Is there any reason an animal might not work for you or someone you know — allergies, space, time, fears?

B Natural answer

Yes. For some people, the problem is a busy work schedule, because they may be gone for ten or twelve hours a day. That makes it hard to walk a dog or keep up with feeding and cleaning. Another issue is noise. Some animals, especially birds or certain dogs, can make a lot of noise, and that can be a problem in shared housing. I also know someone who had a dog jump on her when she was little, so she still feels nervous around them because of a bad experience as a kid. Even if she likes animals in theory, she wouldn’t feel relaxed living with one. So I think it really depends on the person and the animal.

Key phrases in this answer

• busy work schedule — a job routine that leaves little free time“A busy work schedule can make daily dog walks difficult.”
• make a lot of noise — be loud often“Some parrots make a lot of noise in the morning.”
• a bad experience as a kid — an unpleasant event from childhood that still affects someone“She avoids dogs because of a bad experience as a kid.”
• allergic to cats — having a physical reaction around cats, such as sneezing or itching“My sister is allergic to cats, so she can’t stay in homes with them for long.”
• small apartment — a home with limited space“A small apartment can make it hard to keep a large pet comfortable.”
• constant care — regular attention and supervision all the time“Some pets need constant care, especially when they are young or sick.”