What is the easiest way to convince your parents that you need another pet?

Question

I really want a chinchilla, but I already have 2 dogs, and a frog.

I want it to be at my dads house, and he's really hard to work with. Do you have any ideas of how I can get him to let me get another pet?

Answer 1

You do not *need* another pet. Have you done your research on chinchillas? Do you know that they can live up to around 20 years of age? Will you be caring for the chinchilla for that long? Did you know they're not your average pet? They require different care. They need a big cage. It can be expensive keeping them and maintaining them for so long.

The best way to convince your parents you're responsible for another pet is to do TONS of research and show them you can handle it. Do as much research as possible. Do research on chinchillas online, join chinchilla forums, read books on chinchillas, etc. Then, show your dad you're responsible by cleaning your room without being asked, helping out around the house, earning money and saving it up to help pay for the chinchilla and all its supplies, etc. Also, put together a list of the things you'll need for your chinchilla and an approximate price of everything.

If that doesn't show your dad you're responsible enough, let it go and get a chinchilla when you're on your own and can afford to properly care for one. They're not the pet for everyone. Although they're awfully cute, you shouldn't get one just because you think that. You need to do your research and ensure you can properly care for one, even if it means researching and learning for a year before even asking for one.

EDIT: I agree completely with Law L. What's going to happen when you go off to college? Your chinchilla will still be alive. Are you going to find off-campus housing that allows chinchillas? I simply think that a chinchilla isn't a good pet for you right now. Try settling with a pet that doesn't require as much care, like a hamster or guinea pigs.

Answer 2

i'd say settle on a different pet after what others are saying about chinchillas. make sure you research the pet and promise your dad that you will always take care of it, but if you're not at your dads house a lot, then it wouldn't be the best thing.  you've got to let them know that you're really serious about it and that you won't lose interst in your new pet. i really wanted ducks and after countless days of researching and printing information, my parents agreed and know they LOVE the ducks. maybe going to the pet store and showing your parents the pet you want and if they will let you hold it that would be even better, and maybe they will be a little more open minded.

Answer 3

Well for starters, how about trying the following:

#1 Cleaning your room and making sure that it STAYS clean and tidy.

#2 Making sure that your homework is done and handed in on time.

#3 Sweep the floors in the living room and kitchen without your parents asking you to.

#4 Wash and/or dry the dishes.

#5 Do not fight and argue with your sisters & brothers.

#6 Eat what you are given and don't whine or make "yuck" faces when given it.

#7 Don't talk rudly to adults

#8 Always share with other kids.

#9 Go to bed when you are told to.

#10 Research the pet and breed you want to be 100% certain that it is the right one for you.

# 11 Ask them about getting this new pet in a nice way and don't beg and whine about it.

If 100% sure that if you give those a try, they will see that you are serious about wanting to add a this pet to your life and family. :)

Answer 4

buy some books on chinchillas and get as much information as you can on them

begin saving up your money to help pay for it and maybe ask for it for a birthday/Christmas etc

think to yourself does my dad really have the time to look after a chinchilla if i'm ever not there

work out how much food/ bedding/ extras costs and maybee offer to pay a percentage of the costs from your pocket money or say if you have tests at school ask your dad if you do really well and revise loads it could be a treat

hope you find this useful

Answer 5

Move out, get a job, and you can have any pet you want

Answer 6

You don't /need/ any pet. If you think you need a pet, you really, really shouldn't be getting one. Be honest, you WANT one.

And you say this-

'They live for twenty years but I'm sure I'd lose interest in two.'

And add this-

'They need an expensive and huge cage and I don't have the money for this, and it'll have to go in the living room, but I'm sure you can deal with that, right?'

AND add this-

'They probably will need to go to the vet, but it won't be expensive because I'll just ask like an idiot on Yahoo Answers.'

***

Basically, chinchillas aren't ideal pets, especially if you're moving from house to house. They can become aggressive, bite and growl if they're not handled daily, and do you think your dad is going to want to do this when you're not there? Considering chinchillas are hard enough to handle as they are, I don't think he'd been keen on doing this, especially if HE doesn't even want another pet. Is that fair on the chinchilla? No. I've seen bored chinchillas and they just curl up in a cage looking depressed. Twenty YEARS of doing that because you're not going to be responsible, basically.

They are NOT hugging pets, they are NOT friendly pets as a rule. They live twenty years, and if you haven't even lived twenty years, you shouldn't have them as a pet.

I'm eighteen, work in a pet shop, stay in one house and earn money, and I haven't got a chinchilla, even though I'd like one, because it isn't fair on it as I know I'll be moving out in x amount of years, and because I want to concentrate on my job- so think it through, kid. Really, really hard. This isn't like a frog or even a dog- it's totally different.

Currently, I'm more concerned that you're not at your dad's house all the time, and that means that for however long your chinchilla will be left in a cage and ignored. This will breed an aggressive, hard to handle animal and you will NOT handle it for fear of getting bitten, which means the poor thing will spend all its life trapped in a cage, not played with, not able to run around...

I'm not saying don't get one EVER, I'm just saying right now getting one is very similar to you having a /child/- you have a similar time frame of responsibilty and it does prevent you from doing things, like potentially going to college or moving in to certain apartments because you have a pet. That's why I'm waiting to get my life settled down before I get one, even though I can easily afford and be responsible with one. So just wait until you move out, either to college or just generally, and THEN look into moving somewhere that allows animals and THEN get it, when you have your own place, time, and money to interact with the animal.

Answer 7

Chinchillas are very expensive and also the stuff it needs. Chinchillas at both Petco and Petsmart are about $150.00. Are you old enough to get a job. Your dad may not want to provide for another animal. Come up with a price, go online shopping on both Petco and Petsmart and get a price for all of the things it needs and then the chinchilla itself. This will give you a total price for all of the things to start it off with. Then the food, toys, bedding, and dust (For dust baths to keep the coats and skin healthy.) For the rest of it's life. Give him a total price and also you will need to know alot about Chinchillas. www.exoticpets.about.com and you can get info about them. They will need a multi-level cage, dust baths regularly, and they live about 15 years.