Pet Control

Pets are animals kept for companionship and enjoyment, not work, with popular choices including dogs, cats, fish, birds, and small mammals like hamsters, offering mutual pleasure and fulfilling human needs for connection, though they require care, feeding, and supplies like specialized food and litter. 

Common types of pets

• Mammals: Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, horses.

• Birds: Parrots, canaries.

• Aquatic: Fish.

• Reptiles & Amphibians: Turtles, snakes, lizards. 

Why people have pets

• Companionship: They provide company, reduce loneliness, and offer entertainment.

• Emotional Support: Pets offer love, comfort, and can improve mental well-being, notes www.paws.org.

• Shared Activity: Walking a dog or playing with a cat can encourage exercise and outdoor activity. 

What pets need

• Food & Water: Appropriate diets, like specialized cat or dog food, and fresh water.

• Shelter: A safe, comfortable home environment, including bedding or aquariums.

• Healthcare: Veterinary care, vaccinations, and parasite prevention.

• Enrichment: Toys, scratching posts, and opportunities for play. 

While the Bible doesn't specifically mention modern "pets," it offers verses on God's care for all creatures, our responsibility to care for animals, and hope for animals in the future, highlighting scriptures like 

Proverbs 12:10 (righteous care for animals) and Job 12:7-10 (animals know God's hand). Key themes include animals praising God (Psalm 148), humans managing creation (Genesis 1), and hope for redeemed creation (Romans 8, Isaiah 11). 

Scriptures in the Bible address animals through the lenses of stewardship, God’s care, and their place in the created order.

Stewardship and Care

Scriptures like Proverbs 12:10 emphasize that the righteous care for their animals. Exodus 23:12 suggests providing rest for working animals, while Proverbs 27:23 highlights the importance of paying attention to livestock. Deuteronomy 25:4 instructs against muzzling an ox while it works. 2 Samuel 12:3 describes a close bond between a poor man and his ewe lamb. 

God’s Provision and Love

The Bible portrays God as the caretaker of all living things. Psalm 36:6 states that God saves both man and beast. Matthew 10:29 notes that not even a sparrow falls without God's knowledge. Job 12:10 acknowledges that the life of every creature is in God's hand. Psalm 104:27-28 highlights God providing food for all creatures, and Psalm 50:10-11declares God's ownership of all animals. 

Creation and the Future

The Bible speaks about the creation of animals and a future where they exist in peace. Genesis 1:24-25 describes God creating living creatures and seeing that it was good. Isaiah 11:6 envisions a future where predators and prey live together peacefully. Genesis 9:9-10 details God's covenant with every living creature, and Revelation 5:13 includes all creatures in praising God.

It is strongly discouraged, unsafe, and generally unethical to turn wild pest mice and rats into pets . Wild rodents are not the same species as domesticated "fancy" rats and mice; they carry health risks and their behavior makes them unsuitable companions. 

Why Wild Rodents are Unsuitable as Pets

• • Health Risks: Wild mice and rats can carry diseases and parasites (such as hantavirus, salmonella, and leptospirosis) that can be transmitted to humans and other pets. Domesticated rodents bred for the pet trade are generally free of these risks when sourced responsibly.

  • Behavioral Differences: "Domestication" is a process that happens over many generations of selective breeding, resulting in genetic changes for docility and friendliness. Wild rodents, even if captured young or "tamed" to some degree, remain wild animals with innate flight responses, are prone to biting or scratching, and will be highly stressed in captivity. They are not socialized for human interaction.

  • Welfare Concerns: Confining a wild animal in a domestic setting is stressful for the animal and can significantly shorten its lifespan. They have more extensive needs for space and specific environments than a typical pet owner can provide. It is also often illegal to keep wild-caught animals as pets, and vets may be required to confiscate them.

  • Social Needs: Rats are highly social animals and need companions of their own species. Removing a single animal from its natural social structure is detrimental to its well-being. 

