What is a pet kept mainly for?
Short answer: A person's company
A pet is a companion animal kept primarily for company rather than work or research.
Groan of the day: A pet is company, so it is good at keeping you company.
Sources: Pet
Study guides · Stuff Every Pet Care Scout Should Know
Stuff Every Pet Care Scout Should Know: the Study Guide
Practice facts for the Pets merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.
Knowing Pet Care Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.
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Chapter 1: Choosing a Pet
Which two animals are among the most popular pets?
Short answer: Dogs and cats
Dogs and cats are described as two of the most popular pets.
Groan of the day: Cats and dogs are popular, so they are pop stars of the pet world.
Sources: Pet
Which small animals are commonly kept as pets?
Short answer: Rodents like hamsters
Rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs are commonly kept pets.
Groan of the day: Hamsters are small pets, so they are a small commitment.
Sources: Pet
Which pets are aquatic animals often kept in tanks?
Short answer: Fish and snails
Fish, freshwater snails, and saltwater snails are listed as aquatic pets.
Groan of the day: Fish are tank pets, and a tank is a water tank.
Sources: Pet
What can walking a dog give both the person and the dog?
Short answer: Exercise and fresh air
Walking a dog provides exercise, fresh air, and social interaction for both.
Groan of the day: A walk gives you exercise, so it is a step in the right direction.
Sources: Pet
Pets can give companionship to which people?
Short answer: People living alone
Pets can give companionship to people living alone or older adults with little social contact.
Groan of the day: A pet is good company, and company is good for you.
Sources: Pet
What is one common reason people get a pet?
Short answer: To protect a home
People commonly get pets for companionship, home protection, or the animal's attractiveness.
Groan of the day: A guard dog protects the house, so it is a home bodyguard.
Sources: Pet
What is a common reason people do not own a pet?
Short answer: Lack of time
A Canadian study found lack of time was a common reason for not owning a pet.
Groan of the day: No time for a pet means the pet is a timed commitment.
Sources: Pet
What can chocolate do to dogs?
Short answer: Be fatal
Eating chocolate can be fatal to dogs, so keep it away from them.
Groan of the day: Chocolate is a dog's downfall, so it is a sweet danger.
Sources: Pet
Which food can be fatal to dogs?
Short answer: Grapes
Grapes, like chocolate, can be fatal to dogs.
Groan of the day: Grapes are a grape danger for dogs.
Sources: Pet
What can onions and garlic cause in dogs?
Short answer: Hemolytic anemia
Onions and garlic can lead to hemolytic anemia in dogs.
Groan of the day: Onions bring tears to dogs, but not from peeling.
Sources: Pet
Which houseplants can cause severe kidney damage to cats?
Short answer: Easter lilies
Easter lilies and philodendrons can cause severe kidney damage to cats.
Groan of the day: Lilies are lovely, but for cats they are a lily liver risk.
Sources: Pet
Which foods can cause health problems for birds?
Short answer: Bread and dairy
Human foods like bread, crackers, and dairy can cause health problems for birds.
Groan of the day: Bread is not bird food, so it is a crumby choice.
Sources: Pet
What are primary contributors to pet obesity?
Short answer: Lack of exercise and high-calorie diets
Lack of exercise and high-calorie diets are considered primary contributors to pet obesity.
Groan of the day: A fat pet is a heavy problem, so keep it light.
Sources: Pet
Overweight pets are at higher risk of what?
Short answer: Diabetes and joint pain
Overweight pets have higher risk of diabetes, liver problems, joint pain, kidney failure, and cancer.
Groan of the day: Extra weight is a heavy burden for pets.
Sources: Pet
What health risk do pets pose from dander and fur?
Short answer: Aggravating allergies and asthma
Dander, fur, and feathers can aggravate allergies and asthma.
Groan of the day: Pet fur can make you sneeze, so it is nothing to sniff at.
Sources: Pet
Tripping over pets causes many what each year in the US?
Short answer: Falls serious enough for the emergency room
Tripping over pets, especially dogs, causes more than 86,000 serious falls each year in the US.
Groan of the day: A pet underfoot is a trip hazard, so watch your step.
Sources: Pet
What can poor animal hygiene and undisciplined behavior cause?
Short answer: Disease or parasites
Hygiene problems and undisciplined behavior can lead to disease or parasites from feces and urine.
Groan of the day: Dirty cages are a breeding ground, so clean up.
Sources: Pet
What is a pet parenting term for a dog owner?
Short answer: Dog mom
Pet parenting uses childrearing terms like dog mom and cat dad.
Groan of the day: A dog mom is a paw-rent.
Sources: Pet
What did a 1994 Canadian study find was the most common reason for not owning a pet?
