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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 11, 2018)
14 Wednesday, April 11, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Paw Prints Jodi Schneider McNamee Columnist Which pet is right for you? Sharing your life with a pet has great benefits and can bring you great joy. As well as the unconditional love, affection and friendship that pets provide, there are also therapeutic benefits that go along with being a pet par- ent, such as improved gen- eral health and well-being. Before you get your heart set on a particular animal, its helpful to consider all of your options and think about what type of furry friend will best fit your lifestyle and personality. Each type of pet is differ- ent in terms of care, feeding, behavior, cost, housing and demands on your time. One key question to ask yourself is where to find your new furry family member. Please consider adopting: there are many wonderful dogs, cats, rabbits or other animals at your local animal shelters. There are also rescue groups for many specific dog breeds and other types of pets. And the staff at the animal shel- ter can help you find just the right pet for you. They know the animals in their care and can help you make a good match for your personality and lifestyle. Cats and dogs are the most popular pets in the world. Cats are more inde- pendent and are gener- ally less demanding. Dogs are loyal and obedient, but require more attention and exercise, including regular walks. Cats and dogs have differ- ent needs and characteristics, and whether one is right for you can often be determined by your lifestyle as much as personal preference. Which one is right for you? Dogs are very social crea- tures; they aren’t happy being alone all the time. If you are thinking about getting a dog, make sure you’re going to be able to spend several hours a day with him. And adopting a puppy is a huge commitment, since you cannot leave a puppy home alone all day. Most puppies need to eliminate every two hours or so. And they need to be house-trained and learn basic commands. If puppies are not handled often and socialized when young, they may become shy and fearful. You’ll also want to con- sider where you live, how much space you have, and what your lifestyle is. For example, very active dogs may not do well confined to a small apartment or living in a big city, unless you are thor- oughly committed to provid- ing your dog with plenty of exercise. Dogs need at least one walk a day outside their home. Dogs need a lot of interac- tion with their pet parents to be happy. If you’re very busy and spend little time at home, a dog might not be a suitable pet for you. For people who tend to work more hours, a cat might be the right pet for you. Contrary to popular opinion, many cats are social animals and love attention. Though most cats don’t require walk- ing or as much attention as dogs, they still need play time and petting on a daily basis. Cats don’t tend to need as much indoor space as dogs. So, if you have limited space, a busy lifestyle and would like a pet that’s a bit more independent, you may be bet- ter suited to a cat instead of a dog. Cats are relatively quiet, independent and can be left alone to sleep and entertain themselves for most of the day. But cats are very fastidi- ous about their litter box hab- its, so it’s important to keep the litter box clean and fresh. Cats also need to scratch, so a sturdy post is necessary. Still can’t decide? A rabbit might be the answer. Rabbits are intel- ligent, social animals who need affection. They can become wonderful com- panions if given a chance to interact with their human families A rabbit can use a litter- box like a cat and get excited to see you like a dog, but really, rabbits aren’t quite like either of these animals. Rabbits have strikingly distinctive personalities and love to spend time with their humans. They require human interaction. Without it they can get bored, even to the point of becoming lonely and depressed. Rabbits need daily care. If they are not handled gen- tly and often, they may not be comfortable with being picked up and cuddled. PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE Hazel on her harness. Rabbits make great pets. Serving Sisters Since 1976 g on n i o g t e g Need to ects? We’ve oj r p g n i r ed! p e s n u o y g thin FREE got every Local Delivery Lumber • Hardware • Paint Fencing & Decking • Doors & Windows ows Hours: M-F 8 to 5, Sat. 8 to 4:30, Closed Sundays 440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net Now in its 24th year! Sisters O r e g o n G u i d e 2 017- 2 018 Advertise in the 2017/18 Sisters Oregon Guide in the “Gotta Have It!” section... Gotta Have It! 35,000 Guides A few “must-haves” before you leave Sisters DISTRIBUTED STATEWIDE! 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