PETS WITH DR. CHRIS BROWN

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1 PETS WITH DR. CHRIS BROWN BATTLE OF THE FIRST PETS This week on The Living Room, Dr. Chris puts his veterinary hat on once again to finally settle what type of animal will make the best first pet. There s a lot to consider so the only way to truly find the answer is to pit them head to head.

2 BEST LOW MAINTENANCE PETS Round 1 is the best low maintenance pet goldfish vs. hermit crabs. Goldfish are low maintenance compared to other larger pets but not as low as you'd think. They are often used as a test pilot to see if the kids in the family are up to really having a pet in the house. The tank s water is the real time consumer here and it can have a massive effect on how the goldfish lives. You need perfect ph, perfect temperature and an acceptable level of waste content. Some kids can be quite heartbroken when their first pet passes on despite their best efforts. The hermit crab is next up. Much like the goldfish they need a tank to stay healthy and happy. You essentially have to create a mini-beach inside their tank and the temperature between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius. You can feed them a bit of raw meat and vegetables and they are generally quite content. As your hermit crab grows, you might need to upgrade it to a bigger home (their shell). Throw in that the kids can paint their shells and this is a great bet for your little ones. And the winner is the hermit crab!

3 BEST CUTE FLUFFY PETS Round 2 is the guinea pig vs. rabbit. Rabbits can be quite flighty if they are in the wrong family. Rabbits can be sensitive to noise and sudden movements that can cause them to kick or lash out. This makes them not the most ideal for younger families. Rabbits are also quite hard to hold and support correctly for kids that can add to the rabbit s unease. Guinea pigs are generally much more docile than rabbits and are quite content to be held. They are ideal to help teach younger kids the dos and don ts of pet care and get them ready for having a larger pet in the future. They make great apartment pets and are rapidly growing in popularity in Australia especially urban areas. And the winner is the guinea pig!

4 DOG VS. CAT Finally, Round 3 is the main event the dog vs. the cat. First of all, it s hard to go wrong when you get your pets from an animal shelter. The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home provided the little Alfie the kitten and Gracie the Kelpie x puppy for Dr. Chris. Both animals are fantastic pets and have lots of love to give but the more important question is which one will ask for more in return? Dogs will need a lot of exercise, will cost more to maintain in terms of food and also vet bills. You can t feed and forget a dog. If you go to work, you can t come home expecting your dog to have had a great day because their lives centre around you and your company. They can be very prone to loneliness. A cat, especially kittens, will provide as much love and affection as any dog. Kittens are what Dr. Chris calls good crazy a lot of fun and a lot of entertainment. Once a cat matures, they become a much more independent creature. They are almost the opposite of a needy dog by bringing a completely different set of attributes to your home and life. And the winner is the cat or kitten!

5 ANIMALS PROVIDED BY SYDNEY DOGS & CATS HOME The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home do fantastic work for many animals in need around the city. They are a council pound for 10 areas of Sydney, and the only pound in Sydney which is also a not-for-profit. They don t place time limits on their animals ever. They stay with them for as long as it takes to find a new home. After 70 years in the same location, they have now been told the land they lease is being redeveloped, rendering them homeless. They are now raising funds to relocate their Home by the end of the year, visit for more info or to donate. GUINEA PIGS PROVIDED BY MALIBU CAVY STUD The guinea pigs were provided by Malibu Cavies. They can be reached on or you can find and like them on Facebook under Malibu Cavies. If you re interested in finding out more about guinea pigs, visit the NSW Cavy Club at