Sure you dote on your cute, cuddly and lovable pets. You tow them around wherever you go and you beam with pride when people admire and gush over them. But this is not really what pet ownership is all about, as owning a pet entails a lot more responsibility.

First off, getting a pet requires careful planning and decision. Buying a pet out of whim and impulse is not a good idea because having a pet is so much like parenting a child. You need to give time, money, love and care to your pet in the same way as you would to your own child. Commitment to do all these is necessary as well because you cannot be a pet owner only for a day. You need to fulfill your obligation for as long as your pet is with you, which is usually during the pet’s entire lifetime.

Here are the essential needs of your pets, which you must make sure, are provided to them: clean food and water; shelter; exercise; medical attention; contact with fellow animals (especially for dogs) and interaction with people.

Now if you are really a dedicated pet owner, here are some guidelines you need to follow:

1. Get your pets a competent veterinarian. Keep a record of their vaccinations, medications and other vital information in order to maintain track of their health status.

2. Be concerned about your pets. Always remember that they need daily care and attention from you. Give them regular hygiene care and train them properly so they become pleasant pets to live with.

3. To help the State solve the problem on unwanted animals due to their rapid reproduction, and in order for your pets to stay more vigorous and live more years, spay and neuter them at an early age. This applies primarily for cats and dogs.

4. Give them shelter and make sure they are not left outdoors at night. Not only do they run the risk of suffering from the cold, they are also in danger of getting lost or being stolen by unscrupulous individuals. They may also go astray and destroy other people’s property or worse, hurt someone.

5. If you have snakes, rodents and other unique animals for pets, provide them their own shelter. Make their housing sturdy and durable in order to prevent them from getting out of their cages especially during unguarded evening hours.

6. Keep your pets’ identification papers. For cats and dogs, don’t forget to put on their identification tags when they go outdoors. Better yet, stay with them while they play outside with other animals so you can monitor their activities.

7. Let them have their own dose of exercise. Dogs need to be walked while cats need to be let loose now and then so they can exercise their limbs.

8. As much as possible, keep your pets with you for as long as they live. Avoid giving them away to others because the sudden change of human companions may cause them trauma.

For those who are still mulling over the thought of getting a pet, don’t worry about the responsibility that goes with owning one. Take note that your apprehensions and doubts will be cast away once you start developing a bond with your pets and establish a true relationship of loyalty, love and companionship with them.