| Dogs and cats are great pets, but they require an | | | | affectionate, or interactive, these pets are interesting |
| awful lot of work to keep them healthy, happy and | | | | to watch and only need minimum hands on care to |
| well adjusted. Food, shelter, veterinary costs, plus | | | | remain healthy. They do need a specialized diet and |
| time, grooming and whatever extras you factor in | | | | some pretty intensive habitats, so expense might be |
| can really add up quickly, making some people | | | | an issue in their case. And remember, the bigger the |
| question whether pet ownership is really worth it in | | | | snake, the bigger the home it will need to live in. |
| the long run. For some people, the lessons that a | | | | Small birds are a good choice, but are still fairly |
| child learns through pet ownership are worth a lot, | | | | involved on the maintenance scale- they need their |
| but not quite as much as the effort to raise dogs or | | | | cages cleaned daily, fresh food and water and can |
| cats, so a smaller, simpler pet is the solution that | | | | sometimes be impossible to tame down. But for a |
| they seek. But, what are the best choices? | | | | child who is more intent on a watching their pet |
| Although the thought will give many people the | | | | rather than petting them, a bird is a perfectly fine |
| creeps, the rodent family offers quite a few nice, | | | | choice. |
| starter pet options. These are relatively easy to | | | | Possibly the best, low maintenance pet is the fish. |
| keep, do not take up a lot of space and if handled | | | | True, a fish will not walk with you or eat your |
| carefully can be actually very affectionate. Guinea | | | | broccoli under the table, but they are beautiful to |
| pigs are probably the most popular in the group, and | | | | watch as they swim about in their tank and there is |
| with their slightly larger sizes, may be easier for a | | | | a never-ending array of accessories that can be |
| child to handle. They do need daily vitamin C, but can | | | | added to their tank. Each new addition will be greeted |
| get that from fresh fruits and vegetables. Other | | | | with curiosity, and the child can see which item brings |
| options are the rats, the mice, the hamsters and the | | | | out the most activity in their fish. A daily feeding, or |
| gerbils. Each has their own advantages as well as | | | | a weekly feeding tablet is about the only real |
| their drawbacks, so do your research before bringing | | | | maintenance a good set up will require. Minimize initial |
| one home. | | | | expense with your tank choice by buying many of |
| If the rodents still sounds like too much work for | | | | the items used, and as always make sure that you |
| you, consider the lizards or small snake group. (Of | | | | know exactly what you are bringing home. |
| course, with snakes, you will still be dealing with | | | | Remember, some pets eat everything in sight, |
| rodents, but as a food source.) Not very | | | | including their own roommates! |