Getting up as early as 5am in the morning is an arduous task for many, but for me it is a routine since my childhood. My friends envy me for this and for a long period of time, I have performed the duty of wakening up my buddies for Fajr prayer by making phone calls to them until they ignored it (note they were not allowed to pick up my call. Money mattered to me at that time.)

However, Fajr prayer is not the only reason for me to wake up so early and not to sleep again. My reason for being an early riser is the presence of some innocent beings around me who are dependent on me yes, they are my pets.

Since my childhood, I have had many pets. I simply love birds and animals and I love to pet them. I have kept various cats and dogs, rabbits, budgerigars, fish, chicks, lambs, ducks, hens and even tortoise. So I wake up early to clean their homes (yes, indeed I call it their `home`), to provide them with their fodder to pamper them and to have a talk with them. I believe they understand my words and gestures. And if not that, then they at least understand the universal language of love. I love them and so they are affectionate to me in return.

Choosing a pet

Animals too are living beings like us. They have their own feelings and requirements. When you domesticate an animal, it becomes dependent on you for its food, water and exercise. It has to live in an environment provided by you. Thus, the responsibility of caring the speechless little being lies with you. You have to take care of your pets just like a mother who takes care of her children.

Therefore, before adopting a pet, have a look at your timetable. If you don`t have enough time, don`t go for ducks, chicks or rabbits as they need a lot of attention. Dogs and cats don`t like to be neglected. They love to chase their master and get bored while alone at home. So if you are busy and the only child of your parents or have siblings who would not be able to give time to your pet, avoid dogs and cats too.

Rabbits are not ideal pets for young kids. They are injured easily; don`t like to be picked up or carried around, get afraid easily and create a lot of mess. However, rabbits may prove to be wonderful family pets if properly supervised by adults.Puppies, kittens and small breeds of dogs are not ideal for young kids either. These young animals are weak and their body parts are not fully developed to carry out a lot of playful activities with kids. Adult cats and dogs are best choice for young children.

Fish is the best pet for those who can`t afford to spend much time with their pets. These are innocuous, non-demanding and keep on silently swimming in their aquarium without causing any disturbance.

Advantages of having pets

Keeping pets is not just for enjoyment. They actually affect our lives in many ways. Studies reveal that people having pets have lesser chances of having high blood pressure and live a longer life.

Through their pets, children experience the lifecycle in a shorter period. They learn to be selfless and care for someone else with a sense of responsibility. Pets inculcate the feeling of love and thus children having pets are less violent and arrogant.Pets are wonderful companions. They kill your loneliness and prove to be best companions when you are sad. I had a pair of very cute white ducks but as all members of my family go out to offices and universities, we decided to give our ducks to someone else for we were not able to care for them properly. My brother`s friend happily agreed to adopt my ducks. I really got emotional the day my brother was taking away my ducks to give them to his friend. I bathed my ducks, fed them mashed bananas (they loved it) and put them in my lap. I was sad and my ducks felt it. They silently sat in my lap and licked my hands with their beaks. My brother`s friend told us that the ducks didn`t eat anything for a whole day. I knew they missed me.

Pets also prepare kids for real life situations. Kids learn to deal with illness and medical issues when their pets fall sick and are exposed to veterinarian check ups.

Caring for your pet

Keep the place where you keep your pet clean. And always provide them with fresh food and water. It is recommended to take your dog out for a walk. It keeps you and your pet healthy. Remember that chocolates may prove fatal for the dogs, so don`t let your dog eat chocolates. Chocolate cakes or other eatables in chocolate flavour, however, are safe for dogs. My doggy loves chocolate cake.

It is believed, that milk is essential for cats. But this is not true. In fact, if the cat drinks too much milk; it may suffer from digestive disorders.

Ducks need a lot of water to drink and for swimming. However, in winters ducks don`t like to swim and may fall sick if bathed. Another important thing to note is that never bathe your pet with warm water. Warm water stiffens the hair of animals, which in turn cause their bodies to ache.

All birds lay eggs during spring season. So once your budgerigars or sparrows lay eggs, don`t move their cage from where it was placed initially or they would feel insecure and break their eggs themselves.

People usually don`t care about the mood of their pets. Some pets are moody and can harm young children in their anger. Therefore, never ignore warning signs from your pets like hissing or growling. Dogs usually growl in anger. Deal the situation wisely and if needed, seek help from an adult.

If you already have pets, take greater care of them. If not, then adopt one or two pets. It will keep you busy and going. So ask your parents to bring your new friend to your home as soon as possible. Have fun with your pets!