Pets are an important and pleasant aspect of my everyday life, and I have a tremendous amount of experience in dealing with many different kinds of pets.

Animals, large and small, have very specific needs, and there is a serious learning curve when trying to raise, train, and maintain pets. Feeding, grooming, exercising, housing, and interacting with pets requires knowledge and understanding, and in this chapter we introduce you to the basics that will help you have a worthwhile and loving relationship with them.

Because I have so many different types of pets, I have had to learn how to respond to a wide range of problems, from a scratch on a dog’s nose to a growth on a cat’s belly. I have tried to learn which activities are beneficial and which are not for each dog breed, how cats like to sleep and where, and what chickens should eat to produce the best eggs the whole year long.

Also, as animals cannot communicate with their owners to describe an ache or pain, or a wound, it is up to us to observe in detail each pet, every day, to be aware of changes in their activity and behavior, and to act quickly if something seems amiss. It is of the utmost importance to have an excellent veterinarian who can be responsive to serious health issues or unexpected emergencies.

Many of my friends joke that they would like to “come back” as one of my pets, because I do try very hard to raise my pets in comfortable surroundings and to give them the daily care and best foods they need and want. But, to me, they deserve nothing less.