As the holiday season draws closer and kids of all ages begin working up their wish lists, parents are commonly greeted with requests for a family pet — everything from lizards and rats to dogs and cats. There’s no doubt that pets can be fantastic holiday gifts for children. In fact, research shows that having animals in the house reinforces children’s self-esteem, promotes social skills and helps them to develop responsibility, nurturance and competence.
While animals can have a positive impact on the entire family, the decision to introduce a pet — even a single goldfish — to the household requires careful thought and thoughtful planning. In fact, many animal shelters and pet stores do not allow pets — particularly cats and dogs — to be adopted or purchased during the holiday season because so many of them end up being returned when the novelty wears off and the ongoing responsibilities become obvious.
If you’re considering purchasing or adopting a pet for your children this holiday season, start by asking yourself two basic, but essential questions: Are the children ready to have an animal in the household? And are the adult members of the household able and willing to provide for the animal’s needs?
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), children under age 10 may love the idea of having a pet, but are too young to be given responsibility for their care and feeding. Younger children tend to do better with smaller pets, such as guinea pigs, gerbils and goldfish — animals that don’t bite and require relatively little attention. Older children — preteens and teens — are not only very interested in animals, but are ready to handle the responsibility of seeing that their needs are met. However, parental oversight is still required to ensure that older children are following through on their responsibilities and that pets have adequate food and water, and that their cages or litter boxes are clean.
It’s important to remember that even when a pet “belongs” to a child, parents are the ones who buy the pet food, pay the veterinary bills and are ultimately responsible for the pet’s well-being.
If your child has his or her heart set on a pet this holiday season, but you’re not sure the timing is right, the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States suggest a two-stage process. First, purchase some of the supplies the pet will need (feeding bowls, toys, a pet bed, etc.) to give your child as gifts. Then, when everyone is ready and there is a plan in place for the animal’s care, the family can choose their new pet together.
For more information about children and pets, visit the ASPCA Web site at www.aspca.org.
