If you have children it’s almost inevitable that you’ve heard the phrase “Can we get a pet?” at least once. We all know that pet ownership comes with a lot of responsibility – but do the kids know it too?
Talking through the commitment and deciding on the right pet are key in ensuring your child’s first experience caring for their own best friend is a positive one.
Whether your child is ready to take care of a pet very much depends on the child, and age is not the determining factor. Some teenagers may not be aware of the responsibilities that come with taking care of a pet; while some 7, 8 or 9 year olds do understand the commitment required.
Making an assessment on whether you think your child is ready is essential, as you know your own child best. Some questions you might ask yourself include whether they tend to look after their own property, take responsibility seriously and are able to follow instructions, and whether they are able to maintain focus and stick with a task for longer periods.
Ultimately, as the adult responsible for a child, you are legally responsible for any pet. This means that you have to be more prepared than your child to care for an animal.
Once you have determined that your child is ready, it’s essential that your child understands exactly what’s involved in caring for an animal - after all, pet care involves more than just cuddling!
Making a chart that lists the daily, weekly and monthly tasks is a good idea, and might help to show your child what the expectation is around caring for their new friend. The chart should include feeding, grooming, cleaning up after the pet and exercising and playing with the pet - all essential elements in providing an animal with a good life.
When your child is aware of the responsibilities and you have determined that they are ready for them, it’s time to make a decision about the right pet for your child. As a first pet, it might be a good idea to choose an animal that is relatively easy to care for, such as a freshwater fish, insect or crustacean like a hermit crab.
Any pet you decide on has to be appropriate to your lifestyle and home, and other things to consider are whether you have the time and space, as well as ability to meet ongoing costs for food and vet care. But be mindful that any pet you get – no matter how small - is not disposable, and that these pets still require care for years.
Searching online or talking to your vet or local RSPCA is a good place to start to find the most appropriate first pet for your child.
Even if the primary care of the pet is your child’s responsibility, bear in mind that adult supervision is required. This means making sure your child has fed, groomed and exercised the pet, and that you remind them to clean up after their new friend. It might take them a little while to get into the rhythm of it, so be patient while your child gets used to their new responsibilities and everyone gets to know each other. Children and dogs should always be supervised when together.
Knowing when to entrust your child with the big responsibility of taking care of an animal isn’t always easy. If in doubt, decide to have the conversation a little later, as it’s important not to rush into a commitment that can’t be honoured and leaving your child open to the heartache that might bring.
You can always seek professional advice from a veterinarian or your local RSPCA. If you or your child aren’t quite ready for the responsibility of pet ownership, take pleasure in the animals around you, and look forward to the positive experience you will all have when the time is right for a new pet.
- The RSPCA is a charity that relies upon donations to provide animal care and protection services.
