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On Keeping Pets

Many boys and girls think "what fun" it will be to keep pets, and immediately rush off to procure some animal such as they have seen at a friend's house. In a great many cases the young pet-keeper has not the least idea of how to treat the animal he so wishes to keep. He knows nothing of its habits, and when the poor thing gets ill the owner loses his patience, and thinks the "whole thing a bore." So the pet is neglected and dies in agony. No one should attempt to keep a pet-and parents and guardians should be very firm on this point-no one should be permitted to keep a pet unless he or she is prepared to devote time and trouble to it. Cleanliness and proper food are essential to the well-being of domestic pets. The food should be regulated and daily renewed in cages. Dogs should be given exercise and not pampered by injudicious and miscellaneous feeding. The food which the animal would procure for itself is the best suited to it as a rule. Gentleness and patience are particularly necessary in the treatment of dumb creatures. There is no animal which cannot be conquered by kindness, and a faithful friend and an amusing or grateful companion may be found in the kennel, the cage, or the apiary.