Companion Animal CarePets Can’t Teach Kids Responsibility. That’s Your Job.
A Companion Animal Care Article from All-Creatures.org

This Companion Animal Care article is being presented to help people seeking reliable resources, tips, and information for companion animals.

FROM

The National Humane Education Society (NHES)
August 2014

The most obvious consequence happens when an adult obtains an animal with the intentions of having a “family pet,” but the animal becomes a constant topic of conflict when other family members don’t have the time or inclination to help with daily care. In this case, if a parent or other adult does not assume total care of the animal, the animal may be relegated to life on a chain or even abandoned. Many are taken to shelters. When this happens, the children have just witnessed that problems can easily be “dealt with” by passing them on to others.

One spring day, a couple walked into an animal shelter to surrender their young female shepherd. The dog was friendly and there hadn’t been a divorce, relocation, or other major event in the family that often precedes the surrender of a pet. The man had intended to teach his daughter responsibility by giving her a dog. When the 10-year-old girl didn’t care for the dog, the parents realized they didn’t want to assume that responsibility either. The shepherd, now past her “puppy stage,” consequently found herself without a home. This true story illustrates one way acquiring a pet to teach your children responsibility can backfire.

Pets can have a profound social impact on the young. The experiences children have with their pets are different from the experiences they have with their toys. While both toys and pets are enjoyable to children, a toy’s purpose is to be used according the whims of children. When toys become tiresome, they can simply be put away. Children must be guided by adults to understand that living things aren’t made that way. Even the simple action of pausing a video game to walk the dog demonstrates a mature ability to prioritize the needs of another. This, however, is not something that happens without prior and continuing parental guidance.

Before acquiring a pet, families with children must decide if the children will have any pet-related duties. If so, the children should first and foremost know what will be expected of them in terms of pet care. Secondly, the children must have already consistently demonstrated the ability to satisfy those duties. For example, the children might care for a nearby relative’s pet for a period of time. If this isn’t possible, children can practice regular care of a living thing by growing a plant to fruition. Even a humble tomato plant requires regular attention.

Through these kinds of activities, parents are offering an opportunity for their kids to practice daily diligence. Parents can also observe how their children meet these duties and gauge their children’s current level of responsibility. If a pet is brought into the home before the children are ready, parents risk facing several unpleasant consequences. The most obvious consequence happens when an adult obtains an animal with the intentions of having a “family pet,” but the animal becomes a constant topic of conflict when other family members don’t have the time or inclination to help with daily care. In this case, if a parent or other adult does not assume total care of the animal, the animal may be relegated to life on a chain or even abandoned. Many are taken to shelters. When this happens, the children have just witnessed that problems can easily be “dealt with” by passing them on to others.

Although pets can help children practice responsibility, this virtue is not something an animal will teach. That’s the parents’ job.


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