Are You Ready for a Family Pet?

There are many considerations one has to make before choosing a family pet. While all pets require attention, there are some who demand more than others. In addition, there is the cost factor as well as making the determination as to whether or not having small children in the home is conducive to owning a family pet. Before making a decision, you have to ask: Is our family ready for a pet? Let’s take a closer look at the issues.

Here is a typical scenario: It’s a beautiful spring day and you decide to take your small children into town. While there, you happen to pass a pet shop. The kids become quite excited at the puppies and kittens on display. They press their noses up against the window and begin choosing which puppy or kitten they want to bring home. “Please, mommy, please, can we get one,” they cry. What to do! You tell them you will have to discuss it with daddy first. Secretly, you had an eye on one puppy that you would love to take home. Sound familiar?

Now comes the hard part; deciding whether or not your family is ready for a pet. So the discussion begins. These questions can be applied to a puppy or kitten.

Can we afford to raise a pet?

Will the children, as much as they want one, be able to co-exist with a pet?

Do we have enough space?

Who will take care of, feed, and train the family pet?

We will need to find a vet.

The children need all our attention; do we have the time to address the many needs of the pet?

Do we want a specific breed?

Will the pet be gentle with the children?

What do we do with the family pet when we go on vacation?

These are questions moms and dads have to ask and honestly answer. If all of the answers are met with satisfaction and commitment, then the choice of where to acquire the pet is next.

Some pet owners prefer acquiring a kitten or puppy from a breeder, others may decide that a shelter is more suitable. Keep in mind, however, that both kittens and puppies are the first to be adopted and it may take a while before you find a suitable pet in a shelter.

It should be noted that some pet stores carry puppies that are purchased from puppy mills. If at all possible, select a pup from another source as most of these puppies have health problems that unscrupulous pet shop owners will never reveal to you.

If you decide on another type of pet for your family, there are other important factors which you should consider. There are some pets that carry diseases. The following group of pets should not be considered when there are small children in the home: turtles, reptiles, ferrets, or exotic animals of any type. Before deciding on any pet, ensure that no one in your family is allergic to animals in general or cats in particular. Studies have shown that most people tend to be allergic to cats more than any other animal.

Once you have decided upon a particular family pet, whether it’s a puppy, kitten, or other animal suitable for young children; even before the animal comes home for the first time parents need to sit down with the children and talk to them about responsibility and care of the new pet.

Some kids are funny when it comes to new pets. For the first few months they pamper the pet, play with the pet, and thoroughly enjoy the new addition to the family. Inevitably, however, as children grow they become bored with the pet and the responsibility of taking care of it falls in the parents’ lap.

Owning a family pet is a permanent commitment that an entire family has to agree upon. Pets offer so much unconditional love. All they want in return is to be dutifully cared for, fed, walked, hugged, and loved. They can bring immense joy and happiness to a family, which is why deciding if your family is ready for a pet requires thoughtful consideration; research, and an open dialogue among all family members.

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Have your kids been hampering you to buy a family pet? If so, here are 5 kid friendly pets which are not only conducive to children, but will offer enjoyment to the entire family.

Dogs

One of the most lovable of all breeds is the Beagle. They love children, are very social, loyal, intelligent, offer unconditional love, and provide hours of enjoyment. They range in height from 13-16 inches, and are just wonderful watch dogs as well.

While most beagles are usually kept outdoors, they love the indoors as well. Care and maintenance of the beagle is affordable. Ensure they are acquired through a breeder, however, since most pet shops may have beagles who originated from puppy mills.

If you are purchasing a beagle from a breeder, you can easily trace its lineage online by checking its pedigree.

Fish

Fish are also affordable kid friendly pets. They are easy to maintain and are available in a variety of species. The only caveat is that a tank with a proper filtration system is required. They are not only beautiful to look at, but for adults they act as a de-stressor and provide a soothing atmosphere as well.

Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, Gerbils

These members of the rodent family are inexpensive to purchase, but the incidentals such as cages, food, and toys may be a bit costly. They can provide hours of fun for kids, however, there is one drawback: They have a short lifespan. They require low maintenance, and their cages should be cleaned regularly.

Note: Gerbils have large incisors which means they tend to bite, so its important to provide them with baby carrots or other vegetables since they love to chew on just about anything.

Parakeets/Parrots

There are a wide variety of parakeet and parrot species which may be suitable for kids. Parrots, especially, can provide hours of enjoyment since most of them are highly intelligent and can be taught words or phrases by the kids.

It is important to note, however, that some parrots available today have been illegally caught and traded. Acquiring a young parrot from a breeder may be more suitable since it can be trained more easily.

Parrots can be costly; a steel cage and numerous toys would be needed to prevent the parrots from becoming bored. Food, water and bath dishes are required as well.

Whether you choose a parrot or parakeet, it is important to ascertain if they are healthy, show any idiosyncrasies that may signal a problem, and have been properly cared for by the breeder.

Cats

Perhaps you have decided to adopt a cat from a shelter. If a kitten is chosen for your kids, keep in mind that although they are very playful and energetic, they will need some training. If you choose an adult cat, it’s a good idea to ask the people at the shelter where the cat came from; how it interacts with other animals; and its overall health. In either scenario, cats are very kid friendly and the bond that develops cannot be broken.

Note: Before adopting a cat, ensure that the kids are not allergic to cat dander.

No matter what type of family pet you choose for your kids, the first order of business is to discuss responsibility and care of the pet. Too often, some kids get too rough with their pets which results in an unwelcome bite.

Although fish are easy to maintain, dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs will be handled by the kids on a frequent basis. Teaching them the proper way to interact with these pets not only provides a fun experience, but affords kids the opportunity to learn about different breeds, species, and characteristics which can later encourage them to learn more about other species.

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