Picking Out a New Pet
So you think you want a pet huh? Becoming a pet owner is a very big commitment in a persons life. But it is well worth the time, energy, money and anxiety just to come home to an entity totally committed to you. And if you are even thinking about having children someday, pets are a great reality check into the life and responsibilities of a parent.
The very first step is deciding what type of animal is best suited for you and your life style. Do you live in an apartment? The country? Do you have allergies? Are you interested in competing with, and/or breeding your pet? Do you long for something a little more exotic than a dog or cat? How much discretionary money do you have every month? How much free time do you have? Are you getting the pet for yourself or is it going to be a family pet? If it is a family pet, who is most likely going to be caring for the animal? How old are your children?
This blog entry is going to address the family pet. Because many parents get pets for their children to teach them about life, I am going to start the discussion with this type of pet. Then we can broaden out the topic and touch on other types of situations where a variety of pet types are also available.
Children and pets go hand in hand. Animals teach them so much. They also provide us with entertainment, security, friendship, and responsibility. So I am a big advocate for getting children a pet. The very first thing though, is to make sure the child actually wants the pet. It should be something the child understands and has been requesting for a significant length of time. This means the child is old enough to know what the pet is, want one, and be able to learn enough about the animal to take care of it–under an adults supervision. Fish make excellent first time pets and are great for younger children. They are fun to watch, easy to care for and relatively hardy. They also are welcome in most housing circumstances and can be inexpensive. My mother raised goldfish and believe me they also can get quite expensive and labor intensive when you are breeding them. So this is a type of pet that can grow into a very extensive hobby as the child gets older. Also, if the child looses interest, fish are easy to find new homes for.
Other aquarium bound animals are suitable for very young children. Snails, hermit crabs, and turtles are easy to care for, inexpensive and fun to watch.
Snakes, lizards, mice, chinchillas, rats, and tarantulas are kept in aquariums, but should be bought for older children. (Rats make great pets believe it or not, but hamsters really do not because they often bite.) Birds, rabbits, ferrets, cats and dogs all require strict adult supervision when acquired by the family. This means that not only does the child have to be mature and responsible, but the parents have to be involved in the day to day care of each of these animals. All make fine pets, they just are much more needy in terms of time, training, care/grooming and financial support.
Just remember ALL pets carry disease causing bacteria and viruses with them. Little children tend not to wash their hands and are also more susceptible to diseases caused by those offending bugs. Hand washing after handling all pets is a must! Also make sure you research the pet you bring into your home before hand and know the possible diseases and or germs they may carry. And lastly, having to “dispose” of a pet just because you did not know your child is allergic is not fair to the pet or the child. Do your homework first and your pet will be a fond memory for a life time.