Fellow Creatures on the Downsides of Having a Pet

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We like to think about the rosy side of pet ownership, but it can also be tough at times. My latest post at Psychology Today looks at the downsides to consider before getting a pet.

Fellow Creatures on the downsides of pets. Photo shows a happy black-and-white dog.
Photo: Kat Jayne/Pexels.

By Zazie Todd, PhD

From doing research on sources of pets (something many people skip) to the daily chores, and recognizing the emotional burden of caring for a sick or dying pet, pet ownership isn't all fun all the time. Perhaps it helps to consider the negatives as well as the positives before getting a new pet. Read more in the post. 

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 Zazie Todd, PhD, is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, which is a finalist in two DWAA awards. She is the founder of the popular blog Companion Animal Psychology, where she writes about everything from training methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today and has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article in 2017. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband and two cats.

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