| Here are 10 Essential Reality Checks for YOU to | | | | Will you be able to walk your dog at least once a |
| consider when 'others' are considering the addition of | | | | day? - dependent on the breed some need more! |
| a new pet to your family or household. | | | | Are you willing to look after your pets for kids for |
| So you want a pet or at least your kids want a pet, | | | | the many years some can live? |
| well there is nothing unnatural about that, the whole | | | | (From 18 months to 2 years for a mouse up to 15 |
| idea will sound great...but wait a minute, stop and | | | | years for a dog) |
| think.... there are some great positives about this | | | | If you are out at work all day and the kids are at |
| idea....there are also some essential reality checks that | | | | school all day your pets will need and will demand |
| need thinking about....a quick read through my | | | | attention when you return home |
| checklists below will help you make a more realistic | | | | Essential Reality Check No. 6 - |
| decision. | | | | Your Pet and Family Safety |
| Remember the old saying "A pet is not just for | | | | You will always need to ensure your kids safety |
| Christmas". Someone will have to clear the 'pooh' up | | | | when they are spending time with any pets. |
| at the end of it .... all. | | | | Even little pets can bite and leave a wound. |
| Essential Reality Check No. 1 - | | | | Dogs should not be left unattended with your kids as |
| The Type of Pet | | | | they are unpredictable. Even a faithful dog will bite |
| The type of pets for kids you can take into your | | | | and even attack a child if they are in pain or afraid. It |
| household will depend on a whole host of things such | | | | happens rarely - but it does happen. |
| as follows: | | | | You will also need to ensure your pets safety:Is your |
| The ages of your kids - a two year old child will | | | | child able to handle a pet safely without hurting it. |
| probably not be able to handle a pet gently and | | | | Is your pet safe with any other pets in the home? - |
| certainly won't be able to care for the pet..... | | | | if you have young children and a dog .... you will need |
| How much will the pet costs be - not just to buy - | | | | to make sure the dog cannot escape because a door |
| but to care for on a daily basis? | | | | is accidentally left open. |
| What size of pet does your child want? - What | | | | If you have a dog you need to ensure visitors |
| space will be needed? A hamster does not take up | | | | safety as you can be sued if your dog bites |
| much space but guinea pigs, ferrets and rats need | | | | someone on your property (or even off your |
| much larger cages. | | | | property) |
| How much time do your kids and you as a family | | | | Make sure that when pets for kids are having free |
| have to give to the pet? | | | | time out of cages that: |
| Will your family be safe with the pet? Will the pet be | | | | Other pets cannot hurt them |
| safe with your family? | | | | They cannot chew electrical leads |
| If you have a larger pet such as a dog, cat, or goat | | | | They cannot fall into toilets or baths of water. |
| what effects will it have on your family, friends and | | | | They cannot escape through gaps in walls or floors |
| neighbours? | | | | They cannot get outside without supervision |
| How will your pet be cared for during your holidays. | | | | Essential Reality Check No. 7 - |
| Will your family be able to cope with the eventual | | | | Effects on Family and Neighbours |
| death of a pet? | | | | The whole family needs to be in agreement if you |
| Some pets will sleep most of the day and be awake | | | | are getting pets. Pets can be noisy and messy having |
| at night. Hamsters can be very noisy at night! | | | | an effect on family living. |
| If your child wants a dog you will need to look into | | | | What effect will a pet such as a dog have on Granny |
| the breed, size and exercise needs of the dog. | | | | who suffers with an allergy - will that mean she |
| Do you already have another pet, what effect will it | | | | cannot come to visit anymore? |
| have on that pet. For instance will your dog be ok | | | | If you get a dog will it bark and howl when you |
| with a cat or rabbit or bird? | | | | leave them for any length of time and will this annoy |
| Essential Reality Check No. 2 - | | | | your neighbours. |
| Ages of your Kids | | | | Will the dog bark when your neighbours are in their |
| You will need to decide on a pet that is suitable for | | | | own garden. |
| the age of your kids. | | | | How will your neighbours take to having your pet cat |
| For instance in most cases it would not be wise to | | | | mess in their garden? |
| buy a hamster for a two year old child who is still | | | | You will need to keep your yard free of dog mess |
| adapting to the world around them and may not | | | | to ensure it does not smell -particularly in summer |
| know or be able to handle the hamster gently. | | | | months. |
| Do you want to give your kids some responsibility in | | | | Essential Reality Check No. 8 - |
| caring for an animal. Some kids are very responsible | | | | Holidays and Care for Pets for kids |
| and will be able to manage this. Other kids, well the | | | | If you have pets for kids what will happen to them |
| sight of a baby animal is just too appealing, after all | | | | during your holiday times. |
| who can resist a cute puppy or kitten or baby | | | | Do you have family or friends who can care for your |
| hamster? | | | | pets while you are away. |
| At first you may need to help your kids, as caring | | | | If not you will have to pay for your pets care. |
| for a pet is a very responsible job. As a parent or | | | | This will be expensive for dogs, cats and larger |
