In a perfect world, everyone who has a cat, a dog, a ferret, or any other pet would love them unconditionally and wholeheartedly and the pet would have a long and happy life.

But this is not a perfect world, and we are only human. And some of the things humans do out of "love" for pets can really be cruel, hurtful, and not very loving at all. Here are some ways to truly love your pet -- a lot:

Be able to afford your pets' basic needs. It's great to have a dog. Or two. Or three. But if you can't afford to feed them good quality pet food (NOT Old Roy. Or, frankly, Alpo), or to take them to the vet as often as necessary for shots and basic health maintenance, then, no matter how emotionally connected you may be to your dog, you're hurting her more than helping her. And if your dog has special needs, whether it's a basic special need like going to a groomer every couple of months or something more complicated like seizure medication, and you can't afford it and don't provide it-- that's not love. That's cruelty.

Have only as many pets as you can care for. And I don't just mean financially. I mean legally. Most cities have an ordinance limiting how many pets you may have in your home. (The norm is four dogs and/or four cats, but check at your city hall) If you have more than this, much as you love them, you are breaking the law, and the authorities are well within their rights to confiscate all your animals. If your home is filthy, the floor is covered with trash and pet waste, you could be in even bigger trouble. Don't overtax yourself. Give yourself a limit if you really love your pets!

Let your pets live indoors. Contrary to popular opinion, dogs are not "outside" animals. They are pack animals who only want to live with their pack members, i.e. you and your family. Don't make them live outside. If the weather is nice and the dogs aren't too destructive to your property, spending an afternoon outside on a regular basis is okay. Making your dog live in a tiny kennel, or worse, chaining him or her up in the backyard 24/7 isn't love. It's cruel. Cats, also, are not meant to be outdoor animals. And around my house, at least, outdoor cats are often victims of coyotes, wild dogs, and, in some cases (very small or very young cats) birds of prey. Is it really love to let your pet die that way? I didn't think so.

DO NOT BREED YOUR PET. Every year, at least five million animals are euthanized at humane societies and animal shelters in America alone. Let me tell you a little secret: most of them would be great pets for someone -- there's just too many of them, because people -- for whatever reason -- keep breeding them. Let me tell you something else: euthanize is often a really nice word that doesn't always mean a nice, gentle, put-to-sleep shot. In some places it means shooting them, and sometimes it takes more than one bullet (Oklahoma), or putting them in gas chambers and turning up the radio so the workers can't hear the terrified animals scream their last (New Mexico). Your pet will live longer if it's spayed or neutered. Your kids can learn about the miracle of birth on the Discovery Health Channel. Love your pet? Don't breed it!

If you have a dog, give it basic obedience training. Your dog will be much happier, and love you back so much more if it clearly knows what you expect from it. Look in the phone book for dog training. If it's available in my little town in the middle of nowhere New Mexico, it's available in your town, too.

How much should you love your pet? Enough to follow the above suggestions. And if, after some consideration, you can't follow these suggestions, love your pet enough to find it a home that can.