Being told you’re not caring for your pet properly.
Yeah, it kinda sucks being told you kinda suck as a caregiver. It’s more than a little upsetting. But what’s more important? Your ego, or the well-being of another living thing?
If you are being told that you are making mistakes in your pet care, there are some things you need to know before you go screaming at the person telling you something is wrong.
First, you need to know that you are not an expert on any animal just because you have a basic info sheet from Petco that came with your pet. You shouldn’t trust Petco or Petsmart’s advice alone, if at all. A commercial pet store’s primary goal is to make a sale, not to ensure that an animal is in good hands.
Second, you need to research every animal extensively before you adopt it. This does not mean checking Yahoo! Answers for advice for five minutes. This means spending a LOT of time on reputable websites on your species of interest. (For example, Caudata.org is a good place to learn about axolotl, salamander, and newt care.) There’s a chance you will change your mind researching and finding out you can’t or don’t wish to accommodate certain needs. This is not a bad thing. You need to be sure you are able to meet the demands of a pet to care for it before you adopt it.
Third, if someone tells you that you are not taking proper care of your pet and tells you why, think about it. Before you start typing an angry rant about how you’re offended by it, try to put your ego and pride aside long enough to consider their advice. For example, when a seasoned aquatic caregiver tells you that you should have about a 3 gallon tank for your betta, that axolotls should not be kept on gravel, or something of that nature, they are not being mean. They are telling you facts about caring for this animal.
Fourth, If someone tells you that you are not providing proper care for your pet, don’t tell them you “know your pet better than they do.” Don’t tell them your pet is “perfectly happy” in its current conditions. People who don’t know much about these animals tend not to notice, let alone comment on your improper pet care. They’ll reblog your coffee mug-sized betta bowl and say how pretty it is. Conversely, people who do know something about the animal in question are probably going to alert you to issues and tell you how it can be fixed.
What many casual exotic pet owners usually don’t want to accept is that they are wrong, and that they might be neglecting their pets. But here’s the thing.
There is NO room for pride when you’re providing care for another living thing.
Your pet depends on you to care for it. So study first. Do shit right. It’s like having a kid. If you can’t handle that, you might want to get a pet rock instead.
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