Guest post: Pets for therapy are great, they are nonjudgmental, and they never answer back. Therapy pets are there for you when you need them, and they provide emotional support without ever really wanting anything in return, apart from the odd cuddle or stroke. If you ready to take the leap and get a therapy pet, have you thought about how they will benefit your life, and have you thought about what type of pet are you looking for? Pets are big commitments, and the decision to get a therapy pet should be one that is not taken lightly. Why You Need A Therapy Pet If you, or someone within your family, are struggling with daily life on a day-to-day basis, or you are dealing with stress and anxiety that does not seem to disappear, then you will most likely benefit from a therapy pet. A therapy pet can help you overcome your darkest days, and they can act as a support system or support mechanism. You need a therapy pet if you need that little push to keep you going each day. What Type Of Therapy Pet Most therapy pets are dogs, but this does not mean that you must have a therapy dog. You can have a cat or even something larger such as a horse. If you can take care of your pet both now and in the future, then you can have any type of therapy pet you choose. Of course, for ease of training, dogs are often a lot easier and more willing to train than cats, but it all comes down to preference and knowing what you want to get out of your pet. Vet Care And Daily Care Pets require time, and they require daily care and attention, as well as regular vet care. Are you prepared to find a caring vet like those at Kelly Crossing Animal Hospital, and are you prepared to travel as far as needed to get high-quality care? With any pet, a vet is important, and you must ensure that you have a vet to turn to when needed. Similarly, daily care can be time and energy-consuming, and if you are having off days, then who will care for your pet? Who will ensure that they are looked after and not neglected? Trained Or Not Do you want your new therapy pet to be trained and ready to help you and those that need help, or do you want to take charge of the training and development yourself to ensure you get what you need from a therapy pet? Training a therapy dog can take up lots of times, and it will take months (if not years) instead of weeks to get your pet helping and healing as you desire. So, do you have the time to train your pet, and do you have the patience? If, for example, you are getting a puppy, you could end up feeling frustrated because it wants to play while you want to focus on training.    

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