Are You the Pet for Me?: Chosing the Right Pet for Your Family [Mass Market Paperback]

Mary Jane Checchi (Author), Martha C. Armstrong (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

Parents often buy pets when their child asks (or begs) for one, only to discover--too late--that they have made a huge mistake. The dog eats shoes, the cat sheds, the fish tank smells--and Mom or Dad ends up doing most of the chores. Even the most well-intentioned child may not be ready for the responsibility of caring for a pet--and even the most adorable pet may not be the right fit for your family. How can parents give their children the joy and companionship of a pet without courting disaster? Now, in clear, compassionate language, author Mary Jane Checchi helps parents choose the right pet for their families.

Some of the many issues she discusses are:
-MONEY: will the initial cost and continuing maintenance of the pet put you in the dog house?
-TIME: how long will it take to feed, walk, or groom the pet, or clean its living space?
-PERSONALITY: would your child do best with a pet that's noisy or quiet; calm or excitable; independent or trainable?
-PET PEEVES: can your family and home withstand a pet that shed, barks, smells, chirps, or climbs the curtains?

Covering all the bases of pet ownership, and examining the pros and cons of the many kinds of pets available, this informative book helps parents and kids decide...

Are You the Pet For Me?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Most children, at one time or another, will ask, even plead, for a pet. And their parents, eager to give their kids what they want, will give in, too often focusing on the cute and fluffy aspects and all but ignoring the realities of pet ownership. In Are You the Pet for Me? author Mary Jane Checchi spells out not only what's in store for you as the potential pet owner, but also--and perhaps more importantly--what type of animal is best suited to your family, and even whether or not you and your kids are cut out for a pet at all. Beginning with the basics of what pet ownership can do for your family, including the opportunity for kids to learn responsibility and experience the rewards of animal companionship, Checchi moves on to the all-important step of choosing the right pet for your child. This process involves weighing your family's pet resources--such as money (visits to the vet aren't free), time, space (do you have a fenced yard large enough for a dog?), and health issues (dog and cat dander can wreak havoc on certain allergy sufferers)--against the characteristics of the animal you're considering, including size (just how big will that lovely iguana get?), personality traits, energy level (a terrier in need of two trips to the off-leash park every day doesn't fit very well with the family who's away from home for hours on end), and level of adult supervision needed when the child is present. Finally, Checchi offers helpful advice on bringing your pet home and keeping your kids and their new little furry or feathered friend safe, making Are You the Pet for Me? a valuable tool in making one of the most important decisions in your and your potential pet's life.

From the Publisher

"This book will be a godsend to parents who don't know what pet to get for their child, or whether to get one at all." --Marguerite Kelly, author of the nationally syndicated column, The Family Almanac

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 289 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312967934
• ISBN-13: 978-0312967932
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,992,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Jane Checchi, who describes herself as a "lapsed lawyer" and "recovering political addict" in years past worked for a number of U.S. Senators and for the Senate Budget and Judiciary Committees. She also served as the top aide to then Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd, as Staff Director and Chief Counsel to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, and as Executive Director of the Senate Iran-Contra Investigating Committee.

She happily left all that behind to write ARE YOU THE PET FOR ME? CHOOSING THE RIGHT PET FOR YOUR FAMILY, a book that received outstanding reviews from major newspapers, parenting publications and animal welfare groups. Ms. Checchi drew on a lifetime of experience with companion animals and hundreds of interviews to write this "must have" book for any parent considering pet ownership.

Now Ms. Checchi, a member of the "50+ club", has written a book about the special meaning of canine companionship for people enjoying their second half century. THE 50+ DOG OWNWER: COMPLETE DOG PARENTING FOR BABY BOOMERS AND BEYOND provides information and advice about choosing and caring for a dog, with emphasis on services and products that make it easy to share a 50+ lifestyle with a canine companion.

Ms. Checchi lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband, former Senator John C. Culver, their college age son John Vincent, two dogs and a cat. In addition to writing articles about pets and serving on non-profit boards, she and her dog Tony, as members of PAL (People Animals Love), participate in visits to a day treatment center for emotionally disturbed children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a must read book., September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Are You the Pet for Me?: Chosing the Right Pet for Your Family (Mass Market Paperback)

I never had much luck with my pets when I was a kid. My dog never stopped barking, my cat was impossible to train, and my hamster kept waking me up at night. If I'd had a book like "Are You the Pet for Me?", I'd have known just what to do. Mary Jane Checchi tells you everything you need to know about choosing and caring for pets. It's a must read.

Lance Rentzel Former Wide Receiver for the Dallas Cowboys & LA Rams

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be required reading BEFORE choosing a pet, October 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Are You the Pet for Me?: Chosing the Right Pet for Your Family (Mass Market Paperback)

Being a volunteer at a local animal shelter, I often see the results of choosing the wrong pet by people who had no concept of what pet ownership entailed in terms of time, expense, training, etc. or even what the personality of a certain breed or species was like. Are You the Pet For Me provides in an easy-to-read format the ABCs of pet ownership whether it be through adoption or purchase. Hopefully, prospective owners will read this well researched volume BEFORE taking on the responsibilities of a pet so that it will be an enriching experience and not a heart wrenching one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every current and future pet owner must buy this book!, June 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Are You the Pet for Me?: Chosing the Right Pet for Your Family (Mass Market Paperback)

This book provides the reader with clear and accurate information about bringing an animal into your home. Costs, space requirements, vet considerations, personalities and much much more are covered enabling the reader to choose the best pet for their family or rectify existing problems with current animal companions.

I particularly appreciate this book because it will prevent animal suffering. For example, every year dogs end up alone and ignored in someone's back yard tied to chains and yearing for companionship; gerbils, ferrets, and other small creatures spend many lonely hours in a small, dirty cages ignored by their owners; wonderful companion animals are euthanized in shelters because people think it is smarter to purchase purebred animals; and iguanas are bought on a whim with no knowledge of their needs. With proper knowledge before getting a new furry family member, fewer animals will be brought into homes where they won't get proper care and lots of love.

And for those people who already have pets and don't understand why some problems exist, this book can provide answers and solutions.

As someone who has worked for humane treatment of animals for many years, I commend Ms. Checchi for writing a book that will truly make a difference for animals and their human companions.

Buy this book for anyone who is considering adopting a pet or already has one, for your local school libraries, animal shelters, and vet clinics! It is an excellent resource.