Isn’t it hard to see a fluffy cat or dog and not squeeze it out of cuteness? House pets are considered family members. Even though they can’t verbally communicate with humans, they are still able to show their feelings.  

All pet owners can confirm that their pets are hyper-sensitive to their human emotions and the world around them. Spiritual owners believe that their pets can sense and see paranormal activity when they act irrational or blankly stare into thin air. Pets can easily detect negative energy shifts, so if your dog begins to hide or seems saddened, maybe you should hang up on the vet and call your priest.  

Everyone has seen the videos of wealthy men in Dubai owning wild cats as pets, putting them in the front seat of their G-Wagon. That’s pretty unrealistic in New York where you get fined if your dog barks too loud. Cats and dogs are the two main mammal household pets, but people have also managed to domesticate reptiles. There’s plenty of stigma attached to owning reptiles, since they’re not soft cotton balls like Gidget, from “The Secret Life of Pets.” Reptiles, like snakes, are considered dangerous, but untrained dogs and cats can also cause an equal amount of bodily harm to their owner. Ideally, no owner wants to be bitten by a snake or a dog, so it’s up to their discretion.  

The CDC has said that owning pets has many health benefits such as decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, feelings of loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD. Furthermore, pets increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities, cognitive function in older adults, and opportunities to socialize. This is why animal-assisted therapy exists, where pets can be licensed as “emotional support” animals.  

It’s crucial to upkeep pet hygiene to avoid the spread of germs and keep them healthy. Practicing basic cleaning rituals and discarding their waste properly will prevent exposure of harmful diseases, such as Lyme disease.  

Some tips the CDC recommends:  

– Keep up with your pet’s vaccines, deworming, and flea and tick control. 

– Whether you are playing with, feeding or cleaning up after your pet, it is important to wash your hands .

-Keep pets and their supplies out of the kitchen and disinfect pet habitats and supplies outside the house when possible  

-Never clean supplies in the kitchen sink, food preparation areas or the bathroom sink 

Before you bring your furry friend home, think about neutering to lessen the number of stray animals on the streets. The goal is for unruly pet mills that breed unhealthy liters to be completely dismantled, so also be wary of purchasing “designer” or “teacup” animals. 

Whether you’re buying from a breeder or adopting at the shelter, all animals deserve to have a loving home. So, don’t worry, no one will tell if you sneak a frat, stray cat from North Avenue into your dorm. Sorry in advance to the RA’s!