Is your family ready for a pet?

SOONER OR LATER, EVERY PARENT WILL BE FACED WITH A CHILD WHO WANTS A PET. BUT IS YOUR FAMILY READY FOR THE EXTRA RESPONSIBILITY? Sheryl Bautch with family service says, No matter what your children promise, most of the time the parent will eventually end up taking care of the pet. If this is not acceptable to you as the parent, do not get the pet. She also says parents should consider time, energy and commitment, Cost, Space and Health Concerns Do you, the parent, have the time, energy and commitment to care for this pet (remember, you shouldn`t count on the children to do this)? Pets need to be trained, walked, fed, have their litter box or cage cleaned, etc. Don`t bring a pet into your home unless you are willing to give it the time and care needed to make the relationship successful Cost: Can you afford this pet? Consider all of the costs, including food, training, licenses, equipment, toys and medical care. If you`re away from home a lot, also include the cost of boarding or a pet-sitter. A dog or a cat will probably cost a minimum of $300 per year. Permission to have a pet: If you live in an apartment or condominium, check with your landlord or condo association to be sure pets are allowed. If your current housing is temporary, ask yourself if you have the commitment to take the pet with you when you move. Space needs: Be sure you know how large your pet will get and ask yourself if your home is adequate for the pet`s space needs. Health concerns: Make sure you know whether anyone in your family, and anyone who visits your home frequently, is allergic to any type of animal. If your children have never really been around cats or dogs, consider having them spend time with these animals before bringing one into your home so you can be sure they don`t have allergies. Sheryl says remember that, in addition to training your pet, you need to train your children. They must be taught to respect the pet and how to behave around it. Every day pets are turned in to shelters for biting or scratching a child when it is the child who poked, teased or grabbed the pet. If your child is too young or too rambunctious to learn the proper way to treat a pet, then your family should wait before getting a pet. JH 8/4