There’s two different kinds of people that arise when the question “do you have any pets?” is asked: one takes advantage of the opportunity to show all 30 identical 0.5 photos they have of their dog, and the other cringes at the thought of admitting the closest thing they have to a pet is a nagging brother.
I’ve been both.
I always wanted a pet growing up. I was the kid who’d pile all of their stuffed animals onto their bed for fear of one feeling left out, shared my dinner with them, and looked through a dog encyclopedia the size of my torso, giving each dog in the book its own name.
My mom always told me we would get a dog when we moved out of our apartment and into a house, but I savored those crumbs of hope with caution, since this was the same woman who once made my dad return the surprise kitten he had once brought home.
Heartless, I know.
Finally, my parents decided to get me a fish. The classic starter pet. And boy, did I love that fish. I would spend hours sitting in front of its little tank with the pink base, watching its emerald blue scales shimmer like a mermaid’s tale, sprinkling some fish food whenever I grew bored.
It made me feel important. This living, breathing being was in my care, and watching it catch the gracefully sinking pieces of food in its miniscule mouth satisfied me in a way little else did.
My little five-year old dreams were later crushed when my mom accidentally dropped my one-of-a-kind fish, which could’ve been pulled straight out of “Barbie in a Mermaid Tale,” down the sink while cleaning its tank.
I helplessly watched it fall down that drain, mouth wide open, gripping the kitchen counter until my knuckles turned white. I truly hope my psuedo-Nemo fish is being fed well in fish heaven, wherever that is.
Later on, my family got a golden retriever, who we arbitrarily decided to name Sophie after refusing to agree on a name, but I’ll never forget that fish. Not only its untimely end, but what it taught me: not just how to care for someone else, but that caring for someone else makes me feel good.
My dad always likes to say that a home without a pet isn’t a home, and I must agree. Pets aid child development in ways nothing else can.
According to the Children’s Hospital Colorado, caring for a pet can teach a child responsibility, cause and effect, and boundaries, along with providing companionship, encouraging emotional development, and helping with understanding loss and grief. Many of these aspects are hard to introduce to children, and pet ownership allows them to learn naturally and slowly with the help of a guardian.
For example, I am responsible for walking, feeding, and letting my dog in and out. After doing so for nearly six years, I’ve gotten into the habit of knowing my responsibilities and making sure I get these tasks done.
Although some parents may argue that their child can learn to be responsible through other chores, such as doing the dishes or laundry, neither of these introduce stakes. A dog needs to be fed, watered, and taken care of daily in order to continue living a good-quality life.
Most kids usually don’t care if they’re eating out of clean plates and cups or germ-infested hands that could probably set off the bubonic plague if their parents didn’t force soap onto them.
Kids usually do, however, care about their pets and want to see them be happy. Hence, regardless of whether they enjoy it or not, they’re inclined to care for their animals, teaching them to be responsible and independent.
However, kids aren’t the only ones who reap the benefits of having a furry — or not — friend in the home. Parents do, too.
One of these parents is Jennifer Stoll, mom of Prospect sophomore Amanda Stoll. Jennifer recounted how the family’s Australian-cattle-labrador mix, Aurora, has helped her to be a better parent.
“Animals can really push your patience,” said Stoll. “More so than kids sometimes, so you learn to be patient on another level, which I think helps me with [my kids].”
The family brought Aurora home back in 2020, and Stoll recounts the dog playing a vital role in teaching the kids responsibility, recalling them walking Aurora on Halloween.
She was their responsibility, one that came first, regardless of the amount of Butterfingers and Reese’s that were sitting on front porches, waiting for their chocolate coatings to melt on the tongues of exhilarated children.
“She’s like having another child,” said Stoll. “Another family member.”
But just like families, all pets are different, and different pets suit different families. Some families, like mine at one point, live in an apartment complex and don’t have much space or a yard. Others include members that may be allergic to certain animals, while some are simply always on the run, and a few just have Eastern-European parents that freak at the thought of slobber and curtains mixing, or a dog in the most forbidden of places: the bed.
Fine, I’ll stop projecting.
The point is there are at least 740 species of animals that are classified as companion animals. Chances are at least one would suit the lifestyle of most families. Small reptiles, rodents, or fish are great for apartment living and people with allergies. There’s also those adorable, hairless sausage dogs and cats if you’re interested in a hairless, dandruff-free friend.
If you’re willing to put the effort into providing your children with a built-in, non-judgmental friend they can return to after a bad day at school that will in turn teach them to be empathetic and resourceful, you’re bound to find a pet that fits into the family like a puzzle piece no one knew was missing.
Of course, it is important to note that parents should discuss responsibilities involving pets with their kids before the pet ever comes into the home. Adding on to that, parents need to be liable and responsible for pets too. Children under the age of 10 should not be caring for a pet fully on their own when they still need to be told to brush their teeth.
According to the Lake Olympia Animal Hospital, when it comes to pets, kids between the ages of 5-10 can be entrusted with simple chores, but can only be fully responsible for their pet’s well-being when they’re around 13.
Now, I know not everyone reading this will take me seriously. Yes, unfortunately there are many sad, miserable people out there who just don’t feel their will to live replenished after seeing a cat compilation video. Question is, why are you making your children sad and miserable too? Don’t look at me, OK.
I’m just trying to make everyone feel like a main character in a W. Bruce Cameron novel.
Edge idea: Percentage of teenagers who didn’t have pets and feel like they missed out vs. percentage of teenagers who didn’t have pets and didn’t feel like they missed out
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