Pets for Kids – “10 Essential Reality Checks!”

February 8th, 2010 admin


Fundamental Reality Check No. 1 – The Type of Pet for kids

The type of pet you can take into your household will depend on a entire host of things such as follows: How much will the pet costs be – not fair to purchase – but to care for on a daily basis? The ages of your kids – a two year ancient child will probably not be able to handle a pet gently and certainly won’t be able to care for the pet….. What size of pet does your child want? – What space will be needed? A hamster does not take up much space but guinea pigs, ferrets and rats need much larger cages. How much time do your kids and you as a family have to give to the pet? Will your family be secure with the pet?

Will the pet be secure with your family? Whether you have a larger pet such as a dog, cat, or goat what effects will it have on your family, friends and neighbours? How will your pet be cared for during your holidays. Will your family be able to manage with the eventual death of a pet? Some pets will sleep maximum of the day and be awake at night. Hamsters can be very rowdy at night! Whether your child wants a dog you will need to see into the breed, size and exercise needs of the dog. Do you already have another pet, what effect will it have on that pet. For instance will your dog be ok with a cat or rabbit or bird? .

Fundamental Reality Check No. 2 – Right Costs of Pets for Kids

Some pets are very cheap to purchase for instance hamsters, guinea pigs, goldfish. gerbils, fancy rats, fancy mice and rabbits and even ferrets. You will still need to consider: The cage set up ( this can be very expensive when looking at the cage sizes that maximum pets need) in fact they need the largest cage you can manage Food costs per week Bedding Vets bills whether your pets become ill. e.g. Ferrets need a annually injection against canine distemper. Holiday care – you will need to pay for this of course whether you cannot rely on friends and family.

Larger pets such as goats, and dogs and pedigree cats are distant more expensive to purchase initially, some costing hundreds of pounds. You will need to consider: Bedding and a cage (whether buying one for your dog or cat) Leads and collars for dogs. Food bills Vets bills (dogs should have annually check ups with a vets) Toys Holiday care (kennels can be very expensive) Flea treatment Ongoing veterinary costs whether your pets becomes chronically ill.

Fundamental Reality Check No. 3 – Ages of your Kids

As the parent or carer you will need to select whether your child is ancient sufficient to handle and care for a pet. How often have parents heard the weep “oh but we promise we’ll take it for walks everyday” Or “we’ll clean it out mum, we promise”. How will you feel in a years time when you find yourself caring for the pets because the kids are busy with friends or absent on a school trip or inundated with homework or fair plain bored with the destitute thing You will need to select on a pet that is suitable for the age of your kids. For instance in maximum cases it would not be wise to purchase a hamster for a two year ancient child who is still adapting to the world around them and may not know or be able to handle the hamster gently.

Do you want to give your kids some responsibility in caring for an animal. Some kids are very responsible and will be able to manage this. Other kids, well the sight of a baby animal is fair too appealing, after all who can resist a cute puppy or kitten or baby hamster? At first you may need to assist your kids, as caring for a pet is a very responsible job. As a parent or carer you will always need to oversee a pet’s care.

,Fundamental Reality Check No. 4 – The Space Required

Even small pets for kids such as guinea pigs, fancy rats and ferrets need a lot of cage space for a pleased life. They will need the largest cages you can find space for. These pets too need space to exercise out of the cage. Cats take up very small space, as do small breeds of dogs. Dogs will need a decent sized garden as well as walks to keep them well exercised.

Fundamental Reality Check No. 5 – Time for your Pets

Do you and the family have time for a pet. For smaller pets for kids you will need to have them out of the cage and being handled daily for at minimum 2 hours a day. Do you have time to clean out your pet at minimum once or twice a week, or even daily? Some pets will certainly need the toilet corner of their cage cleaned more often to avoid a foul smelling cage and pet. Water bottles and food bowls will need cleaning and refilling every day.

