December 17, 2008
The Joplin Globe
By Jane Drummond
I’m hearing a familiar ring to
what a lot of kids are asking for this year for Christmas! I hear
it every year from lots of the families I see in Parents as Teachers.
Kids want a pet. I say proceed with EXTREME caution.
Although a pet can be a wonderful addition
to your family, each year I have seen new pets come at Christmas
only to be given up on by January. In case your kid is hounding
you for a pet this holiday season, I turned to local veterinarian
Dr. Liberty Boyer for some advice and things to strongly consider
before adopting a new family member.
First of all, Dr. Boyer points out that
ALL pets are a commitment of time and money. A free puppy or kitten
will cost approximately $200 to $400 its first year for basic veterinary
care, including vaccinations and neutering. Then there are costs
throughout the pet’s life such as preventive medicines, staying
about the same each year IF the pet stays healthy.
You can add another $300 to $500 annually
to a dog that requires frequent grooming. New puppies also require
potty training, which is most successful when the new owners will
get up in the middle of the night with the dog for the first few
months, and a Christmas puppy requires you to do this in the dead
of winter. A new pet is a major commitment and shouldn’t
be taken lightly.
“The size of a pet does not need
to correlate to the size of the child,” says Dr. Boyer. “Small
children want pets they can hold and play with, but the idea that
small dogs are always better for children isn’t always true,
as small dogs can be more easily injured if accidentally dropped
and the tendency to develop aggression and fear biting is more
common in the smaller breeds.”
Dr. Boyer also notes that the theory
you need to raise your dog/cat with kids to bond them is a common
misconception. Young children are often upset by the nipping and
rough-housing of a puppy and the biting or scratching of a kitten.
She suggests starting with a calmer adult animal. With adult dogs
you can also see how big it will be, how it will interact with
your child and other pets, and how much energy it has. Adopting
from a local animal shelter will also allow you to know some history
on the dog before you get it, and most of these animals are already
vaccinated and neutered.
Before you buy a pet on impulse, Dr.
Boyer suggests sitting down as a family to decide what type of
pet to add to your family and discuss issues such as how much money
and time you want to commit to the pet. If everyone in the family
is gone most of the day, then is it fair to ask a pack animal like
a dog to spend the majority of its life in isolation? Research
the type of animal you want to get on the Internet. Pay close attention
to housing, diet requirements, average life span, common behavioral
and medical problems and activity levels. Interview people who
already have the kind of pet you are considering, or even offer
to “pet sit” or foster an animal for the shelter as
a test run before you fully commit to adoption.
Dogs live at least 10 years, with smaller
breeds living up to 18. Most cats will make it to at least 15 years.
Small rodents typically live up to two years, and some birds and
reptiles can be a 25-50 year commitment! Keep in mind that reptiles
will require larger cages as they grow and specialized environments
including lighting, heating, ventilation and humidity monitoring.
Most illnesses with reptiles can be attributed to their diet or
environment. Small rodents can be fast and noisy, playing all night.
Their cages also require a lot of maintenance to keep a clean and
healthy pet. If your child can’t keep his/her room picked
up, are they ready to clean an animal cage every few days?
Dr. Boyer warns of getting a pet from
a breeder with sick or dirty animals, as the money you give them
will only ensure they will continue to abuse and market animals.
She suggests that if you want a purebred animal to contact a breed-specific
rescue. These rescues are always full and will often be willing
to travel great distances to help find a good home to one of their
foster pets.
Also, please keep in mind that our local
animal shelters will be overrun with rejected “gift pets” in
January and February, and many have species in addition to cats
and dogs. Your family can save a rabbit, guinea pig, gerbil, rat,
ferret or who knows what else. But please, take the time to weigh
this long-term commitment and make it positive for the whole family,
pet included!
Jane Drummond is a parent educator
for the Carthage School District.
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