A house pet can be a wonderful addition
to any home, but if you have children you need to make sure that they
are ready for the new housemate. There are many things that you
should do before you willingly accept any pet into your home.
Expose Them
It is very important to expose your
children to a variety of different pets before you bring one home.
Some kids could be allergic to certain types of animals, so you
should either have them tested for allergies or expose them in other
areas before promising to bring one home. This is also a great way to
see how your child interacts with different types of pets. You will
notice any trepidation quickly when your child is with certain
animals.
Responsibility
This is something that you will have to
judge for yourself. You need to decide if your child is responsible
in other areas of his or her life. It takes a great amount of
responsibility to have a pet, so you must make sure that your child
can care for it properly. Notice how your child does chores, homework
or cleans up the house to get a good idea if he/she can handle a pet.
Make an Agreement
It is important to make sure that you
and your child(ren) agree to certain terms with the new pet before it
makes an appearance in the home. You need to rules set in place prior
to the new pet coming into the home. This could mean putting the
child in charge of feeding the pet, taking it for exercise or
removing the animal's feces from the specified area. You can put this
agreement in writing to create an even bigger impact on the terms of
the agreement.
Choosing the Right Pet
You really need to choose a pet that
your child is not allergic to, and the child really wants. If you are
going to train the child to care for larger animals in the home, you
may want to start with an easy animal like a fish. You should also
choose a pet that you enjoy having as well. You are more likely to
enjoy the experience if you too like the animal. Cat lovers may not
enjoy giving their children a dog, so find a good compromise before
making any promises.
Artwork and Television
You should also look carefully at the
artwork that your child does around the house. If they are constantly
adding animals into their drawings and paintings than this could be a
sign that they are ready for a pet. Also, check out the television
shows that they watch. If your child watches a lot of shows that
feature animals, this could also be a sign that your child is ready
for an in-house pet.
A pet can be a great addition to any
home. Once you have made the decision to own a pet, you should get in
touch with a veterinarian to make sure your pet is healthy. Check out
the website at: http://www.carmelinveterinaryclinic.com/services/
for additional information about pet care, nutrition, and to schedule
an appointment.
