Ifyouhaveachildageoneandup,heprobablybegsyouonaregularbasisforsomekindofpet.Ifyou'veneverownedananimal,youmayfeelbewilderedbyyouryoungone'spassion.Ifyou'reapetloveryourself,youmayfullyempathizewithhisdesirebutmightnotbequitesurewhenyourchildisoldenoughtohaveapetorwhatkindofweebeastieitshouldbe.

　　Therearedozensofreasonstobringananimalintoyourhome--butalsoplentyofreasonstomakeyoupause.Herearesomepointstoconsider:

　　Theprosofpets

　　Havinggrownupwithallmannerofanimals,includingfish,hamsters,gerbils,cats,dogs,horses,andrabbits,Icanpersonallytestifythatanimalscanbewonderfulplaymatesandconfidantesforchildren.Infact,asarathershychild,Ifoundgreatsolaceintheaffectionandacceptanceofnon-humancreatures.

　　Butanimalsofferfarmorethansolaceorevenentertainment.Caringforanimalscanteachchildrenmanythings,includinggentleness,responsibility,empathy,nurturing,and,inthebestofcases,interestinandcompassionforalllivingcreatures.Studieshaveshownthatsimpleactslikewatchingfishorpattingacathavephysiologicaleffects,too,suchasdecreasingbothbloodpressureandlevelsofstresshormones.Severalstudiesalsohaveshownthatbeingaroundanimalscanhelpchildrendevelopsocialcompetenceandself-esteem,aswellashelpthemcopewithdisabilitiesandemotionalproblems.

　　Aloveandunderstandingofanimalscanalsoleadtosomeworthwhilehobbiesinchildren,includingpartakinginanimal-relatedclubs(like4-H),competinginshows(likehorseanddogcompetitions),orevengettinginvolvedinanimalactivism--helpingtoprotectseamammalsormigratorybirdhabitats,forexample,orcaringfororphanedanimals.

　　Theconsofcreatures

　　Withoutquestion,however,livingwithanimalsalsohasitsdrawbacks.Mostanimalscreatesomekindofmess,whetherbysoilingcarpets,scratchingfurniture,orcreatingdustbunniesduringsheddingseason.Mostalsocreatesomefinancialdrain,startingfromwhenyoufirstbuytheanimalanditsbasicequipmentandgoingontoincludethecostsoffood,veterinarycare,andboardingorpet-sittingserviceswhenyoutravel.

　　Anykindofpetrequiresattentiontothrive,eventosurvive.Mostneeddailyfood,water,andexercise

　　.Someanimalsneedtraining;someneedtohavetheirsheltersorlitterboxescleanedregularly.Nomatterhowardentlyyourchildsayshe'lltakeonthesetasks,theultimateresponsibilityfortheanimal'shealthwillliewiththeparent.Andmommiesbeware:Onestudyestimatedthatintwo-thirdsofallanimal-owningfamilies,themotherendsuptakingonthosechores.

　　Animalsalsocarryhealthrisks.Dogs,cats,rabbits,hamsters,gerbils,andmanyothercuddlycreaturescanallbiteorscratchwhenfeelingtesty(whichtendstohappenwhensmallchildrenstartchasingandgrabbingthem).AndbothreptilesandbirdscancarryharmfulbacterialikeSalmonellathatcanbetransmittedtochildren.Suchcaveatsshouldn'talarmparentsunduly;animalsandchildrencanbetrainedtoco-existpeacefullyandgoodhygienecanensurehealthyfamilies,buttheyaredrawbackstobearinmind.

　　Feelingalittleputoff?Thepointisn'tthatpetsarehorriblehassles;it'sthatpetsneedtobechosen,purchased,andhandledwithcare.Themillionsofanimalsthatareabandoneda