Pondering a Pet

by Lauren Buckley

“Can I please have a hamster/budgie/puppy? I’ll take care of it. You won’t have to do anything, I promise. Please?”

Does this sound familiar? If your child has been campaigning for a pet, here are some things you should think about before making a decision.

Is your child capable of caring for a living thing?

One way to find out—and it’s a good stalling tactic, too—is to tell your child that he must show his commitment and maturity by keeping a house plant alive for, say, three months before you will even consider his request for a pet. Caring for a plant will introduce your child to the daily obligations involved in keeping something alive, and it will also give you some idea about whether your child is ready for the responsibility of a pet.

Is anybody in the family allergic to the kind of pet your child wants?

Imagine bringing home an adorable kitten or puppy, one the whole family instantly falls in love with, only to find that the new addition is triggering little Mary’s asthma attacks. If possible, have everybody in the family spend some time with a friend or neighbour’s pet. Consider volunteering to pet sit while the owners are on vacation. And don’t forget to consider your friends’ and relatives’ allergies—unless, of course, you wouldn’t really mind if your father-in-law couldn’t visit your house anymore!

Can your child cope with the death of a pet?

Pets die. And though it might not feel like it at the time, having to deal with the death of a pet isn’t necessarily a bad thing—children have to learn about death somehow. That said, a pet’s death can be devastating if your child’s negligence is the cause. Some varieties of birds can die within hours if their food dish is left empty. A cat, however, will complain loudly about the lack of food in its dish. If you can imagine your child forgetting to feed the pet on occasion, don’t get a bird.

Can your family afford a pet?

Pets can be expensive. Sure, a rabbit only costs $35, but the cage will probably cost about $150, and did you know that most experts recommend that pet rabbits be neutered or spayed? Do your research before buying the pet. What equipment do you need? How much does it cost to feed the pet? Does the intended pet need yearly inoculations? You may be shocked when you add up all the figures.

Should your child contribute financially?

Tell your child that she must be willing to spend a portion of her allowance on the pet’s upkeep. However, make your child’s financial contribution manageable: expecting your child to pay for hamster food is reasonable, while expecting her to pay for the neutering of a puppy is probably not.

Is the intended pet suitable for your child’s age group?

Contrary to popular belief, small children and small pets don’t necessarily go well together. Small children tend to think of hamsters and bunnies as animated stuffed toys, and are prone to grabbing and squeezing the poor creatures, which are easily injured. To make an informed decision, talk to people who own the type of pet you are intending to buy, talk to pet store personnel, and read books on pet care.

Have you taken the expected lifespan of the pet into account?

Your 12-year-old may be asking for a dog now, but will you be expected to care for the dog when your child goes off to university?

Is your child actually capable of doing the pet chores?
Some six-year-old children (under adult supervision) can handle the responsibility of feeding a small animal such as a gerbil or a hamster. However, a six-year-old cannot be expected to control a German Sheppard while out for the dog’s daily walk. And while an eight-year-old can probably manage to clean the kitty litter box, it is likely that he will make a huge mess while doing so. If you expect your child to do most or all of the animal care chores, you must evaluate whether your child’s abilities match the needs of the pet.

Once you have actually taken the plunge and bought a pet, work with your child to create a schedule for doing pet chores. To make it easier for your child to remember to feed the pet, associate feeding the pet with a daily activity that the child is accustomed to performing. For example, have your child feed the gerbil just before he brushes his teeth every night before bed. Also, it may be helpful to split up the chores rather than having the child do them all at once. For example, if cleaning a rabbit cage involves dumping and scrubbing the litter pan and changing the newspaper lining, set aside one day of the week for the litter pan, and another day for changing the newspaper. And of course, be prepared to hound your child if/when he forgets to do his chores!

Lauren Buckley and her family have the honour of living with and caring for two cats and two rabbits.