Pet Goddess

Once you have decided upon a particular pet, whether it’s a puppy, kitten, or other animal suitable for young children; even before the animal comes home for the first time, parents need to sit down with the children and talk to them about responsibility and care of the new pet. 

You will need to buy the basics for the pet, so have everyone help so they know the basic essentials of caring for the pet. 

Some kids are unreliable when it comes to new pets.  For the first few months they pamper the pet, play with the pet, and thoroughly enjoy the new addition to the family.   

Inevitably, however, as children grow, they become bored with the pet, and the responsibility of taking care of it falls in the parents’ lap.  

Owning a pet is a permanent commitment that an entire family has to agree upon, and it is for the life of the pet, not just for when it seems convenient.  

Pets offer so much unconditional love, it is unfair to do any less in return.  All they want in return is to be dutifully cared for, fed, walked, hugged, and loved.   

They can bring immense joy and happiness to a family, provided they are ready to share their lives with the pet. 

Which is why deciding if your family is ready for a pet requires thoughtful consideration, research, and an open dialogue among all family members.  Everyone in the family needs to contribute to the wellbeing of the pet, so everyone in the family needs to be part of the decision making process as to whether or not your family is ready for a pet.

Posted January 25, 2009 Comments(0)

Once you have gone through the pet questionnaire which we gave you in part 2, if all of the answers are satisfactory, then the choice of where to get your new pet comes next.  

Some pet owners prefer acquiring a kitten or puppy from a breeder, while others may decide that a shelter is more suitable.  Keep in mind, however, that both kittens and puppies are the first to be adopted, and it may take a while before you find a suitable pet in a shelter.    

On the other hand, if you are prepared to take what is deemed a young, or young adult dog, you might only get your choice faster, but also a dog that in most cases does not need so much training from scratch.   

It should be noted that some pet stores carry puppies that are purchased from puppy mills.  If at all possible, select a pup from another source, as most of puppy mill puppies have health problems that unscrupulous pet shop owners will never reveal to you. In addition, you will be helping to free all the dogs being treated cruelly in this barbaric industry. 

If you decide on another type of pet for your family, there are other important factors which you should consider.  There are some pets that carry diseases.   

The following group of pets should not be considered when there are small children in the home: turtles, reptiles, ferrets, or exotic animals of any type.   

Before deciding on any pet, ensure that no one in your family is allergic to animals in general or cats in particular. Studies have shown that more people tend to be allergic to cats than any other animal.

Posted January 23, 2009 Comments(0)

The following questions as to whether or not your family is ready for a pet can be applied to a puppy or kitten. 

·          Can we afford to buy a pet? 

·          Can we afford to raise a pet? 

·          Will the children, as much as they want one, be able to live well with a  

pet? 

·          Do we have enough space?  

·          Who will take care of the pet? 

·          Who will train the pet? 

·          Where will we find a vet? 

·          How will we afford the vet’s bills? 

·          Should we take out pet insurance. 

·          The children need so much our attention-do we have the time to address  

the many needs of the pet? 

·          Should we get a dog, cat, or other pet? 

·          What are the pros and cons of each pet? 

·          Do we want a specific breed of dog or cat? 

·          Which breeds are best with children? 

·          What health issues would each of the breeds have? 

·          What do we do with the pet when we are at work and school. 

·          What would we do with the pet when we went on vacation? 

·          Who would be able to look after the pet if it were ill? 

·          What happens to the pet when it gets elderly? 

These are questions parents have to ask themselves and the family members, and answer honestly. 

Posted January 21, 2009 Comments(0)

There are many things one has to consider before choosing a pet for the family.  While all pets require attention, there are some that demand more than others.   

In addition, there is the cost factor. 

Then there are the ages of your children, the number of people in your household, how busy the household is, and how much time you can realistically spend training the pet, giving it attention, and tending to its needs for food, love, companionship, toileting, and other essentials which help make it an emotionally secure and happy animal.  

Therefore, given all these considerations, the determination as to whether or not having a pet has to be worked through carefully by all parties concerned. 

Before making a decision, you have to ask: Is our family ready for a pet?  Let’s take a closer look at the most important issues regarding this decision. 

Here is a typical scenario:  It’s a beautiful spring day and you decide to take your small children into town.  While there, you happen to pass a pet shop.   

The kids naturally become quite excited at the puppies and kittens on display.  They press their noses up against the window and begin “choosing” which puppy or kitten they want to bring home.  

 “Please, mommy, please, can we get one?” they cry.   

What are you supposed to do!   

You can stall for time by telling them that you will have to discuss it with the other parent first.  You might be totally fibbing, of course.  