Short answer: Lack of ability to care for the pet when traveling
The study found lack of ability to care for the pet when traveling was the most common reason.
Groan of the day: Travel plans can leave pets in a lurch, so plan ahead.
Sources: Pet
What does the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals promote?
Short answer: Welfare of pet animals
The treaty promotes pet welfare and minimum standards for treatment and protection.
Groan of the day: Pet welfare is a treaty matter, so it is a big deal.
Sources: Pet
In the United Kingdom, what is the minimum age to own a pet?
Short answer: 16
In the UK, the minimum age to own a pet is 16.
Groan of the day: Owning a pet at 16 is a grown-up step.
Sources: Pet
What do local ordinances commonly limit about pets?
Short answer: The number or kind of pets
Local ordinances commonly limit the number or kind of pets a person may keep.
Groan of the day: Local rules limit pets, so check the law before you adopt.
Sources: Pet
What may rental property owners do about tenants' pets?
Short answer: Limit or forbid them
Rental property owners and condo associations commonly limit or forbid tenants' pets.
Groan of the day: A no-pet lease is a pet peeve for renters.
Sources: Pet
What lists do Belgium and the Netherlands publish about pet species?
Short answer: Positive and negative lists
They publish white and black lists, also called positive and negative lists, of species appropriate or not appropriate as pets.
Groan of the day: A positive list is a plus for pets.
Sources: Pet
What is a domesticated animal?
Short answer: A species made fit for human environments over a long period
Domestication means a species was kept in captivity and selectively bred over a long period.
Groan of the day: Domestic pets are homebodies by breeding.
Sources: Pet
How does taming differ from domestication?
Short answer: Taming is a wild animal becoming tolerant of humans
Taming is when an undomesticated wild animal becomes tolerant of human presence.
Groan of the day: A tamed animal tolerates you, but it is not domesticated.
Sources: Pet
Why are wild mammals often not suitable as pets?
Short answer: They need precise and constant care
Wild mammals often need precise and constant care that is hard to meet in captivity.
Groan of the day: Wild pets are a wild idea for most homes.
Sources: Pet
Which wild animals are extremely dangerous to keep as pets?
Short answer: Venomous snakes and big cats
Venomous snakes, big cats, bears, and similar wild animals are extremely dangerous.
Groan of the day: A big cat is a big risk, so leave it wild.
Sources: Pet
What is one benefit of pets for older adults?
Short answer: Someone to care for and exercise with
Pets can stimulate older adults by giving them someone to care for and exercise with.
Groan of the day: A pet gives purpose, so it is a purposeful pal.
Sources: Pet
What did a 1986 study of heart patients find about pet owners?
Short answer: Fewer deaths within a year
Among heart patients, fewer pet owners died within a year than non-owners.
Groan of the day: Pet owners had heart, so their hearts did better.
Sources: Pet
What can therapy animals do for confined people?
Short answer: Visit and help with specific goals
Pet therapy uses trained animals and handlers to achieve physical, social, cognitive, or emotional goals with patients.
Groan of the day: Therapy pets are goal-getters for patients.
Sources: Pet
What is the most common type of therapy dog?
Short answer: Therapeutic visitation dogs
Therapeutic visitation dogs are the most common therapy dogs.
Groan of the day: Visitation dogs visit, so they are social callers.
Sources: Pet
What do guide dogs help people with?
Short answer: Vision impairment
Dogs trained as guide dogs help people with vision impairment.
Groan of the day: A guide dog leads the way, so it is a leading helper.
Sources: Pet
What do pets help nursing home residents cope with?
Short answer: Emotional issues related to illness
Pets help long-term care residents cope with emotional issues related to their illness.
Groan of the day: A nursing home pet is a comforting companion.
Sources: Pet
What does the text say about cats compared with dogs for care?
Short answer: Cats may have lower maintenance requirements
Cats may have lower maintenance requirements than dogs.
Groan of the day: Cats are low maintenance, so they are easy keepers.
Sources: Pet
How can pets affect their owners' social lives?
Short answer: They may help start conversations
Research suggests pets may help social interactions and communication among people.
Groan of the day: A pet is a conversation starter, so it is a talking point.
Sources: Pet
What did Leslie Irvine study about homeless pet owners?
Short answer: They modify activities to keep their pets
Irvine found many homeless owners modify their activities for fear of losing their pets.
Groan of the day: Homeless owners make pet-first choices, so pets come first.
Sources: Pet
Why might a homeless owner refuse shelter?
Short answer: The pet is not allowed to stay
Many refuse shelter if their pet is not allowed to stay with them.
