestication, social interaction and many other things to mold them into nurtured adults. Patience is one quality the owner must possess to be a responsible and chummy master.  For instance, in case of dogs it must be remembered that although dogs can survive on vegetarian food but they do have a certain protein requirement for their adequate growth and development. Cats need a meat based diet.  They initially take their time to adjust to their surroundings and gradually become more and more friendly. In case birds, one must be very careful while getting a cage as cages made from toxic materials can be perilous. Birds enjoy a certain amount of privacy with less intervention making them a self-content pet. Similarly for fishes, one needs to walk an extra mile as regular cleaning to the pond and timely feeding of fish specific food is essential. Many pets also have some characteristics/habits specific to themselves which one stumbles upon in the course of their keeping. All of them need to be carefully monitored to check for any ailments and other irregularities that might trouble them.

Why keep pets?

We all need instruments to escape from our daily life which is full of hustle and bustle. Keeping a pet might just be the perfect quintessence. Taking care of your pet can be a very pleasing and gratifying exercise. Only pet owners can cherish the moments of blithe when your pet greets you by licking our face, waging his tail or by simply producing its characteristic sound. Owning a pet can help reduce stress, improve your emotional health and may transform your character by inculcating values that you never had before as many responsible pet owners end up as light-hearted persons. It is easier to pour your heart out before an animal than a human being as the former is a patient listener and never takes a position on your matter. It is these simple joys and junctures of euphoria that make pet keeping a very pacifying act.

Vishal Tripathi

[ratings]

Image Source: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus/4588486935/sizes/m/]