17 Reasons A Child Should Have A Pet

Here are 17 good reasons to adopt a pet! We hope this list of the valuable experiences that children learn from living with a pet will inspire you to adopt one.

Note: Children bond with dogs more than any other pet and dogs are known to prefer people to other species, so it makes a good match for both of them.

1.  Connections with pets are some of the strongest, and longest, relationships in a child’s life. For instance, when families move - their pets move with them, their friends don’t. The consistency of having their best friend with them gives children strength and helps them feel safe. Sadly, due to divorce or death, sometimes a pet is with a child longer or more often than one of his parents.

2.  Pets provide comfort, friendship, unconditional love and blind devotion to family members. Every child deserves to feel special and to be loved for who he is. Pets don’t criticize or judge their kids.

3.  Pets help keep our children healthy. Studies have proven that pets can reduce blood pressure, improve depression and help improve our overall health. Pets in the family are positive influences on the health of our kids as well as our own.

4.  Pets do funny things. They make us laugh. They’re a source of hugs, kisses, cuddles and giggles. They entertain us. Their actions make us smile.

5.  Pets help even the smallest children learn to communicate, not just by talking to the animal itself but because they want to tell us about their pet. Therapy dogs and even some therapy horses are trained to "listen” to children read to them. Tests show it improves reading skills.

6.  Kids learn the meaning of "being alive" from pets. Children are fascinated by baby animals at an early age because of their size, their warm body, their four legs, the way they "talk,” their breathing and their heartbeat. Kids learn pets are "alive," like they are. They also sometimes learn their first lesson on death from the loss of a beloved pet.

7.  Exercising and playing with pets keeps children active and exercising themselves, stimulates their interest in nature and helps them learn about the environment.

8. Understanding that there are house rules for pets, just like there are rules for them, helps children develop their sense of fairness.

9. As children watch us train our pets to have "manners” and become good members of the family, they learn good behavior applies to everyone in the family. Pets have to learn manners just like they do.

10. Taking care of pets means taking them to the vet for shots and preventative care. This helps children understand their own need for going to the doctor when they’re not sick.

11. Pets comfort children in times of stress or emotional upheaval. They comfort kids who are sad or lonely. Pet have an uncanny ability to know when children need comfort and companionship.

12. Pets can give children the courage to be less afraid of something, to be strong when they have to get a shot at the doctor’s office or to do something they are afraid to do.

13. Pets provide an outlet for kids to share their affection. Although we don’t mean it, sometimes parents are not open to affection when children need it. We’re busy. We’re on the phone. We’re all dressed up. Dogs are always ready for a hug or a cuddle and loved to be stroked.

14. Pets protect our children. Even dogs that aren’t trained as protectors will alert the family to intruders or strangers – day or night. They hear better and see better than we do. They can smell danger – and they bark!

15.  Pets help kids become more independent. As they gradually take on the role of care giver for a pet, kids start making a transition to becoming more mature.

16. Pets help children learn consequences. When we don’t put our dog on a leash, he may run away. If we feed the guinea pig some food he isn’t supposed to have, he may get sick. If we tease the cat, she may get mad. If we pull a pet’s tail or ear, it will hurt.

17. Pets help children develop a sense of pride. Kids learn quickly that a dog that can follow commands, do tricks, fetch a ball or chase bubbles impresses other children. Having a well mannered pet makes children proud of their pet.

Model responsible, loving pet care for children and they will learn to love and care for pets.