Kids and Pets: A Good Combination?

There are two kinds of kids – those you have pets and those that want pets. Some kids are born into a family that already has a pet while others get them later. Pets can become an amazing companion to a child – enriching their childhood memories. I have had a dog in my life since I was very young (not the same one, obviously). Having said that, I, personally, think everyone should have a pet of some sort. But not every family is right for a pet, and what’s more not every pet is right for every family. When it comes to making the choice to get one there are some things to keep in mind.

Factors that Directly Effect the addition of a Pet

• Be aware of any pet allergies. If your daughter is allergic to cats, your son just can’t have one.
• Animals are relatively inexpensive to maintain – unless they become ill or hurt. You need to think about what you will do in these instances. It is better to have a plan before it happens so that your logical side is not overtaken by your emotional side.
• Decide who will be responsible for the pet’s care. And remember that it’s likely that it will be you because Fido still needs to eat, even if Billy forgot. However, if the child begged and begged for the animal, and cut a deal to get the animal, they need to be punished for not holding up their end of the bargain – you know no tv for the rest of the day or no dessert.
• Do you have the space? You don’t want to have a Great Dane in a two bedroom apartment.
• If you, personally, are deathly afraid of snakes, do not let your child keep one as a pet. It will literally drive you insane!

What if something major happens to Fido?

Another important issue to discuss when talking about Kids and pets is the death of a pet. It is inevitable – not many animals live as long as humans. In fact, there are not many pets that will live more than 15 years. Should a pet die, you and your husband will need it decide what to tell the children. No matter what you choose of the following ideas – remember that they may find out the truth later so keep it simple. And consider the child’s age at the time.

• If they see the animal dies (say the cat gets run over by a car right in front of him) – be honest without being graphic.
• If the animal could be replaced easily – go for it. This doesn’t work for dogs, cats or any pet that responds to a name or knows tricks. Think fish, and reptiles. Decide whether or not to tell your child that it is a replacement. However, I caution you to be realistic – a goldfish would never live for five years in a glass bowl.
• If the animal has to be put to sleep (due to illness or old age), tell the child that they have gone to live somewhere else. Again, let me stress that you need to consider that they may find out later on in life.

Other People’s Pets

One another subject, whether you have pets or not, you need to talk to your children about other people’s pets. You need to teach your children to always ask the owner before petting a pet of any kind. Teach them to never yell or make crazy movements around pets, and to always let the pet come to them. Should your child get attacked, you want them to “play dead” so that the animal will stop, calm down and hopefully leave. Most animals that are kept as pets do not attack out of hunger but rather a feeling a threat. If you teach your child not to pose a threat to an animal they will be safe. As a side note – if your own pet attacks anyone in your family you need to remove the pet immediately. Please remember that no amount of training will change the fact that it is a wild animal.