The Paramount of Kids Growing Up With Pets

Eight ways animals are positive and gratifying for children.

I grew up in a household where there was always two dogs, two cats, fish and when I got a little bit older, a rabbit and hamsters. I always had a (furry) friend. As I grew up and moved out of my parents house I continued to own animals. Still to this day I  have a love in my heart for all creatures especially my chihuahua, two cats and tortoise. Along side me and my pets live my three month old daughter and my fiance. Him and I were just having a conversation how he is so happy that our little girl will be able to grow up in a house of animals because they will teach and benefit her in their own special ways. He, among many people grew up deprived from the gift of pets. People do not realize how important a cat or a dog really is for a person let alone little kid. They impact your life from the first second they enter and for everyday beyond the time they exit.

• Companionship. Not only does a pet act as a great filler for a best friend, they’re an even better filler as a fur brother/sister, especially if you’re an only child. I myself do have an actual sister but I was an only child for the first eight years of my life. My Dachshund Sammy was my absolute best friend from birth until she passed away when I was five. I was devastated and so lonely so soon after my parents got a new Dachshund buddy named Oliver, Ollie for short. Ollie lived until my senior year of high school but was still one of my best friends even though I wasn’t a little girl anymore. Same thing with my childhood cat Motz. It’s absolutely amazing the comfort and love you feel with an animal and the unbreakable bond that’s formed.
• Compassion. Having a pet is an amazing way for a child to learn empathy. To pick up signals and be able to read those signals of another living thing, to actually grasp how they’re feeling… incredible. Are they happy? Are they sad? Are they hungry? Do they have to go to the bathroom? And what the child can do for said pet once they realize the pet is in need, whether it’s dire or not. It’s a truly beautiful experience for the child, the pet and you to watch as a parent / guardian.
• Unconditional Love. How can you rob your child of unconditional love? I myself am lucky enough to have parents who are still married but if you’re going through a divorce, it has a huge impact on your child. And even though the divorce is not their fault, kids tend to blame themselves and feel less loved by mom or dad. Having a pet that is always there to love and listen to them is crucial. Unconditional love is priceless. Even if you’re not divorced, kids are still going to feel emotional and upset from time to time, whether they’re “mad” at you or maybe a bully said something to them at school…. to be able to come home and turn to their dog, it’ll only raise their spirits and keep their self-esteem high.
• Responsibility. I’m not saying go out and buy your toddler a lizard and expect it to be the reptiles sole provider…but if you have a cat or a dog then having the child help feed him/her, scoop their liter box, brush the animal, etc. then the child quickly learns about chores and to physically care for another living creature. Responsibility will fall on mom and dad too though of course. Your child is a child and is still learning, so make sure the pet in the household is appropriate for the child’s age! Unless of course, you have 100% done your research and plan to care for the animal as well. As I mentioned earlier, I own a Russian Tortoise, which requires specific care. I will eventually have my daughter help me feed her, give her a bath and walk her around outside. But I would never expect or let her be Olive’s sole caregiver. At least not when she’s a child. That’d just be foolish.
• Pets keep kids healthy. There is certainly a reason to believe there’s a relation between owning pets and shielding kids from certain illnesses. In Parent’s magazine, The Benefits of Pet’s it states, “When a child plays with a dog or a cat, the animals usually lick him,” he says. “That lick transfers bacteria that live in animals’ mouths, and the exposure to the bacteria may change the way the child’s immune system responds to other allergens.” Pretty crazy huh? But it makes sense. According to Dr. Ownby, a pediatrician and head of an allergy and immunology department of the Medical College of Georgia, “having multiple pets actually decreases a child’s risk of developing certain allergies. His research tracked a group of 474 babies from birth to about age 7. He found that the children who were exposed to two or more dogs or cats as babies were less than half as likely to develop common allergies as kids who had no pets in the home. Children who had animals had fewer positive skin tests to indoor allergens—like pet and dust-mite allergens—and also to outdoor allergens such as ragweed and grass. Other studies have suggested that an early exposure to pets may decrease a child’s risk of developing asthma.” 
• Inspiration. Animals will pretty much go along with anything. And I mean ANYTHING. I used to push my kitty Motz around in my baby doll stroller for hours. I’m sure he didn’t love it but he let me do it because he loved me, he was one of my best pals. My animals allowed my mind and body to wander, to play! Indoors and outdoors. I always had indoor cats (because my outdoor ones got hit by cars, so sad) but my doggies were always great outdoor playmates! Although nowadays if you have an indoor cat, just get it a leash! It’s currently trending and apparently cats dig it.
• The will to learn. I have only owned a handful of breeds of dogs, but I can give you the rundown of practically every breed and every breeds mannerisms. Like people, I always wanted to know more about them. Same goes for why I own a tortoise. Olive is my first ever reptile and I did some serious groundwork before committing myself to her. Owning pets as a child could also spark the will to not just learn on such a mediocre level but on a collegic level as well. Maybe kids will grow into young adults with a dream of helping animals and then continue on into adulthood to research in Animal Science, Veterinary, Marine Biology, join PETA etc.
• Death. Maybe it sounds morbid but just as life happens so does death. Animals are great tools to teach children about the lesson of death. As I mentioned earlier, my dog  Sammy was my best friend but she died of cancer when I was five. She was the only living thing in my life that I had ever known that had died. Sammy taught me love, compassion, companionship, responsibility, inspiration and in her last lesson, taught me how to cope with death.

It is so important for kids to have a partner in crime to share special moments in life. Growing up I had a ton of friends who didn’t have pets and they loved coming over to see and play with all of my animals. They were envious. My daughter (and future kids if I do have more) will never be without that love, our house will always be filled with pets.