Pawsome Pals Make the Best Friends - Deciding on a Pet for your Family
Owning a pet is a big responsibility. It is also incredibly rewarding for children and adults alike. If you are like our family, your pets are more than just animals; they are members of the family. Before adding a new addition to your own family, there are many important things to consider. We will cover two of those important questions here:
- How do you know what pet is right for your family?
- When do you know your child is ready for a pet?
Let's break it down:
- How do you know what pet is right for your family? This one will be dependent on what the wants and needs are for your family. Other factors to consider are your commitment level, care level and expenses. Every pet can be great, but not all pets will be a great fit for your family. I am going to cover the most common pets in the order of their popularity. I bet you can guess some of these in the correct order. The first one I wrote about in the first Pawsome Pals book, The Ear Bend.
- Did you guess dog? You are correct! About one-third of households worldwide have at least one dog according to estimations. With those stats, you may already have a dog included in your family. Dogs make the best of friends for your little one to grow up with. A dog equates to unconditional love and a serious bond. You’ll want to research breeds individually to find the best fit for your family and to find that healthy balance of temperament, exercise, playfulness and companionship. Dogs are considered more of a high maintenance pet than some of the others on the list because of the level of care and training required. Let’s move on to another furry friend that purrs their way into the number two spot.
- Cats! Cat are considered the oldest pet, as ancient Egyptians commonly kept cats as their companions. Cats are much more independent than dogs, but they can be just as affectionate and with just as much personality. Those kitty claws and the litter box will be things to consider when you are thinking of adding a cat to your family, but they are considered lower maintenance compared to a dog. If you have a cat, they might be super interested in the number three pet.
- Fish are the third most popular pet. Fish make great beginner pets. Here is the thing about fish though. You have to learn the proper way to maintain an aquarium. Oh, a goldfish in a bowl? How hard can it be? No! Fish types need to be researched for the best tank setup, the right water conditions, etc. They are creatures that need the same love and care as any other pet - and that just may be my crazy love for animals, but it is true. Fish have nociceptors, which are their nerve cell endings, meaning their bodies are alerted to potential harm, such as high temperatures, harmful chemicals, etc. Science has even shown that some fish recognize their owners’ faces. Back to goldfish, they require and deserve a lot more than just a bowl. Can you guess the number four most popular pet before it flies away?
- Birds! One of my first pets as a child was a parakeet and it was great at teaching responsibility and just a fun pet to have. Birds are a more manageable pet as they are mostly contained to a cage. They have gentle personalities and they often form a strong bond with their owner. Budgies, or parakeets, are likely the most low maintenance of the birds kept as pets as they tolerate handling quite well and are relatively easy to care for. Birds are intelligent companions and do enjoy social interaction. Of course, the cage clean up would be something to keep in mind. Speaking of cages, the number five most popular pet comes in small sizes and are typically housed in a cage.
- Small animals, like hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and gerbils, make up the number five spot. Even though these tiny mammals are kept in an enclosure, spending quality time with them outside of their cage for socialization and exercise is important for these little critters. These pocket pets check lots of boxes as far as cute and cuddly go, but they do have very specific needs and nutrition to keep them healthy. Mice and rats also make great first pets! My parents really embraced my love of animals as a child. While my sister had hamsters as her first pets, I had reptiles mostly, but my two mice, Triscuit and Cheez-it, were favorites for sure!
These are the top five most popular pets, but there are still lots of other types that you might find to be the best fit for your family, whether it be a reptile (like my daughter’s Hermann’s tortoise or my many anoles and box turtles I had as my first pets), an amphibian (like my son’s axolotl), or a large mammal (like a horse).
No matter what pet you decide on, once the pet comes into your home, it becomes part of your family and deserves love and care for the rest of its life. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions as a family when it comes to the best care for your pet. Keep that in mind too as pets are a financial responsibility with the continued care and health of your pet will be ongoing. Veterinary care is so important in the well-being of your pet and sometimes illness and other issues can come up. Also, some pets, like several species of tortoises and parrots, are lifelong pets as they can live 50+ years. I often joke that my children’s axolotl and tortoise will be going to college with them, knowing full well that these pets will still be at our house, which brings us to the next point. As the parent, take in account how ready and able you are to help take care of the pet.
2. When do you know your child is ready for a pet? You know your child best, but there are some guidelines to help you to make that big decision if he or she is ready for a pet. These are the basic questions you’ll want to ask yourself about your child to know if he or she is ready:- Does your child show a lasting interest in owning a pet? You should determine whether it is just a phase or if it is a genuine interest that will not fade with time.
- Does your child show empathy for animals and is comfortable around animals?
- Does your child handle responsibilities in the house and can handle daily chores?
- Does your child know how to take care of the specific animal that you will be welcoming into your home? Every time we bring a new pet home, we do our research, reading books that tells us all about the animal and its required care and needs so that we are all set up for success and know what to expect. This is a big one! Set the expectations before you bring the pet home and if it seems too big or too much at the current time, then you can plan for the future. My son had been asking for an axolotl for years! We read books about their care and studied all that goes into having an axolotl as a pet, i.e. water conditions, frequent water changes, until we were well versed into what was required to give an axolotl a happy and healthy life before we welcomed one into our family.
Do you consider a pet a part of your family? The American Veterinary Medical Association found that 85% of dog owners and 76% of cat owners think of their pets as family. I do too - and not just dogs and cats, all pets! That’s why bringing a pet into your home is a big decision. I hope this helps in figuring out what pet is best for yours and if your child is ready to become a pet owner. My husband was also lucky enough to grow up in a family of animal lovers with different types of pets and so we have embraced our own little animal lovers. I’d love to hear your own pet stories! Please share and also if you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We have a ton of experience with different types of pets and different scenarios - moving with pets, traveling with pets, raising pets from babies to adulthood, senior pets and making some very hard decisions. Through it all, pawsome pals really do make the best of friends!
Shannon Mori is an internationally sold children's book author. Her passions include animals, writing and supporting fellow indie writers. Her blog, That's A'Mori, shares experiences in being an author, mom, wife and whatever other hat she is wearing that day. Her incredibly supportive husband and her two bright children, who love reading as much as she does, are her inspiration. After living all over the U.S. with a love for new adventures and travel, Shannon and her family, which include their beloved pets, now reside near the lake in the beautiful Ozark mountains of Missouri.
