Should I Get A Pet? - Insights Guide

Because everyone must make decisions each day of their lives and every decision will have consequences, it is important to think about each and every one. This does not mean that the decision making process should consume every minute of your day or paralyze you into no action. It does mean that decisions of little importance or consequence should receive minimal thought and time and highly important decisions should receive concerted effort. In both cases, the insights of the decision making guide should be addressed and as you use it more it will become part of your personality and easier to complete.

Application Insights-Should I Get A Pet? is not to be viewed as an answer sheet of how you should think or value things. It does represent a selected list of insights that many people have had as they tackle this possible choice making case that you would have otherwise neglected. Just because decision making is a personal activity doesn’t mean you can’t learn from others. Insights from others will make sure you have considered all of the important perspectives. Because nobody has your values, experiences, desires, emotions, or goals the insights of others need to be reviewed through your eyes. The best way to accomplish this is to follow the process of thought that will bring out the important points to consider. The result of following the process as described in the guide will give you the confidence that you have considered the important factors and blended them into being you.  

• The question of should I get a pet? evolves from the experience of seeing others enjoying their pet and knowing that pets are an important part of many peoples’ lives.  Much research has been done on the benefits and costs of having a pet so learn from the work of others. As is often the case, it is easier to see the benefits of owning a pet than the costs or disadvantages of owning one. The problem is to identify and weigh the expected benefits and expected costs of owning a pet before the actual decision is made.
   
• Knowing what you value and how having a pet fits into your short and long term goals is critical. If freedom and flexibility is important to you and if you plan to do things that will keep you away from home like long work hours, or possible military deployment, or school and studying, a pet will quickly become a burden. Don’t forget the cost in actual dollars and cents and what if the pet has an expensive medical problem. Do you have a money reserve and do you want to spend your savings on a pet?  Maybe doggy health insurance is an option. On the other hand, if you have a good place for a pet to live and you enjoy being home with a fury companion the pet choice may be an easy one to make.    
   
• The decision to have a pet or not have a pet is a complex one. It requires a thoughtful inquiry about what pets will meet my individual needs. The list of possible pets is huge ranging from type of animal, to size, to regulations, etc.  Is ownership the only possible choice. Can volunteering at the local animal shelter or going to the zoo or caring for my neighbors pet from time to time be an acceptable alternative for you. Perhaps participating in these activities for a while will help you make the bigger decision later on.        
   
• Each alternative has potential benefits to you and others and costs for all as well. Identifying these is critical for good choices to take place. After all you don’t want to choose something that will give you small benefits and high costs-that will make you miserable. What is the cost of Tuffy? Does the shelter charge you something for the dog, the shots, medical exam, and perhaps neutering? How about food, a bed, collar, registration, and biannual shots for rabies et.al. Is it wise to have insurance so if the dog bites someone you can cover the lawsuit. Will a barking dog upset the neighbors or will he destroy furniture or carpets when left alone? Compare these with that loyal companion that greets you when you come home or sits with you as a loyal friend as you watch your favorite television show. The balancing act begins. Weigh the expected benefits and expected costs of each alternative as compared to the others. 
       
• It is difficult to seek input from others in the decision making process because you are aware that other people are not you and this is your decision. It is helpful to seek outside insight, however, because peers may identify something you just haven’t thought about and your research may not have brought up. Take the views of others as helpful insights -- two heads may be better than one and what if your friend mentions that your apartment doesn’t allow for dogs over twenty pounds or cocker spaniels have a higher than average possibility of rear hip problems. This is good information that you may have neglected.
   
• So what will it be? Does Tuffy have a new home? Be sure to enjoy your new companion, but also be sure to keep an open mind and re-evaluate from time to time to be sure Tuffy earns the right to stay.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

1) Why Pets Are So Good For You.
2) Expenses Of Pets.