Kids & Kritters

A pet can be an important part of a child's life. However, some animals require lots of time, special handling, or are just too delicate to be a good "kid critter." The level of responsibility, commitment and maturity one child has can - of course - be quite different from another. However, there are some basic questions which apply under any circumstance.

If considering a pet for a child, ask yourself the following:

How easy is this animal to care for?
In most cases, a good kid/critter match would be an animal which has simple care needs. Pets with a demanding diet, which require daily cage cleaning, or have other specialized needs probably aren't good choices.
How "tough" is the animal?
Some animals - such as sugar gliders and chinchillas - are delicate creatures. The special handling and environment they require makes them a poor choice as a kid pet.
How "tough" is the kid?
Some animals - such as a prairie dog or coatimundi - would be simply too much for most children. Although they can become extremely friendly, their large size can truly make them a handful! Also, these animals aren't as "well behaved" as a domesticated pet of similar size.
When is the animal active?
If an animal is nocturnal, most of the handling and feeding should be done in the late evening. Keeping nocturnal animals awake all day can cause unnecessary stress and sleep deprivation. This can lead to a variety of health problems. Nocturnal behavior is instinctual. No matter what anyone tells you, very rarely can a nocturnal animal be successfully "turned around."
What happens five years later?
Some animals have long life spans. For example, a 13 year old getting a pair of sugar gliders is likely to have these pets until he is 25 to 27 years old. There's a lot of life changes in there! Some of these - such as living in a college dorm - would be impractical and not in the gliders' best interest.
Why do you - the adult - want this pet?
Any critter which is gotten as a kid pet should be desired by the adult(s) in the household. Once the initial novelty wears off, it may well be the adult who provides the care. If you are not willing to do this for the entire life span of the animal, don't get any pet!

The Circle Of Life

Having a pet should not be a learning experience for a child. The basic skills and knowledge necessary to care for the animal need to exist already. Also, never get a pet to teach a child about life. A couple specifics in this regard:

Pets need care and respect
The right pet can help foster a respect of all living things. But, the child needs to have these traits before being entrusted with the life of an animal. Don't get a pet in order to teach a child responsibility and commitment.
All living things eventually die
This should be considered before you even bring a pet home! When a furry friend reaches the end of his life cycle, it can be devastating for anyone. As the adult, you need to be ready to help the child deal with the death of a beloved pet.
Do not breed your pets to teach the facts of life
Occasionally, we talk with parents who are thinking about this. We strongly encourage you to reconsider. Breeding on any scale entails a lot of additional responsibilities and factors - everything from what will be done with the babies to legal requirements.

For more on this topic, visit Before You Breed.