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Rachel Renée Russell

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Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

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Ask Brandon

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Get the BOY side of things!
Dollarless Dork
Salon Brianna

December 1, 2018

My Dad Won’t Let Me Get A Pet!!!

Hey Brandon,
I really want a pet and I’ve been asking forever but my dad just says no. This is so upsetting because I love pets. Now I’m really depressed because I’m never going to have one!! Help!!!

I Want A Pet Pretty Please

Hey I Want A Pet Pretty Please,

It’s always such a bummer to hear from someone who really wants a pet but can’t get one. But it’s common – so at least you’re not alone.

So first of all, I think you should talk to your dad and ask (with NO whining) what his reasons are for saying no. If you know WHY he’s saying no, then you can figure out if there’s something you can do to change it.

For example, if he’s saying no because he or someone else in the household is allergic to the kind of pet you want, well, then I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do about that.

But if he’s concerned about costs, you could do some research to figure out the costs, not just of adoption, but also food and vet bills for your pet. And then you could figure out how much money you could contribute to help pay those costs.

He still might say no, but if he sees you being reasonable and thoughtful about how to problem-solve, there’s a chance he might say yes.

If there’s no way to change his mind, remember that it doesn’t mean you’ll NEVER have a pet. At the very least, you can have a pet when you’re older and living on your own. OR your family situation might change, like someone might get a higher-paying job, etc. So, never say never. 🙂

In the meantime, if you can’t have a pet in your home for now, that doesn’t mean you can’t have one in your life at all.

My first suggestion would be to volunteer at a shelter like Fuzzy Friends. Shelters always need help. And sure, you’ll do some sweeping and cleaning out cages, but you’ll also get plenty of time snuggling the animals. Shelters want the animals to stay comfortable with people, and they want to get an idea of each animal’s personality. Volunteers are really important for that.

You could also let your neighbors know how much you love pets. Then, when they go on trips, or even just have a long day at work, they may ask you to come over and feed their pets, play with them, etc.

I hope this helps. I know you’ll have a pet one day, and I hope it’s sooner than later!

Have you ever convinced a parent to let you get a pet? If you’re not allowed to get a pet, how do you find ways to hang out with animals? Tell us in the comments.

Category: Ask Brandon Tags: dad, Petsnikki

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Comments

  1. AJ STAR says

    December 15, 2018 at 5:31 am

    Maybe your parents don’t want you to catch a disease

  2. Really want a sister says

    December 15, 2018 at 2:01 am

    Dear Brandon,
    I really wish I had a little sister. Mainly because sisters love each other ( Not so much like Nikki and Brianna)and brothers mostly fight each other. But instead of that, I got a brother. And he annoys me A LOT!! What can I do about this?

  3. queenslayy32 says

    December 12, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    i love your books

  4. dodgy so cool says

    December 12, 2018 at 1:09 pm

    i love dogs .

  5. i.want.a.hamster. says

    December 12, 2018 at 10:30 am

    i want a hamster but i can’t have one because of my house

  6. Dorkforlife says

    December 11, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    I wanted a hamster but my mom said no so when I got the chance I would play with my neighbors hamster and like brandon said never say never

  7. Help. PLEASE. says

    December 11, 2018 at 6:54 pm

    Whenever a person makes me mad, i’d have this bratty teenage attitude. Any advice on how I can control it?

    • Daring Dork Diva says

      December 15, 2018 at 12:55 am

      Hi there,
      First of all, I have that same problem. I know it’s difficult to control, almost seemingly impossible. And there’s nothing that will make you suddenly perfect and able to control your anger. But there ARE different methods that can help you control your anger.
      1. As soon as you realize that you’re angry, take a break. Go to your room and listen to some music, or read a good book. Go outside and look out for awhile, play with a pet, vent to a friend, or take a bubble bath. Later, when you feel controlled, you can go back and do what you want to do calmly.
      2. Breath in and out deeply. Count to 3 to inhale, count to 3 to exhale. Focus on the numbers instead of your anger.
      3. See the humor in your anger. For example, when my brother accuses me of taking something when I didn’t, I sometimes think: Boy, he must be insane. I wasn’t even in his room yesterday, yet he’s accusing me. You can have a good laugh over this, then continue with your life.
      In conclusion, controlling your anger is difficult, but the hard work is worth it in the end. Good luck~
      -Daring Dork Diva

  8. Scotch Eggs says

    December 10, 2018 at 8:36 pm

    Alright

  9. Rainbow Wise Unicorn girl. says

    December 9, 2018 at 1:57 am

    I got fishies, bunnies, hamster and guinea pig. BUT NO DOG.

  10. Dorky says

    December 8, 2018 at 10:08 pm

    Dear I Want A Pet Pretty Please,
    A lot of people want a pet, since there cute, and fun to play with! But, there is a lot of things to know before making your final decision. One of them is the cost. You have to buy your pet a lot of things, like food and toys. A pet also needs someone to play with. If you got a pet, would you play with it a lot? Another reason is responsibility, like, what would you do to help your pet? Would you play with your pet, and take your pet on a walk? Would you be patient with your pet? Also, ask your dad why he is saying no. There might be a really good reason, or he might just get you on when you get older. I hope this advice was helpful!

    Sincerely, Dorky

  11. Someone Who Wants To Help says

    December 8, 2018 at 10:02 am

    I’d suggest volunteering at a shelter like a certain Nikki’s crush (hint hint!) or asking around the neighborhood if you can pet-sit or walk someone’s dog.

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