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Many families have pets they love as they were another child or family member. From dogs to cats, birds to ferrets, a pet is a common part of the family unit. But if you don´t already have an animal in your home, you need to think about whether your children are up to the task. Playtime with your pet is fun, but maintaining the health and the happiness of your animal requires more than just enthusiasm and a treat. If your child has been asking if you can get a pet, here´s what you need to ask yourself and your children.

Are We Able to Support a Pet Financially?

The truth of owning a pet is a costly one – pets can cost thousands of dollars over the course of a year, more if there are any health problems that happen along the way. When you are making the decision whether or not to won a pet, you want to calculate what you think it will cost to maintain the pet each month. This way, you will know how much money you need to budget out and how much money different pets will cost. It might make more sense for you to get a tank of fish that are easy to maintain and that do not need to go to the vet, for example.

Do We Have the Time to Have a Pet?

Dogs are some of the most popular pets among families, but they are also some of the most time-consuming. Not only do dogs need to be taken outside for their bathroom necessities, but they also need to have constant interaction so that they don´t become aggressive or bored. With each potential pet, you need to ask yourself how much time you will need to spend on their needs each day – and how much time your child will be required to spend. If you´re a family that goes out of town a lot, for example, you might want to choose a pet that can be left on its own for a while. And if you´re a family that is not home much during the day, you will need to take that into consideration as well. As a result, you may find that a cat is a better choice than a dog, needing little interaction and attention.

What is Our Past Experience with Pets?

If you´ve already had a pet in the past, it can be a clear indication of what your new pet´s future will hold. Sit down with your child and talk about what the problems with the last pet were and how you can avoid them this time. You need to recruit your child into this decision as it can be a valuable lesson on responsibility to own and to maintain a pet´s health. But if they have proven to have troubles keeping up with their pets in the past, it might be a better idea to wait until your child is older or is willing to sign a contract that includes the tasks they will be expected to complete. Starting slow is also an option you should consider. Often, animal shelters will allow you to take home pets you may want to adopt for a few days to see how things work out. And at the end of that time, if things aren´t working out, you can simply take the animal back. In addition, smaller pets can be a good starting point, like gerbils, hamsters, and fish. Once your child has proven to be reliable with these pets, then they can move up to pets with greater needs.