Having a childhood pet can be one of life’s greatest joys. Pets teach children about empathy, responsibility and unconditional love.
So how do you know whether your own child is ready for a pet? Here are some factors to consider when making that decision:
Does your child show interest in animals? Not every child likes animals and some may even be afraid. Gauge whether your child is interested in a pet before bringing one home.
Does your child have allergies? If you’re not sure, you may want to expose your child to other animals or have them tested at the doctor to see if they could be allergic. That’s so much easier than adopting and then returning a pet that your child has fallen in love with.
Does your child do well with other people’s pets? Create opportunities for your child to interact with the pets of friends or family members. Is your child able to slow down and engage in calm behavior? You want to ensure that your child can be gentle with any pet that you have.
Does your child listen to instructions? Kids don’t always know how to interact appropriately with animals, so it’s important that they can listen and follow directions in order to learn. If your child goes to grab a cat’s tail, you want to feel confident that he or she will stop if you say “No.”
Does your child help with chores? If you expect your child to be the one to take care of the new pet, has he or she already shown responsibility? If your kid is already helping out around the house and completes chores without a problem, then it is more likely that he or she will help with a pet as well. Are you willing to take care of the pet if your child does not?
Does your child have time for a pet? Many kids have schedules filled with numerous activities. If you would like your child to be able to help with the caretaking of your pet, make sure that your child’s schedule allows time for this.
If you decide that everyone in your family is ready for a pet, make sure that the pet you choose is also okay with children. Some pets are great with children; others don’t do well with kids, even if they are great with adults. Keep safety in mind and make sure that you get a pet that will be okay with the less predictable behavior of a child.
Remember also, children should always be supervised, even with the family pets.
— Brown County Humane Society
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WHAT: 12th annual Brown County Chocolate Walk
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 9
TICKETS: $25 until Oct. 31; $30 from Nov. 1-9
MORE INFO: bchumane.org/chocolate-walk
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