| carer you will always need to oversee a pet's care. | | | | animals. |
| As the parent or carer you will need to decide if your | | | | Even for little pets, holiday care can be expensive. |
| child is old enough to handle and care for a pet. How | | | | Essential Reality Check No. 9 - |
| often have parents heard the cry "oh but we | | | | Loss of a Pet and Grief |
| promise we'll take it for walks everyday" | | | | Some children are really sensitive and will be |
| Or "we'll clean it out mum, we promise". How will you | | | | distraught when their beloved pet eventually passes |
| feel in a years time when you find yourself caring for | | | | away, or is lost in some way. |
| the pets because the kids are busy with friends or | | | | This is especially distressing if the pet has died as a |
| away on a school trip or inundated with homework | | | | result of an accident or illness. |
| or just plain bored with the poor thing. | | | | How will you manage this? |
| Essential Reality Check No. 3 - | | | | The kids will need to grieve, grieving is a healthy part |
| True Costs of Pets for Kids | | | | of a loss reaction. We can suffer losses every day in |
| Some pets are very cheap to buy for instance | | | | a small way such as not getting something we want, |
| hamsters, guinea pigs, goldfish. gerbils, fancy rats, | | | | this causes a loss reaction and part of the healing for |
| fancy mice and rabbits and even ferrets. | | | | this is grief. If your child or other family member |
| You will still need to consider: | | | | struggles with the grieving then look at the following |
| The cage set up (this can be very expensive when | | | | and see if it applies. The grieving process has seven |
| looking at the cage sizes that most pets need) in | | | | stepping stones through which people move. Your |
| fact they need the largest cage you can manage | | | | family member may not go through them in order or |
| Food costs per week | | | | spend long on any one. |
| Bedding | | | | The stepping stones are: |
| Vets bills if your pets become ill.e.g. Ferrets need a | | | | Shock, Denial, Guilt, Anger, Depression Bargaining, |
| yearly injection against canine distemper. | | | | Acceptance |
| Holiday care - you will need to pay for this of course | | | | Your child may want another pet this is called |
| if you cannot rely on friends and family. | | | | bargaining and is one of the stepping stones through |
| Bigger pets for kids such as goats, and dogs and | | | | the grief process. |
| pedigree cats are far more expensive to buy initially, | | | | If your child cannot have another pet, break down |
| some costing hundreds of pounds. | | | | the hidden losses that the death of their pet has |
| You will need to consider: | | | | caused. |
| Bedding and a cage (if buying one for your dog or | | | | Could there be a loss of your child's self worth or self |
| cat) | | | | esteem. |
| Leads and collars for dogs. | | | | Have they lost their only companion. |
| Food bills | | | | Has your child lost the only one who listened to them. |
| Vets bills (dogs should have yearly check ups with a | | | | By chatting try to find out how your child is feeling |
| vets) | | | | and help them to work out their losses and then |
| Toys | | | | work through to acceptance by doing some healthy |
| Holiday care (kennels can be very expensive) | | | | bargaining. |
| Flea treatment | | | | Would your child be able to regain their sense of |
| Ongoing veterinary costs if your pets becomes | | | | worth or self esteem another way? Perhaps helping |
| chronically ill. | | | | out with a friends pet for instance. |
| Essential Reality Check No. 4 - | | | | For some children it may be helpful to have a burial |
| The Space Required | | | | service, so they can say goodbye properly. |
| Even small pets for kids such as guinea pigs, fancy | | | | (My son kept some hair from his beloved dog) |
| rats and ferrets need a lot of cage space for a | | | | Our kids have managed the deaths of their pets |
| happy life. They will need the biggest cages you can | | | | really well and have gone on to have other pets, for |
| find space for. These pets also need space to | | | | other kids though it has more of an effect so you |
| exercise out of the cage. | | | | will need to decide when or if to replace your child's |
| Cats take up very little space, as do small breeds of | | | | pet. |
| dogs. | | | | Essential Reality Check No. 10 - |
| Dogs will need a decent sized garden as well as | | | | Pets for Kids are GREAT! |
| walks to keep them well exercised. | | | | For the most part pets for kids are good fun. They |
| Essential Reality Check No. 5 - | | | | are often good company for your kids especially if |
| Time for your Pets | | | | the kids are lonely. |
| Do you and the family have time for a pet. | | | | Our autistic daughter has changed a lot since we got |
| For smaller pets you will need to have them out of | | | | her guinea pigs to look after. She has gained some |
| the cage and being handled daily for at least 2 hours | | | | imaginative play, we think this is because she talks to |
| a day. | | | | her guinea pigs. |
| Do you have time to clean out your pet at least | | | | We do have to oversee her with them though. |
| once or twice a week, or even daily? | | | | Kids can learn a lot from caring for pets for kids and |
| Some pets will certainly need the toilet corner of | | | | by having pets even when they are lost naturally. |
| their cage cleaned more often to avoid a foul smelling | | | | Dogs can encourage the family out to get exercise |
| cage and pet. | | | | as they walk the dog. |
| Water bottles and food bowls will need cleaning and | | | | All our kids love their pets. |
| refilling every day. | | | | |