A
pet can add excitement and entertainment to your life.
Studies have shown that pet ownership may also be good for
your health. Most health authorities agree that a pet
provides benefits to humans of all ages, including love and
compassion.
Kids can learn important
lessons by having a pet, for example:
Self-esteem. The sense of
accomplishment that comes from taking care of a pet
builds self-image.
Compassion. Experts at
Purina say kids learn to understand how people feel by
caring for a pet.
Language and verbal
skills. Children learn to express themselves and
communicate when talking to a pet.
Responsibility. Caring for
a pet teaches them how to take on risks and follow
through with tasks.
Life events. The death of
a family pet helps kids understand and cope with basic
issues of life.
While pets can provide a vast
range of learning experiences, make sure you are willing to
make a lifetime commitment to your new pet. Finding a pet
that fits into your lifestyle is essential.
There
are families who are so busy and on the run so much, they
probably shouldn't own any breed of dog. "Don't
Buy A Dog" is a good read for anyone considering
adding a dog for the first time to their family.
For busy families who spend
little time at home, cats are a good choice as they are
independent enough to survive and thrive without human
companionship. All a hamster needs is moderate
temperatures and food/water. You might also want to consider
adding an aquarium to your family until your life settles
down. The last thing you want to teach your child is
that an animal is expendable.
Pet ownership, especially dog
ownership, is anything but inexpensive. Usually
"free" pets prove to be very expensive. In
addition to considering how much time you can devote to your
family's pet, also consider what the health and maintenance
expenses will be.
Deciding not to get a dog as
a pet at this time can also be a wonderful learning
experience for your child. Share with your child the
reasons that make adding a dog to your family at this time a
bad idea. You'll be teaching your child valuable
life lessons such as
thinking of others (what's
best for the potential puppy)
the value of waiting for
the right time
that some decisions are
too important to be rushed.
The old adage that if it's a
good idea today, it will still be a good idea tomorrow is
never more true than adding a pet to your family. This
is not a decision to be made in the middle of a store in the mall,
staring down into a set of soulful puppy eyes. Take a deep
breath, go home and RESEARCH your decision. You'll be
glad you did.
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