OR, you might actually have an eye on one puppy that you would love to take home as well.  Sound familiar? 

Now comes the hard part. Deciding whether or not your family is ready for a pet.  So the discussion begins.  The following questions can be applied to a puppy or kitten.

Posted January 19, 2009 Comments(0)

No matter what type of pet you choose for your kids, the first order of business is to discuss responsibility and care of the pet.  Too often, some kids get too rough with their pets which results in an unwelcome bite.  

Although fish are easy to maintain, dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs will be handled by the kids on a frequent basis.   

Teaching them the proper way to interact with these pets not only provides a fun experience, but affords kids the opportunity to learn about different breeds, species, and characteristics which can later encourage them to learn more about nature in general, and responsibility in caring for living things.

Posted January 5, 2009 Comments(0)

Parakeets/Parrots There are a wide variety of parakeet and parrot species which may be suitable for kids.  Parrots, especially, can provide hours of enjoyment since most of them are highly intelligent and can be taught words or phrases by the kids. 

It is important to note, however, that some parrots available today have been illegally caught and traded.  Acquiring a young parrot from a breeder may be more suitable since it can be trained more easily.  Parrots can be costly; a steel cage and numerous toys would be needed to prevent the parrots from becoming bored.  Food, water and bath dishes are required as well.  

The other problem is the beak—a parrot can crack nuts with it, so just think what it can do to a child’s finger if you are not careful. A safer choice is the smaller parakeet, but as with all birds, it is important to ascertain if they are healthy, show any idiosyncrasies that may signal a problem, and have been properly cared for by the breeder.

Posted January 3, 2009 Comments(0)

Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, Gerbils 

These members of the rodent family are inexpensive to purchase,  and quite cute, but the incidentals such as cages, food, and toys may be a bit costly.   

They can provide hours of fun for kids, but the main drawbacks are chewing and gnawing, and not being able to put males in the same cage with one another.   

They also have a short lifespan.  They require low maintenance as compared with a dog or cat, or dealing with the fish in a tank, but their cages should be cleaned regularly.  

Note: Gerbils have large incisors which means they tend to bite, so its important to provide them with baby carrots or other vegetables since they love to chew on just about anything. Hamsters and guinea pigs tend to be a bit less lively.

Posted January 1, 2009 Comments(0)

Fish  

Fish are also affordable kid friendly pets.  They are easy to maintain and are available in a variety of species.   

The only caveat is that a tank with a proper filtration system is required, which can be rather expesnive. Certain breeds of fish can be as well.  And not all types of fish get along with one another in the tank, so make sure you do you research and ask for advice in the pet store. 

Fish are not only beautiful to look at, but for adults they act as a de-stressor and provide a soothing atmosphere as well. 

They are certainly not as hands on as owning a dog or cat, but they can be a rewarding pet for the whole family.

Posted December 30, 2008 Comments(0)

Cats  

Perhaps you have decided to adopt a cat from a shelter. Or have even found one on the street.  If a kitten or cat is your choice for your family pet, and especially for your kids, keep in mind that although they are very playful and energetic, they will need some training.   

If you choose an adult cat, it’s a good idea to ask the people at the shelter where the cat came from how it interacts with other animals, and its age and overall health.  In either scenario, cats are very kid friendly and yet independent enough to  not be as high-maintenance as a dog. 

Note: Before adopting a cat, ensure that the kids are not allergic to cat dander.

Posted December 28, 2008 Comments(0)

Have your kids been heckling you to buy a pet?   

If so, here are 5 kid friendly pets which are not only interesting to children, but will offer enjoyment to the entire family. 

Dogs 

One of the most lovable of all pets is the dog.  They love children, are very social, loyal, intelligent, offer unconditional love, and provide hours of enjoyment.  

While most dogs are usually kept outdoors, they love the indoors as well.  Care and maintenance of the dog is affordable.  There are many at shelters who could really use a good home. 

If you want to have a puppy of a specific breed, do your research and make sure you are not just basing your decision on looks.  Make sure that the breed of dog you choose will fit in with your family’s lifestyle. 

Ensure that any puppy you might get is acquired through a breeder, however, since most pet shops have puppies that originated from puppy mills. 

If you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder, you can easily trace its lineage online by checking its pedigree, to also make sure it has no health issues. 

If you choose an adult dog, it’s a good idea to ask the people at the shelter where the dog came from how it interacts with other animals, and its overall health. They usually give various behavioral tests which will let you know what to expect long before you take your new friend home with you. 

Dogs make a great family pet, but keep in mind that any dog, young or old, will require time, attention, training, and exercise.

Posted December 26, 2008 Comments(0)