A Better Alternative: Domesticated Pet Rodents 

• If you are interested in keeping rodents as pets, the recommended approach is to obtain domesticated pet mice or "fancy" rats from a reputable source, such as a pet store, breeder, or rescue organization. 

  • Docile Temperament: Domesticated rats and mice have been selectively bred to be friendly, curious, intelligent, and enjoy human interaction. They bond easily with their owners.

  • Safety: They pose far fewer health risks compared to wild animals, provided their environment is kept clean and they receive proper veterinary care.

  • Specific Care Requirements: Pet rats and mice require specific housing (large cages with good ventilation), a balanced diet of commercial nuggets and fresh produce, and plenty of enrichment and social interaction. 

• For information on safe removal of pests from your home, contact a professional pest control service or refer to guidelines from the CDC on rodent control. 

Common pet rodents include  hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and chinchillas . They are popular due to their small size and relatively low maintenance needs, but they still require proper housing, diet, and social interaction to stay healthy. While some species are good for children, adults must supervise handling as rodents can be fragile or scratchy. 

Common pet rodents

• Hamsters: Can be solitary and are often nocturnal, so they may be grumpy if woken during the day.

• Gerbils: Active, social animals that need plenty of substrate for burrowing.

• Guinea pigs: Some varieties are gentle enough for younger children, but they require care from an adult. They have a longer lifespan than hamsters or mice.

• Rats: Intelligent and social, often described as being similar to dogs. They need a lot of attention and can be trained.

• Mice: Smaller and more delicate than rats, they are social and curious.

• Chinchillas: Require tall cages to climb and can have a much longer lifespan, up to 20 years. 

Important considerations

• Social needs: Many rodents, like rats and degus, are social and need a companion to prevent loneliness. Hamsters are typically solitary.

• Housing: Provide a large, well-ventilated cage with enough room to run, burrow, and climb, depending on the species.

• Diet: Research your rodent's specific diet, as it varies by species. A balanced diet usually includes commercial food supplemented with fresh vegetables and occasional fruit.

• Handling: Always supervise children when they are handling rodents, and be gentle, as they can be easily injured.

• Health: Rodents are prey animals, so they may hide signs of illness. Pay close attention to their eating habits, activity levels, and overall health. 

"Upon this rock I will build my church" is a pivotal declaration from Jesus to Peter in Matthew 16:18, signifying that the Christian Church (assembly) would be founded on Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, with interpretations varying on whether the "rock" refers to Peter's faith, Peter himself, or Jesus Christ as the ultimate foundation. While some traditions see Peter as the first Pope, building the church on him as a "rock" (petra), others emphasize Jesus as the true foundation, with Peter as a "stone" (petros) or confessor, highlighting Christ's unique role as the cornerstone. 

Context of the Saying

1. The Question: Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" and "Who do you say that I am?".

2. Peter's Confession: Peter responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God".

3. Jesus' Response: Jesus declared, "You are Peter (Petros, meaning 'stone'), and on this rock (petra, meaning 'massive rock' or foundation) I will build my church". 

Key Interpretations

• The Rock as Peter: The Catholic tradition emphasizes Peter's unique role as the foundation, linking his name (Peter/Petros) to the "rock" (petra), granting him authority.

• The Rock as Peter's Confession/Faith: Many Protestants interpret the "rock" as the divine truth Peter declared—Jesus' identity as the Messiah—upon which the church is built.

• The Rock as Christ Himself: Other passages identify Jesus as the sole foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11, 1 Peter 2:6-8), suggesting Jesus was contrasting Peter (a stone) with Himself (the great Rock/Cornerstone). 

Meaning of the "Church"

• The word "church" (ekklesia) means an assembly or gathering, referencing God's people, much like Israel in the Old Testament. 

Significance

• This statement promises the Church's enduring power against evil ("the gates of Hades shall not prevail").

• It establishes a foundation for the ongoing work of Christ through His followers, uniting believers into a spiritual house.