NOT FOUND: pet.jpgHaving a pet can be a great benefit to a child’s development. It can be a great experience not just for your children, but also for adults. Having a pet also means that you can teach your children about animals, how to care for them, how we should behave towards them and how they form an important part in our lives and our world.

Many parents struggle with the decision whether or not to introduce a pet into the family, especially when there are still infants or toddlers in the picture. While a pet may represent companionship to a child, it also represents additional responsibility for another living thing. Owning a pet, whether it is a goldfish or a golden retriever, is not something to be taken lightly, so parents should carefully consider a child’s temperament, level of maturity and sense of responsibility before allowing him or her to assume ownership of a pet.

A few things to consider:

• Are you, as a parent, ready for a pet? It is a common misconception that through caring for a pet a child will learn responsibility. This is actually not true. Children learn by modeling their parents’ behavior. Before you bring a pet into your home, plan to spend your own personal time acting as a pet care role model. This means that no matter what, the animal that you adopt is your pet, not your children’s. You will be responsible for monitoring your children and making sure necessary care tasks are completed. Children will become distracted and forget to do basic pet chores – it is your job to gently remind them and if worst comes to worst, do the task yourself. This is why it is important to choose a pet that everyone in the family is happy and excited about, not just one child, as responsibilities will always end up being shared.

• Every child has his or her own responsibility level. What one child can do and handle at five, another may be able to handle when they are around eight. Families usually start out with a family pet. This means that everyone in the family will take part and be responsible in raising and caring for this pet. This would be good training ground for your child if he or she ever wants a particular pet and shows eagerness in sole responsibility,

• What is your child’s relationship with his or her possessions, such as dolls and toys? A very young child may have some difficulty distinguishing between a nearly indestructible teddy bear and a real guinea pig or hamster. If a younger child demonstrates the ability to interact with stuffed animals in a respectful way, then he or she may be ready to interact with a pet such as a puppy or a cat. Parents may want to wait a few years before considering a pet that requires a gentler hand such as gerbils, hamsters or a turtle. If a child plays rough with a doll or throws toys across the room, he or she may not be ready to own a pet.

• What are your child’s daily routine and schedule? If your children are in school all day and you are also busy in the office, having a pet may not be such a good idea. Being cooped up all day with no one to play with is not healthy for dogs and most animals. Think also of your budget and finances. Depending on what type of pet you are getting and the maintenance that it will require, you have to factor that into your monthly budget. You now have to buy pet food, toys, and supplies and pay for their overall health care.

So, with all of this in mind, you have decided that you and your child are ready for a pet. Now what? Consider visiting your local shelter and SPCA to find a pet in need of a loving home. If you are looking for a specific type of pet, try finding a rescue group in the area. Yes, I know, there are usually adoption fees involved, but most of these pets have been spay/neutered, vaccinated and tested for parasites.

***Save the date: October 16, 2010 11 am-3 pm***
VCA Highlands Animal hospital is having our first
Open House and Charity Fund Raiser!
Come in and meet the doctors and staff and get a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes during a normal workday. We will have lots of prizes and will also be holding a silent auction with all proceeds going to pet charities. There will also be a barbeque, hospital tours, live music and lots more goodies.
We would love to see all there.

VCA Highlands Animal Hospital3451 Elkhorn Boulevard North Highlands, CA 95660 916-332-2845