I was browsing my old copies of Animal Scene and read an article of a good friend of mine, Johnny Filart. This article is something that holds true to today, although we need to be smart when spending for our pets, it's better to go for the more expensive options since it'll save you more in the long run. So for the new pet owners out there, be sure to heed these words of wisdom and learn from what we learned through years of taking of our own pets. I'll split it up into 3 parts since it's quite long.
Expensive is Cheap by Johnny Filart (Animal Scene, July 2003)
Disaster also occurs when that feed or vitamin supplement may have been cheap but was already expired and proved fatal to our pets. It is now imperative as pet lovers, we practice what is called "prudence" in using our purchasing power, regardless of it coming from the lotto or having come with blood, sweat and tears.
The salient features of keeping pets revolve around the following items:
Habitat
Bird cages are an obvious example along with aquariums and housing for dogs. Of course, it's always one's desire to get the cheapest cage for their pet. Let me share with you a secret. For so long as you have time to look and you are not in a hurry then scan the Classified Ads of Manila Bulletin. Seriously, there are a lot of good values to be had because people unloading their stuff for one reason or another.
12 years ago, I purchased a collapsible 4ft x 4ft x 6ft cage for P 4,500 which was reasonable but I did not realize it would last until today. The one I purchased 5 or 6 yrs. ago rusted so often that I was calling the welders once every six months.
Bird cages are the same. Beware of copycats, to know the expensive and strong variety (baring imported stuff), look closely at the wires, see what gauge they used and if the fabricator used a wire straightener or not. Most copycats just do it for the money and don't even think of repeat business. Never mind the 100 or 200 peso premium, you will likely get what you paid for, stringy and poorly fabricated cages that will hurt your birds as well as your pockets in the long run.
Aquariums are not much different. I remember an anecdote of a large bank in Makati that tried to have a 300 gal. tank made out of 1/4 in. thick glass. Of course, we know that the owner was trying to economize and put his money on the fishes. But lo and behold, over night as the water was being treated, the tank burst and flooded 3 floors of the bank. So the moral lesson of the story, don't save yourself a few thousand pesos because the damage you might cause will run you at least P 500,000 in repairs. Good thing the fishes were not yet put in.
In building outdoor aviaries, try to read up and research as much as possible before turning your welders on tot he great garden corner. I owe my succes in the latest Ringneck flight to the fact that I asked the chief welder to see as I surfed the Internet for European and Australian aviary design. Yes, we cannot deny the fact that we have cheap labor. That's a given and we should all take advantage. But do not use the local wire mesh that easily breaks, find the sturdier wire mesh models that are available, depending on the budget. Design planning is one thing, using the right materials is another.
A note on dog cages, I often see dogs crouching in their tiny, tiny cages. Not only is this cruelty but rather if your garage cannot give you the room for a proper and roomy cage, don't buy your Expedition and make your canine suffer. You may end up being a dog in your next life!
In spending for animal enclosures, avoid decors and "borloloys" at all costs. I squirm at the sight of things unnatural or even dangerous to pets, simply bought by owners just so their pets look cute or even human. I have no reason to doubt clothes look nice on these animals, however, there is a time limit and responsibility that go with these decors. In aquariums for example, stop buying daisy wheels and fake rocks and landscape. Your fish willend up scraping their fins unneccesarily or even digest figurines accidentally. I recently saw a Flowerhorn in Cartimar with a fake water plant inside its mouth. "Goodbye Flowerhorn," was all I could gasp.
Specially in the US, where beddings and accesories are sold, I can't seem to comprehend why people think for their pets and not the other way around. Simply said, treat them as they are and find out what their real needs are. Then, you won't cry because of your vet bills or worse.
Expensive is Cheap by Johnny Filart (Animal Scene, July 2003)
Extraordinarily, once a businessman earns his keep and tucks away his savings, he is now free to splurge and enjoy his wealth. Well, the truth of the matter is that the astute professional and entrepreneur will always go for value for money.Most of us realize that there will always be cheap things to buy, but neither will it satisfy their needs in the long run if they keep breaking down or have to constantly be replaced every now and then.
Disaster also occurs when that feed or vitamin supplement may have been cheap but was already expired and proved fatal to our pets. It is now imperative as pet lovers, we practice what is called "prudence" in using our purchasing power, regardless of it coming from the lotto or having come with blood, sweat and tears.
The salient features of keeping pets revolve around the following items:
- Habitat
- Feed and Nutrition
- Veterinary costs
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Accessories , Decors, Etc.
Habitat
Bird cages are an obvious example along with aquariums and housing for dogs. Of course, it's always one's desire to get the cheapest cage for their pet. Let me share with you a secret. For so long as you have time to look and you are not in a hurry then scan the Classified Ads of Manila Bulletin. Seriously, there are a lot of good values to be had because people unloading their stuff for one reason or another.
12 years ago, I purchased a collapsible 4ft x 4ft x 6ft cage for P 4,500 which was reasonable but I did not realize it would last until today. The one I purchased 5 or 6 yrs. ago rusted so often that I was calling the welders once every six months.
Bird cages are the same. Beware of copycats, to know the expensive and strong variety (baring imported stuff), look closely at the wires, see what gauge they used and if the fabricator used a wire straightener or not. Most copycats just do it for the money and don't even think of repeat business. Never mind the 100 or 200 peso premium, you will likely get what you paid for, stringy and poorly fabricated cages that will hurt your birds as well as your pockets in the long run.
Aquariums are not much different. I remember an anecdote of a large bank in Makati that tried to have a 300 gal. tank made out of 1/4 in. thick glass. Of course, we know that the owner was trying to economize and put his money on the fishes. But lo and behold, over night as the water was being treated, the tank burst and flooded 3 floors of the bank. So the moral lesson of the story, don't save yourself a few thousand pesos because the damage you might cause will run you at least P 500,000 in repairs. Good thing the fishes were not yet put in.
In building outdoor aviaries, try to read up and research as much as possible before turning your welders on tot he great garden corner. I owe my succes in the latest Ringneck flight to the fact that I asked the chief welder to see as I surfed the Internet for European and Australian aviary design. Yes, we cannot deny the fact that we have cheap labor. That's a given and we should all take advantage. But do not use the local wire mesh that easily breaks, find the sturdier wire mesh models that are available, depending on the budget. Design planning is one thing, using the right materials is another.
A note on dog cages, I often see dogs crouching in their tiny, tiny cages. Not only is this cruelty but rather if your garage cannot give you the room for a proper and roomy cage, don't buy your Expedition and make your canine suffer. You may end up being a dog in your next life!
In spending for animal enclosures, avoid decors and "borloloys" at all costs. I squirm at the sight of things unnatural or even dangerous to pets, simply bought by owners just so their pets look cute or even human. I have no reason to doubt clothes look nice on these animals, however, there is a time limit and responsibility that go with these decors. In aquariums for example, stop buying daisy wheels and fake rocks and landscape. Your fish willend up scraping their fins unneccesarily or even digest figurines accidentally. I recently saw a Flowerhorn in Cartimar with a fake water plant inside its mouth. "Goodbye Flowerhorn," was all I could gasp.
Specially in the US, where beddings and accesories are sold, I can't seem to comprehend why people think for their pets and not the other way around. Simply said, treat them as they are and find out what their real needs are. Then, you won't cry because of your vet bills or worse.
to be continued...
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