How To Get Your Child’s First Pet: The Basics

General Pet Tips:

Wait Until Your Child Says She Wants One – If you preempt them and bring one home, it’s really more your pet than anything else.  Only if they want one will they show more care with it.

 

However….

It’s Really Your Pet More Than Anything Else – Pets need care, depending on the type of animal you get.  If you’re getting a pet for your child very early in life, it’s because you want to expose them to animals and teach them things like compassion for other creatures.  But understand that you will need to give your child some slack if he forgets to feed Bantay.  Letting your child’s pet die due to starvation or parasites is not a good way to teach them about the consequences of neglect.  However, if you feel it’s too much work, as early as now, do not bother buying the pet.

Discuss The Pet With Your Child – Lay the groundwork for the rules on caring and handling of the pet.  Talk about what pets are acceptable and unacceptable in your home.  Be open to alternatives.

Do Research – Read up on everything you can online or try to get a book or two about the pet in question.  Go ask friends who also have similar pets for their experiences and tips. 

Check For Allergies – If you or your child have asthma or get rashes due to dander, feathers or fur, certain pets may not be advisable for your home. 

 

Click here to learn more on checking out where the pet comes from, preparing your child for the pet, tips on taking the pet to the vet.

[previous|page|next]

Learn more on checking out where the pet comes from, preparing your child for the pet, tips on taking the pet to the vet.

 

Check Out Where The Pet Comes From – If you’re buying at a pet store, make sure that the place is clean, the animals look lively and healthy.  Many pet stores can be little more than animal prisons and their resulting pets can be rather sickly.

For certain pets such as cats and dogs, you may want to consider adopting them from places such as PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) and the Animal Kingdom Foundation. 

Local breeds of askal and DSH (Domestic Short Hair) pusakals are actually hardier and healthier than fancy, imported breeds.

Prepare For The Pet – When you get the pet, make sure you’ve got the gear ready for it.

Cats need litter boxes, dogs need leashes and baskets, fish need aquariums and all need kibble (pet food).  As for animals that roam indoors, the house has to be relatively pet-proof so that Buster doesn’t tear up the sofa or chew up your child’s favorite Spongebob plush toy.

Food deserves special mention.  Gone are the days when pets ate leftovers from the dinner table.  They won’t get proper nutrition this way and they will acquire bad habits like begging (for dogs and cats).  Buy them appropriate pet food. Make the appropriate family budget adjustments.

Take A Trip To The Vet – This should be your first stop for most pets.  For dogs, cats, and birds, this will be where you set the schedule for annual anti-rabies (and other) vaccinations.  Also, where it’s appropriate (cats and dogs only), consider the prospect of neutering the animal.  Neutering lengthens a pet’s lifespan, helps prevent VD or venereal disease (Yes, they get it too) and usually makes them content and peaceful, albeit lazy.

A Vet is a good source for proper firsthand advice on how to care for your pet.  Heed your vet like you would your doctor. 

 

Now that you’re ready to get your child’s first pet, check out How To Get Your Child’s First Pet: Specific Types of Pets.

 

Photography by Ocs Alvarez