I would like to have a pet, a cat and a dog one of these days. Unfortunately, our house is so small that we do not have room for pets. When I was in highschool we used to have a pet cat to keep at bay the mice population. It was the first and last time I ever had a pet.
Before, pets were not really pets but working animals. They guard the houses, keep pests at bay or in the countrysides these animals worked the farms or served as food during special occasions. However, in the last decade I have seen how Filipinos have started adapting the Western way of treating animals as members of the family. The mushrooming of pet stores and veterinary clinics around the city is an indication of this shift in Filipino attitude towards their pets. Pet owners now invest in pet supplies such pet food where previously the owners just give their pets their leftovers. Pets also have their own toys and grooming materials already. There are even grooming parlors just for pets.
I guess owning a pet nowadays is really quite expensive. Aside from the supplies, you also have to set aside money for vaccines, vitamins, and visits to the pet doctor. It’s like raising a child.
