For those whose home has always been a place exclusively for the occupancy of beings that qualify, however loosely, as human in variety, the fashion in which others lavish adoration on species not their own is not, despite appearances, a complete mystery.
The capacity to love all creatures great and small is, for the most part, a universal human quality of which we at Belvoir unequivocally share.
We also recognise, as a business, that landlords, quite understandably, want to keep the risk of damage to their property down to an absolute minimum and, as a result, may not be inclined to allow any sort of furry or feathered friends into the property in fear of what may transpire.
Yes, we know, you would never be planning on bringing a fully grown tiger into your lives. And that photo of you with an alligator really was just an opportunistic holiday snap (pun intended). But, at the end of the day, the owner of the property has the final say and that has to be respected.
Having said that, we really do love animals and, to prove it, we would like to share with you 5 reasons to have a pet in the future, if the opportunity to do so should present itself.
Companionship: If you happen to live alone, the prospect of returning to an empty home after a hard day at work can on occasion, even for the most fiercely independent, be a bit of a drag. Having a purring kitty to greet you when you come through the door or even a goldfish (don’t laugh) can, at the very least, help silence any pesky rumblings of loneliness that may creep in whilst curled up on the sofa on a quiet, drizzly evening.
Can do wonders for your social life: People who have pets love to talk about their pets. In fact, sometimes, it is all they will talk about, Tweet about, Facebook or Instagram. The UK is renowned for being a nation of animal lovers so, even if you’re speaking to someone you otherwise have nothing in common with, you can both agree that Captain Furball has a fuzzy face to die for. Or, if you have a dog, you will probably come across the same dog walkers everyday on your morning and evening strolls. Dogs are rarely shy about introducing themselves, which means you will have a great opportunity to strike up new friendships.
They can help with stress: Life can be stressful and, as we all know, high levels of stress can lead to all kinds of health problems. Fortunately, if you have a pet in your home, you have yourself a magical stress relieving tool. Whether it’s stroking your cat, sitting with your dog or watching your fish in the tank (yes, seriously), pets have continuously proven to lower anxiety and bring an overall sense of calm. In fact, owning a pet has been shown to lower blood pressure and even cholesterol.
They can be great for children: Like us grown-ups, children love animals. And, whilst you must always watch out for allergies, having an animal around the house can teach them a great deal about nurturing and empathy. Also, children who are around animals more tend to have a decreased chance of developing numerous skins and breathing conditions….And did I mention all of the cuddles?
And finally…
Unconditional love: Yes, this is sort of connected to the first point, but it should never be underestimated how important having a hug is. Whether it’s your dog, cat or goldfish (ha! Got you!) they will be there for you no matter what kind of day you have been having. They might not understand your problems at work or grasp why you’re frustrated with your partner, but they do understand that they are yours and you are theirs. And that they love you, no matter what.
There are many reasons to have a pet in your life, but they deserve as much from you as you take from them. So, before you rush to the pet store, make sure that you have the time, finances and room to take on such a responsibility. And please, please remember to run it by your current or potential landlord before you do anything. For your sake, the sake of your landlord and, perhaps most importantly, the sake of Captain Furball.
