“Can we keep him mom? We’ll take good care of him, we promise.” This is a common statement heard by parents everywhere while visiting or just walking by your local pet shop. When you finally decide that your family will be getting a pet how do you choose which pet would be right for you?
Your children’s ages should definitely be a consideration when choosing a family pet. Do they have the self control to listen and remember the pet care instructions? If they can’t handle following simple instructions you will be risking either your child or your new pet being hurt.
The age of the pet you are looking into adopting or purchasing should also be a factor. A younger animal like a puppy would do well with younger children while and older animal might prefer the company of an older child.
How much time will your family be able to care for your new pet? Dogs and cats really require a good amount of care, so if your family cannot commit a large amount of time to caring for a pet, a dog or cat would probably be a bad idea. A goldfish or a hamster are two great alternatives if your family is in the market for a low maintenance pet. You might want to consider a pet that would be simple for your child to care for and make sure that your child is comfortable with the pet that you choose. Additionally, you will want to be sure that you can provide a safe environment for your new family pet. Studies have shown that pets live a longer and happier life if they live inside with their families.
Making sure to do lots of research before you purchase a pet will help make sure that you choose a pet that will fit perfectly with your family.