Pets Can Be Therapeutic For You

In this hectic and fast paced world where science and technology play an important role, the need for de-stressing oneself is increasingly growing. According to scientists and psychologists, one of the best remedies may probably include owing companion animals as pets. They may be a cat, dog, rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, even an iguana and so on.

Pet ownership today, is much more rewarding with most pet owners agreeing that they love their pets very much. In fact, if we don't spend some time with our adorable pets each day we would feel a little lost. In general, pets are able to bring about lasting happiness and joy in our lives and as a result this brings about satisfied owners and happy pets . Be it a dog, cat or even an iguana for a pet, it all boils down to how responsible we are in caring for them.

Once inside the confines of the home, special care must be exercised to regulate the pet's behavior. Owners must ensure that their dogs do not bark incessantly, chase or attack other pets or people in the neighborhood and become a public nuisance. The irresponsible behavior of some owners who have allowed their pets to breed indiscriminately and make excessive noise has led to various laws and legislation being passed by town and city councils.

The detailed legislation outlines the relationship between society and pets and touches on various aspects of pet ownership such as persistent barking, roaming and number of animals per household. Widespread control in urban areas has made it mandatory for dogs to be registered and licensed

What can we do to play a more positive role in handling over-population of strays?

Spaying or neutering is the most effective ways this can be overcome. All parties concerned can make a big difference and must take a serious look at animals in general and see how we can effectively minimise such problems from occurring in the future.

Many a time, you hear of stories of kindness related to pets. Well, sometimes we see people going to great lengths in caring for strays. A few months back they aired a show on TV showing the plight of strays. It was truly touching to see an old lady giving out food and leftovers to cats down the street. She would actually walk with a newspaper and some food and all the cats gathered around her and waited patiently for the food. Perhaps, the ‘once-a-day-meal', was the only one they had, but seeing the satisfaction and love on each cat's face is truly something to behold. The old lady had some cats of her own in her house too which she may have adopted. This story did bring down a tear or two for some of us and left us with so many unanswered questions.

What happens when pet ownership is taken lightly?

When pet ownership is taken lightly, more and more animals will be abandoned, dumped or sent to shelter homes.

Why are there so many stray cats everywhere?

The importance of pet ownership has always been taken lightly especially in Malaysia and it is time we seek some answers in handling this problem and make pet owners take their cats seriously. First and foremost, spaying or neutering should be practiced more often. If each pet owner plays a small role, responsible pet ownership will eventually become a reality while the number of stray cats and dogs will be greatly reduced.

Take for instance, this true story on how five stray cats will follow their mistress and her tomcat to the playground about twenty metres from the house. They will go along in a row and play there and at sharp seven p.m. when the mistress returns they too follow suit. And we thought only dogs went for walks! After being unofficially adopted and fed at least once a day they really seem to be in fine spirits.

Every healthy cat or dog is worth saving, because of the mere joy and satisfaction they can bring to a person, for example some dogs can be trained as guides for blind people or help out in rescue and police work, they can even detect certain illnesses nowadays for example, cancer, tuberculosis and even help coma patients in recovery and therapy related programs as proven in shows such as ‘Animal Planet' etc. With advancement in the veterinary and medical field, scientists are themselves astonished at the improvements made in these patients. Who knows what more they could discover, all because of the sharper sense of smell, sight etc. than us, humans.

They are also able to win over hard core criminals who are placed in rehabilitation centres and change their once hardened hearts into sensitive human beings. They also give themselves totally in the line of duty and sometimes die heroic deaths to save their partners.

Puppies need nurturing and love
A kind word from an understanding owner
Is every puppy's joy
Give him basic training and especially some toys
He will grow up thinking
His master - is the best of the boys!