"Are you thinking about getting a beautiful portrait of your pet? An artist by profession, Miri's paintings make a lasting keepsake of your furry or feathered friend. For more info, please visit Custom Pet Portraits by Miri at http://www.petportraitsbymiri.com/order-painting/ "

1. GREAT PETS

3. Thinking about saying yes to
getting your 'tween or teen a
pet?
Older children can care for all
kinds of pets with unique
features and needs.

4. Whichever pet they set their heart
on, there are many important
questions to consider before
choosing one.

5. Do you want:
 A pet for companionship or
practical reasons?
 Indoor or outdoor pet?
 To cuddle it?
 A pet that stays in its habitat
or roams around?

6.  Do you live in a house or
an apartment?
 Do you own or rent?
 How big is your yard, and
is it fenced?
 Does your child travel
overnight much?

7.  Does anyone living in the
home have fears about or
allergies to any animal?
 How much can you afford to
spend monthly on pet supplies
and pet care?

8. Here are tips about seven
pets you may want to
consider.

9. DOGS AND CATS

10. Animal shelters have plenty
for adoption.
Both make great companions
but there are risks of injury from
dog bites and cat scratches.

11. Both need periodic immunizations,
regular worming and ongoing flea
prevention.

12. Cats get exercise walking
around the house, but dogs
need to walk, run and play
every day.
There will be poop to scoop
daily for either, but cuddling
and companionship are worth
it.

13. PARROTS

14. They mimic easily, can quickly learn to
talk, and are noisy.
They bite hard.
Parrots are lively, playful, colorful and
costly.

15. Parrots need lots of space and
like coming out of their cages but
will peck and ruin wood
furnishings.

16. They eat seeds, fresh
produce and nuts, often
discarding shells outside the
cage.

17. HORSES, PYGMY GOATS

18. Some animal shelters may
have horses for adoption
under $2,000.
These outdoor animals need
plenty of room and shelter from
the elements.

19. A horse requires a lot of care
every day without exception.
If you do not have space for a
horse, you can board them at
nearby stables or small farms.

20. Pygmy goats are miniature
creatures content to graze
grass and drink water.
You can pet and thank them for
keeping the orchard mowed.

21. SEAHORSES

22. These fantastic aquatic
creatures are fragile,
but once you get their marine
ecosystem set up, they are
about as easy
to care for as other fish.

23. Seahorses eat about six
to eight frozen Mysis shrimp
per day and grow
to 5-8 inches tall.

24. Seahorses eat about six
to eight frozen Mysis shrimp
per day and grow
to 5-8 inches tall.

25. They need easy-to-grasp
hitching structures like kelp or
faux coral.
Instead of getting seahorses
caught in the wild, getting
captive-bred seahorses
does not contribute
to their depletion.

26. CHINCHILLAS

27. Chinchillas can live 20 years.
They eat pellets from the pet
store, drink fresh water
and need a solid-bottomed,
wire cage.

28. These soft, furry, fragile
creatures can be gently
cuddled but are probably
best for children over
10 years old.

33. Are you thinking about getting a
beautiful portrait of your pet?

34. An artist by profession, Miri's
paintings make a lasting
keepsake of your furry or
feathered friend.

35. For more info, please visit
Custom Pet Portraits by Miri at
www.petportraitsbymiri.com