Will you be able to walk your dog at minimum once a day? – dependent on the breed some need more! Are you willing to see after your pets for the many years some can live? (From 18 months to 2 years for a mouse up to 15 years for a dog) Whether you are out at work all day and the kids are at school all day your pets will need and will demand attention when you return domestic

Fundamental Reality Check No. 6 – Your Pet and Family Safety

You will always need to ensure your kids safety when they are spending time with any pets for kids. Even small pets can bite and abandon a wound. Dogs should not be left unattended with your kids as they are unpredictable. Even a faithful dog will bite and even attack a child whether they are in pain or worried. It happens rarely – but it does happen. You will too need to ensure your pets safety: Is your child able to handle a pet safely without hurting it. Is your pet secure with any other pets in the domestic? – whether you have youthful children and a dog …. you will need to make certain the dog cannot elude because a door is accidentally left open.

Whether you have a dog you need to ensure visitors safety as you can be sued whether your dog bites someone on your property (or even off your property) Make certain that when pets are having releasetime out of cages that: Other pets cannot hurt them They cannot chew electrical leads They cannot drop into toilets or baths of water. They cannot elude through gaps in walls or floors They cannot get exterior without supervision

Fundamental Reality Check No. 7 – Effects on Family and Neighbours

The entire family needs to be in agreement whether you are getting pets for kids. Pets can be rowdy and messy having an effect on family living. What effect will a pet such as a dog have on Granny who suffers with an allergy – will that mean she cannot come to visit anymore? Whether you get a dog will it bark and howl when you abandon them for any length of time and will this annoy your neighbours. Will the dog bark when your neighbours are in their own garden. How will your neighbours take to having your pet cat mess in their garden? You will need to keep your yard releaseof dog mess to ensure it does not scent -particularly in summer months.

Fundamental Reality Check No. 8 – Holidays and Care for Pets

Whether you have pets for kids what will happen to them during your holiday times. Do you have family or friends who can care for your pets while you are absent. Whether not you will have to pay for your pets care. This will be expensive for dogs, cats and larger animals. Even for small pets, holiday care can be expensive.

Fundamental Reality Check No. 9 – Loss of a Pet and Grief

Some children are really sensitive and will be distraught when their beloved pet eventually passes absent, or is lost in some way. This is particularly distressing whether the pet has died as a result of an accident or illness. How will you manage this? The kids will need to grieve, grieving is a healthy portion of a loss reaction. We can suffer losses every day in a small way such as not getting something we want, this causes a loss reaction and portion of the healing for this is grief. Whether your child or other family member struggles with the grieving then see at the following and see whether it applies. The grieving process has seven stepping stones through which people go. Your family member may not go through them in order or spend long on any one.

The stepping stones are: Shock, Denial, Guilt, ,Rage, Depression Bargaining, Acceptance Your child may want another pet this is called bargaining and is one of the stepping stones through the grief process. Whether your child cannot have another pet, break down the hidden losses that the death of their pet has caused. Could there be a loss of your child’s self worth or self esteem. Have they lost their only companion. Has your child lost the only one who listened to them. By chatting attempt to find out how your child is feeling and assist them to work out their losses and then work through to acceptance by doing some healthy bargaining.

Would your child be able to regain their sense of worth or self esteem another way? Perhaps helping out with a friends pet for instance. For some children it may be helpful to have a burial service, so they can say goodbye properly. (My son kept some hair from his beloved dog) Our kids have managed the deaths of their pets really well and have gone on to have other pets, for other kids though it has more of an effect so you will need to select when or whether to replace your child’s pet.

Fundamental Reality Check No. 10 – Pets for Kids are EXCELLENT FUN!!!

Pets for kids are for the maximum portion a brilliant addition to the family.. They are often excellent company for your kids particularly whether the kids are lonely. Kids can learn a lot from caring for pets and by having pets even when they are lost naturally. Dogs can encourage the family out to get exercise as they walk the dog. All our kids like their pets and they are an vital portion of the family. So whatever pet you select upon have fun and delight in



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