10 ways to love an animal

ANIMALS are our companions, coworkers and an integral part of our ecosystem. In our lives, animals hold a lot of meaning as pet animals, working animals and even as street animals. But our pets are domesticated animals that have become a part of our families and have special value in our lives. But far too often, people forget about their responsibilities toward their pet animals leading to the rising cases of pet animal abuse and abandonment. National Pet Day brings these issues to the forefront and focuses on how we can be loving and responsible pet owners. 

 

What is National Pet Day

For millions of years, pets have been special animals to humans and research has even indicated that pet animals increase a person’s health and happiness quotient. In homes across the world, pet animals such as dogs serve as emotional support animals, caregivers and even trained medical companion animals. National Pet Day is celebrated around the world each April 11th to honor and celebrate our pet animals and also highlight the issues that pet animals face while putting forward ways that we as pet owners can be better pet parents. 

 

Give your pet a comfortable home

When you bring home a pet animal, you are sharing your home with them. Your home becomes their home. Before choosing a pet, make sure your home can cater to the needs of that animal. For example, dogs might need a garden to run around in and certain animal breeds might need to be in a particular climate. Ensure that your pet animal is free to walk around your home and not confined to cages. 

 

Tend to their emotional needs

Most animals’ minds and emotions resemble a human being’s need for love and affection. In addition to being “a living presence” in your home, remember that animals are just like children in that certain human behaviors such as anger and shouting can affect them and can cause health problems. Make sure that your tone of voice, facial expressions and physical affection reflect your love for your animal.  

 

Look after your pet animal’s health 

Each animal needs constant care and medical attention from a professional veterinarian to ensure they are eating regular and nutritious meals, clean water to drink, enough exercise and the required medication and vaccinations to keep them in good health. Pet animals suffer from diseases such as cancer and diabetes so constant care can prevent or treat their conditions throughout their lives. 

 

Keep your pet animals active and engaged

Both humans and animals need to be kept active and engaged both in our minds and bodies. This includes taking pet dogs out for walks and engaging in light sports such as fetch and frisbee. When we are out of the house, we can make sure our animals have chew toys, balls, squeakies and catnip for cats to entertain themselves while they are home alone for short periods of time. 

 

Don’t abandon your pets – give them up for adoption!

This might seem like a given, but there are many individuals who feel there is no choice but to abandon their pets when children are born or when the animal becomes too big or difficult to handle. But abandonment can end the life of an animal. Instead of abandoning your pet animal, give him or her up for adoption to people you know or giving them to an NGO that takes in unwanted animals.

 

Consider passive adoption

But not everyone has the time or space for a pet animal even though having a pet is one of their deepest needs. These individuals can consider passive adoption which is paying for the wholesome care of animals in shelters such as Charlie’s Animal Rescue Centre. In paying a certain amount of money each month, you can pay for the shelter, food, medicine and complete upkeep of an animal and help them live. 

 

Help care for street animals 

Each day we come across street animals such as stray dogs and cats on the streets who suffer without a roof over their heads, good food, clean water or someone to love them. In addition to caring for the animals in our homes, we can make small gestures such as leaving bowls of food and water outside for strays to eat. Helping stray animals is protected by the law in India. 

 

Volunteer at an animal NGO

We might not live in areas that allow pets but for those who still want to have a connection with animals, there are animal NGOs across India that shelter and care for abandoned animals. These organizations are always in need of volunteers to help them care for its four footed residents. Through your volunteering service, you can help animals without a permanent home and give them much needed care. 

 

Use social media to raise awareness

In our digital world, social media is one of the main forms of information dissemination. If you are passionate about making sweeping changes to how people treat their pet animals, share your thoughts on social media with your followers and allow the internet to do its thing! Each person you reach just might reconsider their thoughts and actions – changing the life of an animal forever. 

 

Support an animal NGO

In each state across India, there are hard working animal NGOs that are rescuing mistreated animals and giving them a warm and loving home, nutritious food, medical care and most important of all – love. This National Pet Day, when you donate to an animal NGO, you help millions of animals receive the care and affection needed to keep them alive and well. 

 

Find an animal NGO

 

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