Backyard Pets
Sometimes severe allergies can restrict you from having a family pet in your home. If this is the case in your family, why not consider having ‘backyard pets'? You can have backyard pets in two ways: The first way to have a backyard pet is that you can have a pet that stays outside the whole year round. This can be especially easy for those who live in warmer climates, where your pet can have a little house outside that he lives in all year. For example, you may keep a bunny that has a little rabbit hutch and run in your backyard. This would not expose the allergic family member to any of the animal dander that they may be allergic to inside the home, yet the family could still interact with the pet outside.
There is another way you may want to include pets in your life. Why not encourage the smaller, wild, natural animals in your neighborhood to visit your yard on a regular basis. Even if you live in the city, this would work. And, since you would not have dogs or cats in your yard to bother them, many of the little creatures would visit because your yard would be a safe haven for them.
There are many little creatures that make delightful backyard pets, such as squirrels, wild birds, free-roaming rabbits or chipmunks. (You may not wish to encourage certain other wild animals to visit your yard, like skunks, possums or raccoons as they can become quite a nuisance.) If you place a couple of bird feeders around your yard, many varieties of birds would come to visit—blue jays, robins, cardinals, woodpeckers, doves, starlings, grackles, chickadees, wrens, etc. You could also throw stale bread or bird seed on your lawn for them occasionally. And, get a birdbath so you can watch the fun as the birds splash and chirp happily as they bathe. It can be a real joy to watch them, especially in the springtime. You may be surprised that many times the same birds will return to your yard often. You will even be able to identify these birds and even distinguish their personalities. These are the special ones that become your backyard pets.
Squirrels also make great backyard pets. Some people may not like squirrels because of the damage they may cause to flower beds or sometimes they steal the plums off of the trees, but squirrels can be very amusing and entertaining. Do not begrudge them the odd plum or peach. You can encourage squirrels to become quite tame by feeding them nuts. They eventually can become quite bold, and will sometimes even eat a peanut from your hand. It can also be fun to watch them chase each other and scamper up and down the treetops.
If you are lucky enough, you may even have a wild bunny in your neighborhood. You may be able to encourage a bunny to visit your yard by encouraging clover to grow with your grass. Try leaving a few carrots out on the lawn as well. Wild bunnies can also appear quite tame and will visit often, and may not be frightened even if you are sitting and talking in your backyard. Other little animals that can become fun backyard pets are chipmunks. They can be so cute when they scamper around with tails held high and their cute little striped coats. Chipmunks, like squirrels can become so accustomed to you that they are not afraid to eat the occasional peanut from your hand. It can be quite relaxing to watch all the little animals that can visit your yard. Many times you may be able to have several types of animals together in your yard at once. As an animal lover, it can be gratifying to see a squirrel, bunny or chipmunk all in your backyard at the same time, with the birds tittering and chirping in the trees. Having wild backyard pets may not be as good as having your own family household pet, but it can also be the answer to the problem of not being able to have pets at all. And, you don’t have to feed them, walk them or worry about them when you have to be away. All you need to do is enjoy their company and be amused by them.
|
