Mum’s the Word: What to Do When Your Child Wants a Pony

Friday, August 14, 2015

Briauna Skye McKizzie, GoLocalPDX Contributor

From ponies to birds, every parent eventually hears their child’s request for a pet.

Nearly as soon as they learn to speak, your child can’t seem to resist the chance to ask either you or Santa for that special little someone to love.

Yet, as parents, we’re fully aware that it’s highly unlikely that our six-year-old, or even our teenagers, will actually help out with the many mundane tasks that come with being a pet-parent. After all, it’s not all walks in the park and meet-cute adventures with other dog owners.

We know that when our kids are asking for a puppy, they’re subsequently asking for us to take care of said puppy.

Of course, this isn’t always an issue. If, like your child, you also love pets and don’t mind adding on an additional family member, then getting your family a pet seems like a good decision.

However, if you are a first-time parent and a first-time pet owner, there are many other things to consider before making a commitment to even the cutest of canines.

As a former pet-owner and the parent of a young child, here is some friendly advice on things to consider before purchasing a pet.

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1. Break out the Books

One mistake that myself and my own parents have made is getting a pet without researching that particular type of animal or a particular breed.

Growing up, my family owned a few dogs before finally landing on a Keeshond named Hero. Hero was the best dog ever, and I will cut any woman or man who dares to say otherwise (only kidding).

However, the reason it worked out so well is because my dad researched the breed for several months before even speaking with a breeder. He also made me and my siblings read about the breed prior to our purchase. Even though we were kids with little to no intention of actually helping with our new family member, it was still good for us to have an idea of what type of dog we were getting and to anticipate what type of behavior the dog would have.

Since we were adequately prepared, Hero was the first dog we kept longer than a year or so, and he was with us till he passed away. To this day, I still think of Hero as one of my best friends from childhood.

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2. Ask Why?

Another good thing to consider before purchasing a pet is why you’re in the market for pets in the first place. If you’re just doing it to appease your child or because you feel a poodle-sized hole in your heart, then you might want to think of more reasons to get a pet. Getting a pet is very similar to having a child. The difference is that with pets there’s no hope that Lassie will one day pay your nursing home fees.

So take it from someone who has learned the hard way. Please don’t purchase or adopt a pet based only the possibly fleeting feelings of yourself or your children.

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3. Prepare

Prepare yourself emotionally and financially before committing to get an animal. Pets, like children, are a lifetime investment. It’s not a one-time fee to get one.

You will need to pay for pet insurance, pet boarding for potential vacations, dog food, toys, and sometimes even new carpet. From personal experience, my parents had to replace carpet twice due to fiascos related to a dog and once even to a fiendish turtle. So prepare yourself for the financial investment and be willing to sacrifice those weekly manicures if your pet ends up needing an emergency health procedure for swallowing a box of staplers.

There’s also emotional preparation needed. Again, pets are very similar to children, and they tend to get upset stomach at the most inconvenient times. So be aware that there will be several times in your relationship with your pet where you might end up cleaning up copious piles of diarrhea or vomit. But hey, Rusty sure is cute, huh?

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4. Adopt

Puppies are fun, and it’s even more fun to get the exact type of dog you’ve always dreamed about. However, the reality is that there are many dogs out there without homes who would easily fall in love with you. Sure, it might be more fun to raise a puppy from the beginning. But, if you can get the same emotional value and also save a life…do you really need convincing?

Photo Credit: Oliver & Company's IMDB (Image Cropped)

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5. Know your limits.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to say goodbye to your pet if you end up realizing the situation is not working out. It’s better to find your furry friend a new home than risk him or her feeling neglected because you either can’t or don’t want to care for the pet anymore. It’s difficult and you might feel like the worst human ever, but if you really feel torn about keeping a pet it’s probably a sign you need to acknowledge your limits.