Should you really get more animals?

[LadyOhh]

When it comes to animals that you are considering buying, there are several things you need to remember before you even think about bringing another living being into a home.

This refers to ALL animals, but since this is a reptile related site, we will continue along these lines.

1) CAN I AFFORD IT?

-This does not refer to the animal that you are buying, cause you can buy a $10 cornsnake at the store. Sure, you can afford the initial cost to make your day by taking it home, but can you REALLY afford it?

You need to consider the life span of the animal, the amount of food that you need to provide for it in that period of time, the caging, including grow up cages, tanks, water bowls and bedding for an animal that will grow larger and need more space...

ALSO, you can't forget the care that it will require. Veterinary visits are the first large cost that one tends to think about, as it can and will cost you upwards of several hundred dollars on one animal IF it is sick, and even if it is not, for general checkups over the lifetime of the animal.

But... Can you afford to give your time in taking care of it? Everyones time is worth something, and you need to remember that the time it takes to clean out the tank, pour in some water, change out the bedding.

How much do you make per hour at your job (if you have one)? Well... you can use that as an example of cost of your time.

2) CAN I REALLY TAKE CARE OF IT PROPERLY?

-This goes hand in hand with what I just touched on in terms of being able to afford it, but a little deeper.

Can you, as a human being, find the resources and materials necessary to take care of your creature? You can try and find it at a store, persay, but what if you can't? Will you go out of your way to get something that is necessary for your animal? Internet resources, books, videos... Will you go the extra mile to find out from a professional what is required of you for your animals care?

For example... spritzing water on Chameleons. That is a full time operation! You need to have it done often and well... Will you buy that hand spritzer and do it yourself, or will you buy a fancy doo-dad to make it happen without you?

3) DO I REALLY CARE ENOUGH FOR THIS ANIMAL IN THE LONG RUN?

-Will you go the extra mile if the animal is sick, even if it is a $10 animal, to make it well again? Will you spend the time giving it expensive medicine, paying for the expensive medicine, going to the vet three times a week only to be told its getting worse? Would you really care enough to do that?? COULD you do that?

These animals that we get as pets depend on US to take care of them. They cannot go into the Vet and say "Hey, Vet guy, I need to get some medicine cause my stomach is rotting from the inside out..."

It is your perogative to take care of them, and if you don't, the ultimate sacrafice is not paid by you, the owner, but by the animals you own.


Why is this even an issue, you ask? Why do you feel the need to write this all out, Heather?

Well.... It is important to remember all of this.

And ask yourself if you are just being selfish in taking in another animal, or if you are really ready to own a new critter.



It is up to you to realize your own limitations.

But it is not up to the animals who takes them home...

Be aware, and care deeply for the animals you do own. And when you are ready, financially and mentally, THEN take the next step.

Until then, just wait it out.

[Oroborous]

Great post, all very well said. If only people that don't use animal forums read things like this before buying a living creature. It might save a lot of animals from suffering and neglect. It will be good for people new to the hobby to read to.
Just curious though, what spurred you on to making this thread? Any particular incident(s)?

[Seru1]

Great Post, things everyone certainly needs to think about.


I personally wonder about how important grow up cages are. I've heard from friends they just add alot more hides. In a cage the snakes will eventually grow into.

[Dianna]

Thank you for posting this, it's such an important topic. Its really sad to see people getting pets for the wrong reasons and treating them as disposable objects. They also fail to realize just how long of a commitment it is, not just with reptiles- even cats can live to be 20 years old.

[BPelizabeth]

This is such an important thread!! We touched on this allot when I had my reptile show at school. Research....research....research!! In this day and age there is NO reason that ppl should not do all the research needed to learn about a pets needs prior to getting them. But even if you did not do your homework before hand (I didn't with our first BP) there is never an excuse not to do it once you have the pet. Empower your children to do this as well. With my son....he had to read the care sheets for our BP's and our beardie. When I bought his best friend a beardie .....I sat him down to read up on everything. Now my son is on here....egads.... lol...but at least he is learning.

We all need to learn young and old that when we take in a pet....they are completely reliant on us for everything....housing, food, temps...humidity....and even sunlight for some.

Thank you for posting this Heather!!

[rabernet]

Heather - I am stickying this (if it isn't already)!

It's sad that we see far too many examples of people who state the price of the animal that they can afford (purchase price) because they have limited incomes, and don't think about all the additional expenses also involved. It's also very sad to see many people think of these animals as disposable and easily replaceable pets.

[fishmommy]

another 'hidden' expense is electricity. It's not usually much per month per snake, but it never goes away.

[ballpythonluvr]

Great post Heather!

[Hypnotic Exotic]

This is a great post. I've seen a lot of examples especially in this economy where someone went out and bought a lot of animals at one time and as soon as they got laid off, they were selling a lot of them at bargain basement prices, rationing their food, etc. Before adding another animal you have got to calculate how much additional resources in terms of both time and money that it is going to cost you. If you lost your job tomorrow, could you at least care for your animals a few months before having a problem? If you would immediately be in a bind, you don't need to be adding more. My first time around in the hobby I did exactly that and swelled my collection too big too fast. I use restraint now. I carefully think out each and every addition before I buy it and make sure that I can easily afford its care and have the time to give the animal what it needs.

[hoax]

Yet another great post from Heather! Not many people think ahead into what will this really cost me. We have all done this at some point in time, when you were 5 and wanted that puppy, some people don't learn from that experience. This is deffinently something EVERYONE should learn from and apply in their life. This lesson goes for much more then pets, people impulse buy pets, cars, houses, and new toys with little thought of consequence and eventually that glutony hurts us as a community. Thanks for bringing up such an important subject.

I'm done rambling and rantin.
Mike