Pets
are People Too!
Well, Actually They are Animals:
But they need a lot of the same things we do. If you
think about what you need to live and be happy, animals need some of these
things, too. Plus, they also need some things that are unique to animals.
Love
and Affection:
Every living thing in the world needs tender loving care. Sometimes our pets
can be our very best friends. They love us very much! And they love for us to
pet them and talk to them. If you look at their faces, sometimes you can see a
dog "smile" and if you look into the face of your animal you can tell
they are enjoying your attention and are happy!
I’m
Hungry:
You know that feeling you get in your stomach that makes your brain tell you
you're hungry? Animals get that too, only they have a harder time telling us
when they're hungry. That's why we have to be sure we give our pets their food
(not people food).
And
Thirsty:
Your mouth feels like the
Everybody
Needs a Home:
If you have a pet, then your home is probably their home. But sometimes a pet
might need their own special home inside your home! Like, a fish definitely
needs a water-home inside your home. You might be able to let your bird fly
around your home sometimes (ask an adult first, though!), but most of the time
they need to stay in their bird cage. And, at night, they need to have their
cage covered just like we use covers when we go to sleep! Your cat or dog might
like to have their own little bed somewhere special in the house ... or if they
live outside they really need a house to go to when it's rainy or cold! Now,
most people don't keep a horse in their house, so they usually stay in a barn
which is their home.
Clothes:
Animals don't wear clothes! Or do they?? Sometimes people in show business
dress up their dogs or birds who are performing. But, those animals don't
really need those clothes. Think about a horse who lives out in a barn. It's
the middle of a very cold Winter. Brrrr! I'm getting shiver just imagining it!
Well, that horse might be very glad for a blanket and a good owner will put a
blanket on their horse when it's cold enough. Some people who live in places
where it gets very cold put sweaters on their dogs, which is nice ... And some
people just think it's cute to put hats and sweaters and boots and all kinds of
clothing on their dogs.
I
Don’t Feel So Good:
Sometimes, animals need a doctor, even if it's just for a check-up. Because
animals are different than people, they have special doctors called
veterinarians who take care of them. Veterinarians know a lot about animals so
they're best at fixing what's wrong.
You can't give a fish a bath! But you can give him clean water. Just be sure
you put him in some other water when you take him out of his bowl! Lots of cats
don't like water, but you can brush them to make their fur as pretty as
possible. Birds love a bath! That's why some people's homes have birdbaths in
the yard. The birds can just fly in, swish around in the water and fly away
again. Horses and some dogs like baths, too. They're a little harder to wash
because they can be so big! A garden hose works pretty well.
Talk
to the Animals:
Just because a pet doesn't speak English doesn't mean they can't talk! It also
doesn't mean that they can't understand your tone of voice or the expression on
your face. When you're angry with them, they know. When you're happy to see
them and to be with them, they know that too! Also, every animal has its own
"language." Even though we can't really "speak" their
language, it's up to us people to try to understand our pets. You can start to
understand your pet just by being aound him and watching him over time. But you
have to pay attention and think about what they're doing and what it might
mean. You'll be surprised at how well you'll come to know your pet and how much
they have to "tell" us!
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