Houstonians love their pets. The Defender found that out in a big way via the overwhelmingly positive response to our 2022 feature article on the subject.
For some adults, the fondest memories of their childhood center around the relationship they had with the family pet. And it’s adults who had personal experiences with pets during their childhood who are most likely to buy a pet for their own children.
Still, parents considering introducing a pet to their family dynamic should take into account more than just personal fond pet memories or desires to give their children the pet experience simply because as a child, they went pet-less.
Here are the pros and cons of getting your child(ren) a pet via kidsinthehouse.com and readersdigest.co.uk. Take these into consideration before making the decision that’s right for your household.
The Pros
Exercise Companion
Young children who play with dogs are up to 50% less likely to be overweight or obese, suggests research from Deakin University, Melbourne. “Even incidental play with a dog helps keep the weight off,” says head researcher, Jo Salmon. Also, the activity level in children with pets is considerably higher, which often means reduced risks of childhood obesity and diabetes.
Responsibility
“Pets introduce [children] to routine responsibility,” says O’Haire. “Caring for an animal may be one of the few outlets kids have to learn nurturing and care-giving skills.” This facility for care can translate to appropriate views on animal welfare as a whole. “What a child considers to be acceptable treatment of farm animals or wildlife often reflects how they’d feel if those treatments were applied to their beloved family pet,” says Dr. Paul McGreevy of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, and author of Handle with Care – Making Friends with Animals.
Empathy/Caring
Caring for a pet not only teaches children about responsibility, it also helps them develop their nurturing side. This can be especially beneficial to boys, who do not usually get to experience themselves as caregivers during their formative years.
Problem-Solving
Pets help children develop patience and problem-solving, says Maggie O’Haire from the University of Queensland’s School of Psychology and Centre for Companion Animal Health. “A dog or cat won’t do what a child wants them to do all the time.” That, she says, teaches compromise. “Once a child considers an animal’s point of view, they tend to change their behavior… These lessons often translate to better communication with the people in a child’s life. Learning to communicate with a non-verbal other is also a great lesson in patience.
Respect
Pets help foster personal growth by advancing the kids’ sense of respect for life and nature.
Impulse Control
Researchers have found that children with pets are more often better adjusted, more confident and exhibit greater impulse control. This is attributed to the level of responsibility and discipline they must exhibit to be a good pet owner.
Stress Reduction
Research has shown that pets soothe and reduce stress in children.
Intimacy
More than 90% of children list pets in their top ten most special relationships, says Dr. June McNicholas, a psychologist from the University of Warwick who specializes in human-pet interaction. “In some cases, pets even came first, above all human relationships.” The children, aged seven and eight, said they confided in pets and turned to them for comfort when ill.
The Cons
Cost
Let’s be real; with Blackfolk, cost is almost always issue number one. The expense of owning a pet is real. With “inflation” making the cost of everything go up, including food for your spouse and children, paying hundreds of dollars per month for dog food is a deterrent for people who aren’t “ballin’ outta control.” And when you add routine vet care, emergency vet care, pet accessories, etc., we’re talking a huge investment.
Allergies
One of the worst things that can happen is bringing home a new pet only, “come-na-fyne-aut” someone at the house is allergic to the new family member. This can add its own kind of trauma. Why? Because removing this new family member almost as soon as it arrives can leave your children feeling the pain of loss.
Time Investment
Children will swear on everything holy that if you buy them those fish, that dog or (God forbid) a cat, that they’ll keep that aquarium clean, walk Fido daily and gladly and/or manage the kitty litter and cat hair situations so that the house stays looking and smelling good. But there are thousands of parents who know from firsthand experience that those promises and good intentions went missing in action when the reality of of time commitment hit their children up-side the head. That means, pet care then becomes another parent assignment.
Bites
Most dog owners swear their dog doesn’t bite. To that, many seasoned Blackfolk respond, “If that animal has teeth, it bites.” And truer words have never been spoken. Roughly 60% of the most serious cases of dog bites occur in children under 10. And more than 60% of dog bites aren’t from a stranger’s pet, but rather from the family pet, or that of a friend, neighbor or relative. Definitely something to think about.
