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Nontraditional pets need special care when at home
August 14,
2008
When we talk about pets, dogs and cats usually come to mind, but
some of us choose other critters as companions of choice, such as
rabbits, birds and guinea pigs. I heard from an Uptown couple who
has both cats and a guinea pig. They find that their guinea pig is a
great companion for their grandchildren, especially because it's "a
very, very sweet animal and does not bite."
Before you bring home a pet, it's important to research the needs of
the particular critter so that your lifestyle is a good match for
them, and likewise their characteristics are a good match for you.
The Uptown couple did their homework and knows the care involved in
properly providing for their guinea pig. "The cage does have to be
changed every day, and of course the nails need to be cut also from
time to time," they wrote.
Guinea pigs are defined as herd animals and are usually best suited
and happy when they have a fellow guinea pig to serve as their
live-in companion. And like any other companion animal, please have
them spayed or neutered so you won't find yourself with more than
you can handle.
Guinea pigs also do best indoors, and while they are great
companions for children, kids should be taught how to properly
interact with the timid and fragile animal. Rough-housing is
definitely discouraged. Other types of companion animals in the
house may view guinea pigs as prey, so never allow your guinea pig
to free roam if you have a dog or cat.
Many other critters, such as rabbits, often end up at animal
shelters because of misconceptions or lack of
knowledge about their breed. Rabbits are physically adorable
animals and are often mistakenly touted as the perfect Easter gift
for a child. But people often are surprised to learn that rabbits
are not necessarily good matches for children, since kids may not be
careful enough when picking up the animals or playing with them.
Rabbits frighten very easily.
Also remember that it's illegal to own exotic animals in Orleans
Parish. The ordinance for our parish,
Sec.
18-7, specifically states that "it is not permitted to keep
within the city any monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf,
squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other
warm-blooded animal, poisonous or constricting snake or tarantula,
which can normally be found in the wild state, or any member of
crocodilian, including, but not limited to, alligators, crocodiles,
caimans and gavials."
One of the oddest calls I've ever received was from someone whose
boss wanted to purchase live flamingos for his lawn instead of
plastic ones. Turns out he wanted to do so for the status of having
them, which is definitely not the reason to ever have a live animal.
Thankfully, he was quickly discouraged when he learned that the
smell of the food flamingos are required to eat, as well as their
excrement, would have the neighbors chasing him out of the city
faster than you can say pink!
-
Gloria Dauphin
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