Owning animals is life-changing on every level

Whether they are perfect little angels, or destructive forces of nature, owning animals changes the lives of their people on every level.

Critters may range from farm to service or companion animals or a combination thereof, but regardless of why they are in a person’s life, things are just different when there are animals about.

Beyond the happiness, affection and companionship they bring and regardless of the shape, size or temperament of the animal, at the most basic level animals have needs that must be met.

Dependent on their humans, there are the inherent matters of schedules, feeding and dealing with waste that alter things for the folks in charge of caring for them.

Exercise, interaction and keeping them amused are also pretty important, not to mention providing sleeping accommodations, bathing them and taking care of other needs as they arise.

Thus, while a dog may spend a large amount of time snoozing at their owners’ feet or the cat seems to perpetually nap in a sunny window, they will eventually need to use the restroom, have a meal or exert some energy — and then the complications of animal ownership begin.

Addressing the needs of pets and animals can be such an involved thing, in fact, that it heavily influences major decisions people make about their own lives — particularly their living situations.

For 81 percent of U.S. households, animal-related considerations will factor into determining their next living situation, according to a report released last week by the National Association of Realtors.

It’s important for a housing community to allow animals, according to 95 percent of animal owners and 89 percent said they would not give up their animal because of housing restrictions or limitations.

However, just finding somewhere to live is hard, survey participants reported, with 61 percent of home buyers rating the process of finding rental homes or communities with home owner associations that accommodate animals as either very difficult or difficult.

Titled “The Animal House: Remodeling Impact,” the research was conducted to explore consumer views on animals in the home, the association said, and to help inform the process of buying and selling homes for people who have or want to have animals.

Having animals is indeed a driving force in the homes buyers select and 78 percent of Realtors reported that a community’s animal policies influenced buyer decisions.

Animal-oriented amenities are another factor consumers said are important when selecting a community to live in, with emphasis on the availability of walking trails, dog parks, groomers, kennels and pet stores.

Beyond selecting a home and community, however, more than half of homeowners also take steps to make their homes more accommodating for their animals — adding things from fences to dog doors, laminate flooring, cat litter closets, animal pools, built-in dishes and pet beds or washing stations for easier grooming.

The report resonates with the fact that 65 percent of American households had pets in 2016, according to American Pet Products Association data.

Sharing your home with animals isn’t always easy and invariably means making changes to your life, but folks who count the critters as part of the family wouldn’t have it — or their home — any other way.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected]