Kids and Pets
By: Keith
Nearly every pet related website that I have visited today has a list of age appropriate pets for kids. That is exactly what I thought I would find, and it disappoints me. As a matter of fact most of the advice I find on the internet is complete rubbish. Indeed, concerning pets, there is only one suggestion that I consider valuable information. There is salmonella danger with reptiles and amphibians. I found that informative. But, even that seems a bit dubious considering that pets reptiles typically come from pet stores and not the local bog. There are other pet-specific bits of advice that make sense. However, blanket statement about which pets are good and which aren’t bothers me; stick to the facts. Parents should be able to decide the age appropriateness issues themselves based on what they know about their own kids. I have read several articles that talk about the unpredictable nature of dogs and other pets. I agree that dogs can be unpredictable, yet nobody is suggesting that we remove dogs from houses with kids – dangerous dogs, of course, but not every dog. The fact is that every animal will, in some way, be incompatible with some kids. There is no one-size-fits-all pet policy for kids and pets. It depends on the kid and it depends on the family and it depends on the pet.
Good First Pets
The jury is definitely out on the question of what is the best pet. The evidence is here. The advice is as varied as the respondents’ spelling of guinea pig. Many people say rabbits. A few say cats (but not white ones because they get cancer – apparently). But, what about all the websites that say rabbits might not be such great pets? It also appears that people think small animals equal trial animals. They think small animals are the way to go for a first pet because if they get stepped on it’s not a big loss. What!? Really? Since when were rabbits and turtles disposable? That advice is asinine. There are only two things to remember with kids and pets. The first is that the animal should not kill, or otherwise harm, the kid. The second prerequisite is that children should be empathetic of the animal’s needs. Without empathy kids are likely to see animals in the same way the see their other toys and not treat them with any respect; in that case no pet is a good pet, even snails. Other than that it doesn’t really matter if the pet is a German shepherd or a rat. It is almost always a case by case proposition.
Mentally Deficient Parents
Who didn’t hear about the kid who was killed by a pet python? The guy was supposed to have a license and didn’t. He was supposed to have the animal under lock and key and didn’t. This is an example of the parent being a dumbass. It’s tragic and I want to feel sympathetic. But, to whom should I direct my sympathy? The girlfriend knew there was a python in the house. If she didn’t know it was poorly secured she was at least responsible for knowing. She must feel terrible right now (I hope she does). There just isn’t anybody I can feel sorry for in this situation. The parents are idiots, and that’s how life is, and that’s how natural selection works.
An article about pets would not be complete without talking about pit bulls. The fact that many of these attacks are perpetrated by family pets does not surprise me. Pit Bulls can be gentle, friendly animals. They don’t have to be the menace that they currently are. Yet, of course, they are that menace. I’m sure I don’t surprise anybody by saying that pit bulls have become a projection of image in many low class neighborhoods. I am not impressed by anybody who is more concerned about their image than they are their kids. Enough said about that.
My Own list
Since we are talking about responsible parents and good pets for kids I thought I would make a list of what I think are good pets for kids. The top 10 are these:
1. Alligators: Tripping over a lump in the hall in the middle of the night in the dark was never so exciting.
2. Termites: Because kids never open the lid for a better look
3. Giraffes: They fit conveniently into 4 story tall houses that have no floors.
4. Eagles: Cats are old news; hunting house mice is now really, really fun.
5. Leeches: Because kids don’t need pockets to take them to show and tell.
6. Tape worms: The youth of America have an obesity problem
7. Tigers: Those pit bulls aren’t an issue anymore
8. Wart hogs: There was a cute one in The Lion King
9. Ass or Elephant: For the politically minded kids out there
10. A sibling: Hey, they count!
My opinion on pets is simple. Parents should avoid being stupid and irresponsible. They should remember that animals have survival instincts that are sometimes incompatible with kids. Not all dogs are bad dogs; even pit bulls are good pets when raised by loving families who aren’t rappers, football players, or bubba down the street. I think little furry pets are cute and are usually not bothersome. I do not think they are disposable. Their lives are just as important as dogs’ lives. If people don’t see that then they don’t deserve pets at all. Having pets is a responsibility. There are some little kids who are quite good with rabbits. We own a rabbit and my little kids are great with him. He’s a house rabbit and has a bowl and food just like a cat. He even uses a litter box. I know a few kids though who I would never trust around Mr. B. They are uncontrollable little kids whose parents never taught them the meaning of respect. It’s a case by case thing. There should be a Santa Clause for pets. Good little kids get rabbits and bad, nasty kids get alligators. That’s all I have to say about that.
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This is Neil with Mr. B, our pet bunny.
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Very balanced and funny! The childs well-being is a given but you rightfully considered the pets as well.They are not disposable little play things. If a kid is purposely mean to an animal chances are he’s just no damn good.
Mister B is a great pet bunny. If you are considering a pet and consider a rabbit too much trouble, then a dog will be a nightmare for you. Get a fish or get some plastic toys!
Keith that is a good article. I will write a piece on Golden Retrievers. and the joy they can give, and what they can do.
When people are getting a pet, they should consider whether they are getting a pet because it’s really just an extension of their image (like a piece of jewelry), because it’s something cute, or because it’s a ten year commitment (or more).
las paginas de desnudistas no son para niños
I think the issue of kids with pets is that parents don’t realize the work, research, and resources they have to put in. They think they can shove it in the backyard with the little one feeding it every so often. Even rabbits are costly and out of the scope of many people looking to buy their kid a pet, you need a specialized exotic vet that sees rabbits, the cost of spay and neuter, litter box training, ect. and on top of it they can live 10+ years.
On the pit bull issue, how do you define “pit bull”? There are “pit bull” breeds that include but are not limited to almost all types of mastiffs, ukc American Pit Bull terriers, AKC staffordshire terriers, AKC American Staffordshire terrier, bulldogs, ect. And then you have the UKC American Pitt Bull Terrier which is the breed I believe you are referring too.
Unfortunately you have summed up a very complex and controversial issue with just a paragraph with very few resources cited. As far as the news article, there were several key statements that would concern me about any dog regardless of breed, “gone to get a puppy in his family’s basement, where their full-grown male pit bull was chained” (this to me says he was an unfixed male, I will have to go look for the statistics, but most fatal dog attacks are unfixed male dogs), and “which had previously bitten other people” which to me says they should of already had the dog put down, then on top of this “The pit bulls recently had a litter of five puppies ” they bred this dog, passing on its genetics, a travesty in my opinion. Owners like this is why BSL is becoming so popular, which is a bandaid on a much larger issue.
I will have to agree with your statement in part though, “They don’t have to be the menace that they currently are. Yet, of course, they are that menace. I’m sure I don’t surprise anybody by saying that pit bulls have become a projection of image in many low class neighborhoods”. But not all are this “menace” that you call them, I have never seen a well bred, show quality American pit bull terrier in a low class neighborhood, for the simple reason that they are costly. I will leave you with a little homework to drive home my point:
Here is the breed standard: http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/Breeds/AmericanPitBullTerrierRevisedNovember12008
Now both of these breeders breed ukc registered pit bulls but can you see the difference? Do they look like the same breed of dog? Which would you pick out as a pitbull if you saw them on the street? Which do you think is closer to the breed standard?
http://www.mdsprivate.com/HOWARD___OLIVE.php
http://www.muglestonspitbullfarm.com/males.html