[MargaretR]

Keeping any animal is an expensive luxury, which many people do not realise until after they have acquired one.
You take on responsibility for a life which has needs and emotions which differ from human life.
You also have the responsibilty for any action by that non human life which causes any distress and/or inconvenience to others.
This is a more demanding comittment than having children, because children mature and develop the capacity to look after themselves.
Pets will always be dependant.

Before deciding to have a pet animal you need to first examine why you want one.
When man first domesticated dogs and cats as pets, they did have a useful purpose.
Dogs kept wolves from flocks and helped shepherd those flocks.
Cats hunted and devoured rodent vermin which so aided human disease control.

Those functions are still valid today - if you are a farmer - a dog helps with livestock control.
If you have rodent infestations - a cat will solve it - but there are now cheaper ways which don't need any care commitment.

So you are probably swayed by the thought of having a 'friend' who will always love you and never questions what you do,
and regards you as their master.

If that is your reason, it is not a very sound reason, because it shows that your relationships with other humans is lacking these factors,
which you regard a need, but should you really need that much control over any living thing?

If you already have a pet, it will have gained your affection and although you may have doubts about why you ever got one, it is too late now.
You are comitted to safeguard that life and prevent it from damaging anyone elses life.

If you have no pets please think twice before getting one - many people just aren't capable of making a good job of it