Pet Pros And Cons

Pet pros and cons. There are lots of benefits for kids in having a pet. However, there are also many responsibilities and expenses that accompany becoming a pet owner.

When considering getting your child a pet, it's important to remember that you will be the one ultimately responsible—just like you are ultimately responsible for all the other lives in your household.

This decision requires commitment and careful consideration. Consider these pet pros and cons before agreeing to bring an animal home.

Pet Pros and Cons: Advantages of Pet Ownership

Pet pros and cons: Let's start with the many pet pros. Here are just a few of the ways pets can enrich your child's life:

• Pets can be a real comfort to children under stress. We've all had those times when we feel no one loves or understands us. Somehow, it really helps to bury your face in a loving dog or cat's tummy and cry it out.

• Pets offer children unconditional love. Step on Poochie's tail, yell at him, even take him to the groomer - and you're still his favorite person in the world. Go figure.

• If you allow Fluffy or Spot on the bed they can be a real comfort for kids afraid of the dark, or who don't want to sleep alone. This, in turn, can be a real comfort for parents who do want to sleep alone.

• Kids who grow up with pets are less likely to develop allergies than kids who grow up without them. Scientists speculate that it may be because the children acquire immunities to the animals early on.
  

• Pets provide biology lessons. Not only can alert kids learn the facts of life, but they can also learn about the life cycle - from birth to death.
  

Pet Pros and Cons: Disadvantages of Pet Ownership

Pet pros and cons: Now, let's address the knee-jerk parental response to the perennial question, "Can I have a ______?" Which is often a resounding, "No!"

Your instincts are initially correct. Pets are a lot of trouble. They can be dirty, messy, noisy, and expensive.

Here are just a few of the concerns that you should consider before agreeing to any pet - big or small, furry, finned or feathered:

• Animals are messy. Even caged animals seem able to hurl shavings to the far corners of the room. And we won't discuss the repercussions of a cat with a hairball. 

Wait! Aren't we missing something? I saved the worst for last: Kids lose interest. Of course, they do - kids lose interest in everything. Their attention spans are about a nanosecond long. Why would you assume it would be different for pets? 

The real key to agreeing to get your child a pet is knowing that this is probably your pet. You will be the one who is ultimately responsible—just like you are ultimately responsible for all the other lives in your household.

 If you don't want that responsibility or don't like cats, dogs, snakes, or whatever, don't get one. Period. 

Wrapping Up on Pet Pros and Cons

Still trying to decide whether a pet is right for your family? Consider these pet pros and cons before you make this important decision. Whether you get a pet depends on how much time you are willing to spend with it, especially with younger kids.

Pets impact the whole family, not just the "owner" (or, if you live in enlightened areas, the "guardian"). Consider these pet pros and cons:

How old is your child? Most experts agree that kids under age 6 are generally not capable of understanding an animal's needs and caring for it properly. If you get a pet for a young child, realize that it is truly your pet. Don't go into the situation with false expectations.

That's not fair to the kid or the animal. Many advise starting out young children with easy pets such as mice, turtles, or fish. That said, pets can be beneficial for young children, even if they cannot assume full responsibility for them.

How mature is your child? Some kids are more responsible than others, but all children will occasionally have time conflicts. All will forget occasionally. How will the pet affect the rest of the family? Do any family members have pet allergies? Fears?

How many kids do you have? If you get one kid a dog, does the next kid also get to demand a dog? Kids may share bedrooms, but they draw the line when it comes to pets. Just be aware of this phenomenon and know how you will respond to it. You might say that either they share that dog or no one gets a pet. (That will last until the dog arrives!)

You might say that everyone gets to choose one pet right now. (But do you really want three new pets at once?) You might say that age 7 is the magic number, and as kids reach 7, they can choose a pet - with your approval. Just be prepared for this issue.