A Beginner's Guide to Companion Animals

Editorial

Our nation just loves a quadruped. Over 12 million of us have a pet; or, at least, a share in one. More than 80% of us have had the pleasure of a companion animal at some point in our lives. At present, the percentage of persons whose lives are enriched by fluffy buggers hovers at around sixty-five. Half of this remaining pet-less third report that they’d love to have some excess fur on the sofa.

If you are one of this number, listen up: animal companionship is not for the faint-hearted. Rather it is for the strong-willed and warm-hearted. It is a relationship to be entered into with boldness, determination and commitment in equal parts. When a creature has selected you, you are his forever. And this might mean twenty years. Are you ready? If you’re not, leave animal companionship to those who are truly able to say, “I do” to a big, brown pair of eyes. Surrendering an animal is pure hell; both for you and your pet.

The threat of hell, though, is no prophylaxis against regular surrender. Each year, the RSPCA alone takes in 150,000 fur-persons. This, of course, is a shocking statistic but is does have an upside. A shelter is where you’ll go to meet your small, new friend.

Of course, you can visit a breeder and select a purpose-built animal. I did. Once. My dear little boy died within a year of complications from an inherited disease that the “reputable” kennel refused to document or acknowledge. This, of course, is not always the case; there are some breeds of dog, such as the beagle, which rarely suffer the complications that genetic manipulation by humans might otherwise incur. And, there are a few breeds of cat, such as the glamorous and talkative Siamese, that tend to fewer health complications. If you are committed to a particular breed, Google “cat” or “dog” “breed rescue” and the details of your nearest city. Evolution and lived experience suggest, though, that moggies and mongrels are best. If your soul belongs to the noble Akita or the picture-perfect Singapuran cat, please be careful when choosing your mate. You must ask the breeder for references. You must avoid the atrocities of the puppy mill which will only end in heartbreak.

If a Heinz 57 suits your needs, then three very reputable organisations are the national RSPCA, the NSW Cat Protection Society and Melbourne’s Lost Dogs Home. Although these organisations tend to be terribly busy and under-staffed, see if you can’t make time to talk to a volunteer to get a little info on any little thing who might have caught your heart. Look deep into their eyes, puppy-style, and ask them about what they have observed in a particular animal. If poochie has recently eaten a building, the trousers of a volunteer and a litter of kittens, you should probably know in advance.

In meeting a new pup, you must be especially careful. Do not be hasty even if the rag-tag little imp fixes you with his stare. Try to familiarise yourself with dogs in the months leading up to your initial shelter visit; try to put yourself in his paws and imagine the space and energy required to keep him fit and well. And, do have a gander at the size of his paws. If he seems as though he won’t grow into them for about fifty kilos, do think long and hard about your need to be regularly slept upon by a giant lump of love.

A first-date with a feline is a different matter. Here, you’re looking for those subtleties that fit best with your own personality. Is he cheeky or calm or cuddly or aloof enough to become your truest pal? Cats tend not to exceed 8 kilos in weight. They can lead happy indoor lives and, indeed, have a vastly increased statistical longevity if they are house-cats. The average life of an outdoor puss is just three years. An indoor mog will commonly live into his teens.

As with any close, loving and rewarding relationship, this one will also have its share of pain. And inconvenience and increased expense. Both dogs and cats will require modification to your home and your behaviour. Annual vet visits are a must. Proper vacation care is essential. You must clean their waste, help them groom their lovely coats and keep them free of fleas, disease and the parasite of stress. You must consider their diet and allow them at least a few fresh, meaty bones a week. (And. No. I don’t care if you’re a vegan and you read on the PETA website that animals can live on tofu. They are obligate carnivores. Look it up! )

And you must honour the trust that they have so generously afforded. It will be repaid a hundred-fold.

Helen Razer, Citysearch