1. What kind of pet do they want, and is it a pet you are willing to accept in your home? If your child wants a rat and you are terrified of rats, then you need to come to an understanding with your child that you simply will not allow rats. In no way am I suggesting rats are bad pets, I am only using them as an example of a pet some parents do not want.

2. Are you willing to help with the care of the pet when your child is away, or sick? If the answer is “no”, then do not get a pet, because it is unrealistic to expect a child to not get sick, or to not want to go to a friends house for a night. Sure if you get sick, you still have to look after your duties, but you are an adult, it is a different world for kids. It is also unfair for the pet to be neglected simply because the child is ill, or wants to spend time with their friends.

3. Are you willing to keep the pet if, and when, your child moves away from home, or goes to College? Most places do not allow pets, so very likely when your child moves away, they will not be able to take the pet with them. If you are not willing to keep the pet, and it is unlikely that an older pet will find a new home, it is certain to be faced with the likelihood of being euthanized. This is not fair to the pet, or your child.

4. Read more in Pets

   « Transporting Live Animals

   Animals in Emergency Shelters »

   Are you willing to pay for the pet, the ongoing feed and supply costs, as well as medical bills? Sure your child might have a part time job and be willing to help with expenses, but what if they loose the job? Or what if the pet requires and emergency veterinarian visit? It is a high expectation of a child to carry the burden of being unable to afford a pet.

5. Are you willing to oversee the care of the pet? This might mean nagging them to clean the cage or reminding them to walk the dog. Children live in the moment, while some can see the job and act on it, many cannot. We know even adults in the work force often need to be given daily direction, and our children do too. Where employees have supervisors to make sure a job is done and done correctly, you need to take a role in overseeing the regular care of the pet, helping when needed or demonstrating proper care.

6. Are you willing to accept total responsibility for the pet if your child gets bored of it? This is a tough question for many adults to answer honestly. I know, because I worked at a shelter and we often had people bring in their children’s pets for the reason that the child failed to care for it. Since most people, stores, and shelters, will not sell a pet to a child, the adult at some point accepted responsibility for the pet. The fact is that the parent then put the commitment onto the child. Ultimately the pet was the one to suffer in the end, because most of these pets were older and not adoptable. If a parent is not willing to accept total responsibility for the life of the pet they bring into their home, quite simply they should not get a pet. Ultimately I feel that a pet is a life, it is not a tool for teaching about responsibility.

Image Source

Pros and Cons of some Common Pets