Taking responsibility for a pet
But before you rush out to get a pet to help your child through a rough time, make sure you have realistic expectations, says Sandra Johnston, the volunteer coordinator with the Pet Access League Society in Calgary. Pets are not a cure-all, she says, especially if owning a pet means unwelcome changes to your family's lifestyle. For instance, dog ownership may be impractical if your family makes frequent weekend trips or if a family member has allergies.
And regardless of what your kids promise, expect that you will do the feeding and grooming. It's reasonable to expect a child of 12 to be able to take on the primary responsibility with some supervision from you.
Love sees no breed
While most of the research has concentrated on the interaction between children and dogs, you need not limit your search to canines. Cats, especially ones that enjoy sitting with people and react well to petting and grooming, can be great companions and confidantes. And even hamsters, gerbils, birds and fish can teach children about responsibility.
For your child to reap the benefits of animal companionship, she needs to develop a bond with her pet. Here are some ideas for encouraging that connection.
• Involve her in the selection and naming of the pet.
• If your child is too young to walk the dog on her own, do it together.
• If your dog handles routine visits to the vet well, bring your child along. You might also ask her to remind you when it's time for checkups.
• Enrol in obedience classes together. Children will get a self-esteem boost from teaching their dog to sit and heel.
• Encourage talking to and confiding in the animal. It may help to do this by example.
