As life unfolds, we experience milestones, adventures, and chapters where we feel that it would have been great if there was someone we could share this with. Sometimes we think that actually we just need a companion, and while you may think twice as to whether you should get a pet, especially based on how much they cost, there are a number of occasions in our lives when we should dive headfirst into the wonderful world of pet ownership. So if you’re on the fence, let’s show you some of those moments when you absolutely should get yourself a pet.
Entering into Adulthood
Perhaps you’ve just finished education and are now trying to navigate this weird and wonderful world of work, and it’s proving to be a shock to the system. If you have the capability of providing a loving home, all you need is someone to help you make sense of this world. A dog can be a partner, a sounding board, and someone that gives you attention when you are struggling to make sense of it all. A pet can be the perfect partner in so many ways, and if you’re thinking about getting a dog, you’ve got to consider those practicalities, of course, but also ensure that you enjoy the preparation of finding cute dog names and the right type of dog or pet that suits your lifestyle.
After a life change, if you’ve gone through something heartbreaking, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, moving somewhere new, or a divorce, a pet can offer comfort, but more importantly, it can offer stability. It’s those moments after divorce, or when we’re going through the grieving process, that we need anchoring in life. A pet, like a dog, needs to be walked twice a day and will give you all the care and attention you need. If you are sitting on your own in an empty home with boxes to unpack, wondering how you even got to this point, it’s so easy to feel like you’re alone and you always will be. A pet after a major life change can offer so much in the way of comfort.
If You Are Lonely
Loneliness is not necessarily about being by ourselves; it can be an emotional sensation as well. You can easily spend time with friends and, indeed, family but not feel like you are connected at all. No matter how much you may try, you are alone at sea, and it’s important to be aware of challenges such as this in life because it can easily pave the way for mental health issues down the line. Therefore, having a pet will stop this, or at the very least, make you feel like you aren’t as alone in this world.
A dog provides endless care and love, and sometimes this is all we need to make us feel like we’re actually not on our own. Sometimes we can’t open ourselves up to others, or we just feel like we’re not giving our best selves for whatever reason, and it’s so important to have something in our lives that helps us to decompress or to share our feelings.
A pet can give you so much without asking for very little in return. They are a sounding board, a comfort blanket, and when you feel like there is nowhere else to turn or you have nobody in your life, the therapeutic benefits of having a pet are reason alone to have one, but of course, make sure that you can give them what they need. Walks, food, and a cuddle are very little in comparison to what they truly give us.
When Starting a Family
There are many benefits to having pets in a family setting. They offer unconditional love, and we’ve all seen those heartwarming videos of pets being fiercely protective over a baby. Because they have a remarkable ability to brighten even the darkest days, even after having a baby when you are exhausted, having a pet teaches us a lot about the importance of responsibility and empathy. These lessons could be felt by our kids early on in their lives. And if you are someone who never had a pet, it could be a shock to the system to be responsible for a pet, let alone a child.
Welcoming a pet into the family unit, either before or after having children, can be an amazing way to enhance that family bond. On a practical level, having pets can also be fantastic for our immune systems. Our children can grow up with a far more robust ability to deflect colds and other illnesses purely by having a pet present. It’s definitely worth considering this. Yes, there may be times when you may feel you’re not able to take them for walks as much as they need, but they will need that structure. And when your kids are really little and not as mobile as toddlers or young kids, having a pet in the house at this point is the ideal time for you to also get used to what a child is truly capable of as they get older! Our hands can get pretty full as kids get older, so think of having a pet like a dog as being like a training session!
When You Are Slowing Down
As we get older, we will experience a number of major changes in life, and those changes can also be due to slowing down. For example, retirement, or even if you are trying to go down from a full-time job to part-time hours, you may find a bit more balance in life, but also you may encounter some leisure time. Rather than succumbing to the partial boredom that comes with too much time on our hands, pets can offer a lot.
Providing purpose, routine, and a lot of joy, we can all benefit from the exercise having a pet gives us, but also the social aspect of seeing other dog walkers. As children grow up and leave the nest, we can find we have a lot more time on our hands because of that empty nest syndrome. Therefore, introducing a pet can fill that void and give us companionship.
It’s a major period of transition when kids grow up and leave, and all of a sudden, we can feel lost because we’ve not been used to having this amount of time. Also, our sense of duty can feel somewhat diminished. Therefore, having a young, energetic pet that forces us to do more than our fair share of cleaning is definitely worth considering during this time.
When You Are Ready
There’s no hard and fast rule necessarily, but being ready for any long-term commitment is about how you feel. The cliché that we’re never ready for a child comes to mind because nobody’s ever really prepared for that major sense of responsibility, but they feel it in the very core of their being. With a pet, it’s a little bit different because you need to think about the general responsibilities of caring for a pet, like walks and feeding, but also giving them the stimulation they need to be a part of the household.
Lots of people get pets because they feel it will strengthen their family bond. But if it’s just you by yourself, you need to think about choosing the right pet for your lifestyle preferences and needs. Your living situation will give you a number of different options as to what type of pet is suitable for you. You may need a lot more space if you have an energetic dog as opposed to a tiny home that can easily house a small cat. You also need to consider your allergies, activity levels, as well as your long-term plans.
When You Are Ready to Share
Many of us in life can feel like a worthwhile human relationship is fleeting. Sharing this journey with a pet could make this thing they call life all the more special. They’re always there for you and can accompany you wherever you go, whether you’re traveling, hiking, or just relaxing on the couch. Having someone that’s a faithful companion can help you enjoy life’s ups and downs and make more sense of who you are. While a pet is undoubtedly a big responsibility, the perfect time to bring a pet into your life will vary. You may be on a specific chapter in your life or looking for something beyond what you already have. But if there’s one thing we can all benefit from in life, it’s those moments of connection.
We can feel more alone than ever, despite an increased amount of online relationships with people, but this is why having a pet can be an amazing reminder that there will be times in life when we need to share the burdens and the joys. These are all the times in life when you should chase those moments of pure delight, which a pet will most definitely bring.
