F * A* M*I* L*Y Let’s talk Pets

"Our Perfect Companions never have fewer than four feet", - Colette

This stamp set  is part of my collection and was released on August 20, 1998.  It pays homage to five of America's most popular pets: the cat, parakeet, hamster, dog, and fish. 

Your kids are home from school, or a friends house, and the idea just pops into their head.  They want to be the proud owner of a Pet.  Mom, can we have a (Insert animal of choice) pleaseeeeee?

Before you are seduced by a sad puppy eyed child, and decide to grant this wish of adding a furry, scaly, feathery, or even squishy friend to your family, there’s a few things to consider:

Make a list of the Pros & Cons.  “Good things vs Bad things” as I call it when I speak with the kids.  Owning a pet won't just be about happy moments.   You will have to deal with adjusting to someone else living with you who will need attention, care, love, but most of all, time. So think of what will change and what you will lose, or gain by becoming a pet owner.

I made this template to use in our family discussion about pets.

• Do your research. Take time to get to know the personality, habitat, needs and traits of the pet you are considering. What type of care will it require? How much space will it need to be comfortable and happy? Are they good pets for the ages of your children? Is it a pet you love yet, the pet itself isn't a kid friendly pet? I mean, kids love dinosaurs but can we house one?

Ry and Meg adopted their classroom pet, a bunny rabbit named Patrick.  When I asked why wanted a pet, their answer was, "he is good company when we are bored".

•   Adopt don’t shop when possible. I’m pro-adoption, but, while there are many pets at your local pet shelter, the needs of your family may require a specific breed, or type of personality and training.   But please, consider that you should not pick a pet based on looks, popular movies or pop culture trends. Be a responsible pet owner and commit to your pet.

Gio and her family adopted an Australian Shepherd named Dakota.  Dakota just graduated puppy training school,  and has calmed down a lot since she came home with them.  She is a smart, loving, and energetic puppy still, but is more disciplined after training.  

• Make sure no one in your family is allergic to the pet BEFORE,  you commit to pet ownership. Please take this as a must. You don’t want to have to find an alternate home for your pet once your child is attached to him/her. While you can develop an allergy after being exposed to a pet, most allergic reactions can be confirmed by blood work, or allergy testing before the pet is brought home. If you suspect someone  in your family may be allergic, please confirm before you commit!

Audrey and Owen had been wanting a pet for a while.  Their parents opted for a  sable ferret. They named him Finn.   He has helped them manage their anxiety, social skills, and they work as a team to care for Finn.   He is energetic and loves to play with the kids. I asked them what the downside to having a ferret was, their answer " he gets stinky, and we have to clean his cage daily". 

• Ask Questions.   Don’t let the hype of the moment blind your judgement or decision.  Who will care for the pet when you go on vacation? Will you travel with your pet? Can the pet stay home and someone come by and feed him and clean his cage/litter box? Can you hire a dog walker?

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  Dave found Pirulo in their backyard with something stuck on his feathers,. He was trying to clean himself in the kids pool. Dave's Dad picked him up and started to clean and scrub him. Pirulo was happy to be cleaned and became the home pet.  He says a few words and gets happy when the kids sing to him.  He loves to be out of his cage And walk  around just like the kids!

• Establish roles.   Be clear with your family and kids about pet responsibilities and chores. Set the rules before you bring your new pet home.  Parents let’s be honest here, it’s unrealistic to expect, or tell a child they will be fully responsible for their pet (this changes with the kids age too, so keep that in mind. an older child can handle more responsibility). This is a family decision in which everyone will need to cooperate fully. At the same time, it will become a burden if one one person in the family takes care of all of the pet’s needs. Walks, feedings, baths, trips to the vet, and messy cleanups will all be a part of this venture. So as a famous lawyer said once, “ If it don’t fit, you must acquit,” you get the idea. I would say this is the most important part of the decision making. 
  
  

• Be Realistic as to the load a new pet will bring and how your family dynamics will change. its normal to think at first,  "Aw, it's so cute, it will be great for the kids".  While getting your kids a pet has many benefits, like learning to be caring, compassionate, and can help them become more active.  It can also improve their mood and social skills, it is still a big adjustment. I always tell people that pets are like babies. 

This stamp  series is also part of my collection and it was released on September 20, 2002.  Samantha, the kitten on the Neuter and Spay stamps, and Kirby, the puppy, were both adopted from animal shelters. As responsible, caring pet owners, their new families had them both neutered.

• Test it out.  If you want to see if your kids will adjust and your family can handle the added cuteness overload of a new pet, visit a friend with a pet, do some pet sitting, ask your child's teacher to care for the class pet over the weekend. This will allow you to have an idea of what's its like to have a pet at home and you will have better sense of the schedule a pet has, it’s needs, and the workload it will bring.

Luna, A German shepherd puppy playing with the kids after school.    Luna's family was having some work done at their home. So they took care of her during this time, and got to experience first hand what its like to care for a growing puppy.  The family decided having a dog was not a right fit for them at this time as Luna required a lot of attention and care.

Think if the pet you are considering fits your lifestyle ( work/school, busy life, frequent traveler). All in all, pets can be a great addition to the family if you are ready to become a pet owner. Remember, pet ownership is a long term commitment.    Some of my fondest childhood memories include either a pet of my own or my friends pets.  Having a pet at home gives you something to look forward to, a furry friend you will love like you've never experienced before!  After you consider this, will you say YES to the PET? LOL!!! ( TLC please don't sue me for copyright infringement).