“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals”, said German philosopher Immanuel Kant.
We are surrounded by animals and birds be it on land, water or air, and it becomes our duty to take care of them, protect them and look after them.
Dogs and cats are the most popular choice for pets.
Joining the list are birds, fishes and guinea pigs. Mannath of Std. III from St. Andrews, says, “I have a small aquarium. I love my two fish the most. They're black and golden. I like watching them and feeding them. They're very beautiful.”
Did you know that watching fish swim has a relaxing and soothing effect on a person (so now you know what to do before exams). Kalyan of Std. III, St. Ann's says he has a Labrador named “Lucky” and he loves it a lot. He enjoys taking it for walks thrice a day. So how does he take care of it? He replies I feed it dog food, eggs, milk and rice.
Sheba, a Std. VII student, has love birds. She has designed a spacious aviary for them in her garden replete with green canopy, branches, water tubs and grain tubs.
Feed right
Feeding pets, be it fish, birds, kittens or dogs has to be under the guidance of a veterinary doctor. It helps to get a food or meal chart from the vet before you bring home a pet.
Dr. Rama Rao, a veterinary doctor, explains, “For a pup, up to two months, should be given only milk . Later, dog food according to its age can be given as its diet.
As far as training is concerned the master can train his/her dog, but if you want special training then you can start it at four to six months of age”, says Dr. Rama Rao. He also says,” it is preferable to purchase a one month old pup and on purchasing it to date of birth and breed confirmation have to be done. Then one should plan out a vaccination schedule with a vet and it should be followed. Regular vaccination should be given”.
Apart from this one needs to also look into walking the dog. A dog should be taken out for walk when it is too hot and one must see that the pet is toilet trained.
Daily grooming should be done and once every fortnight. Shampooing with special dog shampoos should be done.
With the onset of summer, extra care is needed for the pet. Little things like keeping a bowl of fresh water in the shade near the feeding bowl will help your feathered and furry friends to dip their paws or groom themselves with their beaks.
