Visit your friends pets, feed ducks at a park, volunteer at a animal rescue.

Lots of ways to build relationships with animals around you

Definitely second animal rescues.

For the most part, they just let you take the dogs (probably depends on location). Go for a walk, have a good time, the dog is happy, you're happy, and it actually helps the shelter.

Also, some people can get attached to houseplants like pets, if you're one of them, plants are a bit lazy but they're very good at learning "stay", and different varieties basically have different personalities.

I have some things to help me take care of my pets. I have an automatic litterbox that scoops itself and gives me a notification to empty it. I have an automatic feeder that feeds my cats three times a day so I don't forget. I have a water fountain that I refill and clean weekly. I used to be very forgetful or struggle to make my mind do the tasks to take care of my pets, and I felt really bad about it. Now, most of the time I spend taking care of my cats is brushing them, petting them, and just hanging out with them. These items weren't cheap, but to me, they're worth every penny.

I have an aquarium... generally find a low-stock planted aquarium isn't too high maintenance. Lights are on a timer (actually spent just a little more for a dim on/off system so they'd have a 'sunrise' and 'sunset') I feed them when I have dinner, or when I get home if I'm having dinner out of the house. I've got tape marking what I try to keep as the minimum water line (warm water, it evaporates over time).

Water changes used to be a big enough chore I'd let it go longer than I should but then I got a nice Python system and now it's only an issue if there's dirty dishes in the sink (don't want to dump tank water on them and the system requires a faucet with temp control)

I'm better at taking care of my dogs than I am at taking care of myself... What's up with that?

I always remember to feed them on time, take them out for walks at a regular time, I notice when they are sick and take them to the vet right away, I make sure they don't get extra treats or things that might hurt them.

But I never remember to feed myself, have a hard time keeping any other kind of schedule for myself beyond what's needed for the dogs, never go to a doctor, and eat all of the junk food. 😮‍💨

2 decades ago I got the cutest kitten from the local shelter. I loved that cat. Started to notice, he was getting increasingly skittish around me. I realized cuz... I didn't realize I was doing it, I was never mean. but whenever he'd jump on me, wake me up, scratch something... my freaked out, startled response I think started to scare him.

Would love to get another cat, but that it might become scared, uneasy around me... don't want to risk it.

My spouse wants a second pet. While I agree that our current pet could use a companion, I just can't. I'm already overwhelmed and cannot handle more.

I had to take care of the mini zoo my hoarder mother accumulated all my life, so I am used to "force myself" to properly care for animals that I am responsible for. That being said, this takes a huge toll on your own wellbeing after a while, like driving on flat tires eventually permanently damages the rest of the car. It is something that should not be the everyday norm.

I currently only have one 13 years old tomcat that gets my undivided attention, and while I would love to have a dog again one day, I also know that it would eventually lead to the same "flat tyre driving" and wear me out while neither pet gets the attention and care they need and deserve. I swore to myself that I will only ever have one pet at a time for the rest of my life.

...and I fully agree with what others have said already about dogsitting for friends / family, taking shelter dogs for walks and the like. The animals are taken care of in terms of food, medicine, shelter etc. so you won't have to worry about not having the energy for that, but they can always use a little extra attention from a loving human that just spends time with them.

My kids would love a pet, but we can't even take care of a houseplant. One more being in our house to care for would be a disaster.