If you have kids and are thinking of adopting a pet, here’s what you should consider to make the best choice for your family and your new friend.
Getting a new pet and introducing it to your family can be a challenging and rewarding experience—this becomes doubly-so if you happen to also have children. In this extensive article written by the HSUS the different issues and possible ramifications of a pet with children.
When I was growing up, the first pet that I knew was a beautiful Siamese cat named Sesi. She was sleek, slinky and generally stayed out of my way. I only have the vaguest memories of her now, sleeping on the couch, or standing just out of reach. She and I had few interactions and she didn’t have a lot of effect on me in my childhood except as something of a living decoration. To this day I still remember her shimmering eyes in pictures, white fur, and dark Siamese points.
The first pet that I had that actually became a responsibility, and thus a close friend, was Kit-ho, my Himalayan dwarf rabbit. I loved her to death—possibly chosen because she reminded me of Sesi in a way: white bunny, black paws, black nose, black ears, black tail. Living in the country she was basically my 4H project for a few years.
Over the years I grew through more rabbits and eventually a long-time closest friend cat, Cloud, who I will miss to this day. Although, I grew up with Cloud in high school to college and not just as a young child.
Introducing a pet and a child can create an unbreakable bond. It is the addition of what could be seen as basically a new member of the family who has different needs and adorations than a normal human companion. They add a varied number of emotions to the household and fill a niche that might otherwise have gone empty.
Link, via the HSUS.