The other day at the pet
store I ran into someone who was looking for a pet for her young child. I know
there are many different opinions on this, but I am going to share mine.
Dogs: Dogs can be great
companions to children. They are faithful, loyal, and sometimes protective.
They take a lot of work in their younger years to build the patience and
attributes they will need to interact with children. A dog that is not trained
or cared for properly can be deadly to children.
Cats: Some cats are amazing
with kids and have all the patience in the world. Others want nothing to do
with kids and will hide from them and bite or scratch when approached. In my
opinion, if you are going to get a cat and have a child make sure it is just a
kitten and can grow up with your child’s behaviors.
Ferrets: These can be
wonderful pets for children. Although sometimes mean, if raised with children
they are generally friendly and loving animals. They will cuddle, play, and not
mind being carried everywhere. They are also less fragile than some other pets.
They do have a stronger odor than other pets and you will more than likely want
their scent glands removed.
Rats: I would recommend rats
over mice, because mice will escape and be near impossible to find. Rats are
another animal you want to purchase young. They will cuddle, interact and be
carried everywhere. However, some rats just want to escape and may bite.
Hamsters: These seem like the
classic child pet. Although they are nice and it is fun to watch them in the
hamster ball, they are for a very careful and cautious child (rare, I know).
Hamsters may squirm, escape, and have fragile bones. They can easily be
squashed and killed. The perfect example of this is a clip from My Wife and
Kids where Katie is playing with her pet hamster that she is unaware is already
dead.
Guinea Pigs: These are good
pets for kids. I have not met a guinea pig with a mean bone in its body. They
will let you hold them and will eat out of your hand. You cannot put them in
balls like you can hamsters because it can cause them serious back problems.
Rabbits: These are fun for
children to interact with. They are generally friendly and kids like to see
them hop around the yard. However, they often scratch when picked up and may
bite.
I would be likely to eliminate
the entire reptile category and birds.
Snakes: Some children are
afraid of snakes, and some snakes are afraid of children. Large snakes can bite
or constrict children, easily killing them. Small snakes such as corn snakes
are often friendly, but will easily escape their cage or a child’s hand.
Turtles and tortoises: They
are high maintenance, hard for children to interact with, and may carry
salmonella.
Lizards: Lizards are high maintenance. Often they will require live food and to be misted with water
multiple times a day. They can grow large, be vicious, and are also escape
artists.
Birds: Without their wings clipped, birds will escape when a
child tries to hold them. They will fly around your entire house and be nearly
impossible to catch. They are messy, generally do not like to be held, have
fragile bones, and have sharp beaks. The bird species that can talk will be
introduced to bad words your children learn and will repeat them as they
please.
