According to the law, pets are considered possessions and as such, people can do pretty much what they want with them. Fortunately animal abuse is against the law, although often it is difficult to prove and prosecute. Even simple neglect is a form of cruelty that is often overlooked.

Every parent knows that he or she will ultimately be the one caring for the pet, despite promises from a begging child. Please do not let your child talk you into adopting that cute kitten or puppy if you are unable to take on this long term commitment yourself. Returning an animal to a shelter after the novelty has worn off should not be an option in the back of your mind.

Adopting a cat or dog, then basically discarding it by shoving the animal out the back door to be alone all day, is cruel. It’s the lazy way of caring for a pet, if it can even be considered care. Providing the basics of food and water is not enough. When you take a pet into your home, it should be with the intention of lavishing love and attention on it for life, not just through the cute months of kitten- or puppyhood. It should be treated as a cherished member of your family and not banished to the outside to amuse itself. Bored and lonely pets can get into mischief. They also become depressed.

Once dumped outside, cats use neighbors’ yards as litter boxes and hunt beneath their bird feeders. Some even wander off seeking a new home, one that offers the companionship they crave and need. Felines are not really the solitary creatures that society deems them to be. Sit down in the middle of the day to read, and out of nowhere your cat will seek you out and jump into your lap just to be near you. One of mine often joins me as I sit at my computer writing this column.

Canines are pack animals and do not like being alone either. The companion doesn’t even need to be the same species, as long as there is a warm body around. Lonely barking dogs outside day and night are the source of many Animal Control calls made by nearby angry residents. Enough complaints logged in, and these poor animals undergo debarking surgery by a veterinarian rather than being given what they really are barking for, attention. Better to rehome than shut them up in a side yard where they are forgotten.

When our kittens are adopted out we always encourage people to consider taking two, especially if there are no other animals in the house. Cats need to play and communicate with their own kind, especially when young and learning kitty etiquette. In the wild, the ferals seek each other out and form colonies, some quite large with over 20 members. They show obvious affection for one another and defend their turf against outsiders.

If there are no other felines around, cats and dogs can easily become best buds for life. I have such a pair in my home, a bonding that occurred spontaneously when a feral kitten imprinted on my adult dog. Five years later they are still joined at the hip.

Outdoors can be a healthy part of your pet’s life, cat or dog, but it should not be used as a substitute for your own hands on attention. There are plenty of dangers for animals left unattended, especially cats as they scale fences and go on walkabouts. Giving them some supervised sunshine sessions can be fun and something to look forward to for you both.

It is a wonderful thing to adopt a rescue pet. Embrace the animal, savor the specialness of cross-species love, and bring it into your home as a precious family member. If you have space in your heart, we have kittens looking for such homes….

Product of the Week: Bergan has found a way to improve their already cat-favored Turbo Scratcher to make it even more enticing. Two great new add-ons can now be plugged into the basic toy, a rolling treat dispenser and a feather wand teaser. It took but seconds for my most curious kitty to be rolling the ball for goodies and swatting at the feathers. Keep the toy new by switching the add-ons out often. Find them at www.berganexperience.com/bcp.html.