Spring is the time for baby animals! Playful puppies, cuddly kittens, sweet little lambs. But caring for a baby animal requires a great deal of time, patience, love and caregiving. Certainly, great care should be taken when deciding what pet will best ‘fit’ with your lifestyle and family. After all, you want them to bring joy, liveliness, love and fun into your home for many years to come.

• Here are some questions to answer before you seek out a pet for your family:
• Babies are cute and cuddly and small. They are a joy to watch grow. But when they are full grown, how much space will they need?
• Will your house be big enough for them to live inside, or will they need a special place outside that will shelter them from the weather year-round?
• Will your yard be big enough and free from potential hazards?
• Do you and your family like a quiet home or are you comfortable with the added noise of a barking dog or chirping bird?
• How much training will your baby animal need, and do you have enough time and patience to give it the attention it will require?
• How much will it cost to have your pet spayed or neutered? Groomed? Fed? Vaccinated?
• Do you have several children that a pet must get used to? Remember, some baby animals are just not well suited to ‘family life.’

Please think about your family’s lifestyle before you invest in a new addition to the household. And when you do find the perfect fit, take good care of your pet … share plenty of exercise and a healthy diet with it … and you will have many wonderful years of companionship, play, entertainment and love to enjoy.

Marjie
Foster

about author

Marjie Foster, editorial director for Global MOVE Media, has a career in publishing, editing, writing and brand management that spans more than 30 years. For 10 of those years, she was also managing partner in a company that recruited, trained and scheduled baseball, basketball and softball officials. Marjie was a collegiate tennis player and is a 15-year veteran of a champion recreation softball team. Her two sons played five sports (each) through high school as well as baseball and football in college. She has been involved with them in their interscholastic and recreational sports careers as a coach, spectator, parent, official, timekeeper and cookie baker for more than 20 years.