Groan of the day: A no-pet shelter is a no-go for pet owners.
Sources: Pet
What is one environmental impact of pets?
Short answer: They consume land, water, and fuel through their diet
Pet diets contribute to environmental impacts including land, water, fossil fuel, phosphate, and biocide use.
Groan of the day: Pets leave a paw print on the planet.
Sources: Pet
What is one reason some people choose a pet instead of a child?
Short answer: They feel pet needs are more manageable
Many pet parents see pets' needs as more manageable than a child's needs.
Groan of the day: A pet is a handful, but a smaller handful.
Sources: Pet
What can pet ownership prompt some people to do?
Short answer: Act responsibly and avoid risky behavior
Pet ownership prompts many to act responsibly, such as avoiding drugs or crime for fear of losing the pet.
Groan of the day: A pet can keep you on the straight and narrow, so it is a good influence.
Sources: Pet
What is one health risk of pets related to behavior?
Short answer: Stress caused by animal behavior
Stress caused by the behavior of animals is listed as a health risk.
Groan of the day: A noisy pet can be a stress test.
Sources: Pet
What anxiety can pet owners feel?
Short answer: Worry over who will care for the pet later
Owners may feel anxiety over who will care for the animal if they no longer can.
Groan of the day: Planning pet care is a care-full task.
Sources: Pet
What does the text say about pets and children's health in a 2017 RAND study?
Short answer: Having a pet did not significantly improve health
The RAND study found having a pet did not significantly improve children's physical or mental health.
Groan of the day: Pets are not a magic pill, so keep expectations realistic.
Sources: Pet
What should you never use when bathing a dog?
Short answer: Shampoo made for people
Human shampoo is too strong and dries out a dog's skin.
Groan of the day: That shampoo is for humans, so it is a real hair-raising mistake.
Sources: Scouting America: Pets
Where should you start when washing a dog?
Short answer: At the tail
Start at the tail and wash the head last, since wet heads make dogs shake.
Groan of the day: Start at the tail so the bath does not go to the dogs.
Sources: Scouting America: Pets
Why should a dog's head be washed last?
Short answer: Once wet, the dog will want to shake
A wet head makes the dog want to shake, so save it for last.
Groan of the day: Wash the head last or the whole room gets a shake-up.
Sources: Scouting America: Pets
What should you keep out of a dog's ears and eyes during a bath?
Short answer: Soap and water
Keep soap and water out of the dog's ears and eyes when washing its head.
Groan of the day: Keep soap out of the ears or the bath becomes an earful.
Sources: Scouting America: Pets
How should you talk to a dog during a bath?
Short answer: Gently and with praise
Talk gently and praise the dog for sitting still during the bath.
Groan of the day: Praise goes a long way, so give the dog a good word.
Sources: Scouting America: Pets
The cheat sheet
The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.
- A pet is a companion animal kept primarily for company rather than work or research.
- Dogs and cats are described as two of the most popular pets.
- Rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs are commonly kept pets.
- Fish, freshwater snails, and saltwater snails are listed as aquatic pets.
- Walking a dog provides exercise, fresh air, and social interaction for both.
- Pets can give companionship to people living alone or older adults with little social contact.
- People commonly get pets for companionship, home protection, or the animal's attractiveness.
- A Canadian study found lack of time was a common reason for not owning a pet.
- Eating chocolate can be fatal to dogs, so keep it away from them.
- Grapes, like chocolate, can be fatal to dogs.
- Onions and garlic can lead to hemolytic anemia in dogs.
- Easter lilies and philodendrons can cause severe kidney damage to cats.
Pop quiz
Think of your answer first, then peek.
- What is a pet kept mainly for?
- A person's company
- Laboratory research
- Working on a farm
Show the answer
A person's company. A pet is a companion animal kept primarily for company rather than work or research.
- What can onions and garlic cause in dogs?
- Longer tails
- Hemolytic anemia
- Better hearing
Show the answer
Hemolytic anemia. Onions and garlic can lead to hemolytic anemia in dogs.
- What does the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals promote?
- Pet fashion
- Pet racing
- Welfare of pet animals
Show the answer
Welfare of pet animals. The treaty promotes pet welfare and minimum standards for treatment and protection.
- What did a 1986 study of heart patients find about pet owners?
- Fewer deaths within a year
- More hospital visits
- Slower recovery
Show the answer
Fewer deaths within a year. Among heart patients, fewer pet owners died within a year than non-owners.
- What is one reason some people choose a pet instead of a child?
- Pets never need care
- They feel pet needs are more manageable
- Pets are louder
Show the answer
They feel pet needs are more manageable. Many pet parents see pets' needs as more manageable than a child's needs.
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