Do we require pets

Not everyone. . Take me for example. I do not want the bother of walking a dog, picking up poop with a plastic bag, cleaning cat litter, sweeping up bird seed or changing water in a fish tank. I do not have a green thumb, so I can't even keep a house plant long enough to get acquainted and have a conversation with it. If it requires food, water or walking, then it is not for me. I prefer to be free. I do not want to worry about boarding an animal when I leave town. I do not want to worry about health care for a pet. There are many like me, but they don't know it, or they choose to ignore that fact. When they do, they neglect their pets and it is very sad. Animals deserve to be with people who love them and do not mind taking care of them. Just as not eveyone is not cut out to be a parent, not everyone is cut out to be an animal owner. It would be nice if people who love animals would check the animal shelters first and try to adopt a pet from there. There are a lot of animal breeders who abuse their animals in the name of making money. If people selected their pets from the shelters first, this might reduce the amount of money that could be made by unscrupulous breeders and the bad ones might get out of the business. Great idea and I applaud anyone who has the love and patience to give to an animal.