They might be animals, but pets deserve respect too.
Thinking about getting a pet but worried about the kids? Well, as someone with four pets and a baby, I'd like to think that I have some experience in the field. And sometimes I think it's the pets that we need to worry about. Countless times I've seen pets, especially dogs, that owners have paid a fortune for but never spent any time with. They're tied up, day after day, with no care or attention and this is nothing short of cruel. So how can we stop this? Frankly, I think the answer lies in choosing the right pet.

So, whether you like it or not, here's my advice: Research the type of animal you want, be it a dog, cat or pig. Consider your lifestyle and find the right temperament to suit your family. Sure that loveable Dalmatian is cute now, but they tend to grow up to be one-person, not-keen-on-kids types. Consider the activity level, feeding and attention needs of the animal. While a cat is fine with a few pats and a rub, a dog needs a lot more. Finally, how much care does the animal require? Are you, as parents, prepared to clean the litter box? What about the cage? Rover may be a gift for the children, but when it comes to cleaning up his present on the carpet, lo and behold the children have disappeared.

Once home, never leave your child and pet unattended, especially if you have young children. Often, adults expect pets to respect children more than they expect children to respect pets. This is hardly sensible. After all, pets are animals and will react accordingly if provoked. It only takes a split second for a bad move from a child to lead to a bad move from a pet, and every day, pets are sent away for biting kids who have poked, pinched, hit, teased or rode on them. As parents, it's important to promote a child-pet relationship by teaching our children the proper ways to treat and respect animals and ensuring our pets are trained and protected. Each time a child is good to an animal, he or she is teaching the animal that kids are nothing to be afraid of. It's a training process that lasts a lifetime and offers countless rewards.

Kristen Billings