Kids and Pets

 

Expecting parents and veterans with several kids might wonder what animals make suitable pets.

Some wrestle with the idea of keeping any pets in the house at all, due to concerns about safety, cleanliness and allergies. For others, it’s a matter of choosing the best fit for the whole family.

Sure, some animals are out of the question. But lions, tigers and bears aside, what are families keeping as pets these days? Our Facebook friends have provided us with some insight.
First, there’s man’s — or woman’s — best friend, the good ol’ dog. But not all dogs are equal. Heather Bliss Lee and her family have had an excellent experience with their golden retriever.
She says, since birth their kids have climbed on their dog “and he never flinches.”

Cats are another traditional favorite. Crystal Caffrey enjoys them because hers are calm enough for the kids to cuddle up with. “The kids love to hold the cat and watch TV. Great downtime for them after a long day of school, homework and sports,” Caffrey says.
If you don’t want to go the traditional route, Kerry Hager recommends beta fish as the perfect choice, since “they can go without being fed, are cheap, beautiful, don’t require a lot of attention, don’t require anything but a container to put them in.” Not bad.
While no one likes a rat – in the nonliteral sense of the world – kids should love the animal. Felicity Pittman’s 5-year-old daughter has a domesticated rat, and Felicity comments on the ease of keeping it around.

“She eats whatever my daughter eats, she rides on her shoulder and she comes when she’s called.”
Or don’t settle for just one type of pet. Tysa Kihn’s family has two dogs, four cats, a hedgehog, beta fish, cory catfish and ferrets — all under the same roof.

“Whichever pet works best for your family, is the best pet,” Kihn says.

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