First pets

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Tribune Review

By Kellie B. Gormly

Jeff and Lori Krakoff, of Upper St. Clair, welcomed their fourth child -- a mixed breed dog named Molly -- a few months ago.
"The kids were saying, 'Oh come on, Can we get a dog? Can we get a dog?' " says Jeff Krakoff, 42. He adopted Molly from Animal Friends, a no-kill shelter in Ohio Township.

The Krakoffs adopted Molly, who is almost 2 years old, to be a family pet for the couple and their three children: Andy, 11; Rachel, 9; and Joshua, 5. The kids get along famously with the gentle and affectionate Molly, who always seems to be poking around, playing and seeking a good rub.


With careful consideration, research and realistic expectations, getting a first pet -- for the whole family, or, specifically, for a child -- can be a rewarding and happy experience that can last for years, experts say. But making a hasty decision that results in a bad match can be disastrous for the kids and the pets.

"People just need to be aware that adding an animal to the family is not without it challenges, no matter what you get," says Kathy Reck, behavior coordinator of Animal Friends. "They should research what they're getting, and why they're getting it. It's not just a passing whim."

Consider the following tips from pet experts before seeking a new Rover, Fluffy or other pet.


Think about what each type of pet requires for care, and make sure the family can handle it. How much will food, veterinary care, supplies and more cost each year, and can you afford it? How much time and effort does the animal require, and can you give it, for maybe two decades? If you want a dog, it will need to be taken out every day and can't be left alone for long periods. You also should have a fence around your yard, experts say.
For busy people who want a lower-maintenance pet, cats are ideal, experts say. They can stay inside at all times, and if they have enough food and water, they can be left alone for a few days.


As an adult, be prepared to be the pet's primary, or at least ultimate, caregiver -- even if it's a goldfish designated for your 9-year-old. Children should perform some chores required for the pet's care, depending on their age, but parents never should completely surrender the duties to their children. Parents also must make sure the chores -- such as feeding or litter box-scooping -- get done, and do them if the children fail to do so.
If you don't take the primary responsibility, the animal could end up hungry, thirsty or living in dirty conditions. Or, the animal may end up back at the shelter where you adopted it.

"All too often, you hear folks that come in, and they want to get this pet so that (kids) learn responsibility ... that's OK to an extent, but we see them come back for those reasons," Reck says.

Animal Friends offers regular pet-care classes for children, and kids do become responsible junior caregivers, she says. However, a parent never can fully trust children, who insist they will pick up all the poop if they get a puppy; their interests will change.


Make sure you also want the pet your child wants, or that you can, at least, tolerate it. Cats and dogs may have wide appeal, but a snake or rat in the house will make many parents squeamish. Dr. Nick Saint-Erne, quality-assurance veterinarian for PetSmart in Phoenix, recommends that parents try to keep an open mind and get the facts about a potentially offensive pet, such as a reptile or rodent, before ruling it out.
"They might say, 'Oh that pet's so stinky'," he says. "It usually is only stinky if it hasn't been given the proper care."

For a traditional dog or cat, parents also should desire the pet, says Kathy Burkley, director of the Humane Society of Westmoreland County, in Greensburg.

"A family pet is a wonderful experience, but, sometimes, I see the error where a mom and dad will come in here, and they don't really like pets in the house, and they've been sort of talked into it by kids," she says. "It rarely works."


Every family is different, so search for a pet that matches your family's individual personality and lifestyle, says Phyllis Wiles, one of the directors of Orphans of the Storm, a no-kill shelter in Rayburn Township, Armstrong County.
"If you have a very active family, then you want a dog that's active," Wiles says. "If you have quiet, gentle children, pick a dog that's quiet and not one that will be bouncing off the walls."


If you're getting a dog, check out the breed. Although individual dogs from any breed can make delightful family companions, some might be better suited for children than others.
Officials from Animal Friends and other Western Pennsylvania shelters discourage families with young children -- about 6 and younger -- from getting toy dog breeds, such as poodles and Chihuahuas. Not only do they tend to be high-strung, but the dogs also are delicate and more easily hurt by young kids.

Herding dogs such as border collies, guard dogs such as German shepherds, and terriers also may be more likely to be a mismatch with small children, because of the dogs' size and disposition, experts say. Reck recommends that families with young children look for mostly midsized dogs with gentle temperaments, such as Labrador retrievers.


Kittens and puppies are so darned adorable -- but, they don't mix well with human babies and tots, experts say. Kittens are so delicate that well-meaning toddlers, only wanting to play, have broken the kitens' legs, Burkley says. Young children also can be damaged unintentionally by baby animals, who can have razor-sharp teeth and rambunctious energy.
Animal Friends discourages families with children younger than 5 or 6 from adopting animals that are less than 5 months to a year old, for safety reasons benefiting the animals and children.

"If you have a couple of kids that young ... it's really like having another baby," Reck says.

Another advantage of adopting an adult or adolescent animal is that it will have a proven behavioral record, shelter officials say, and adopters will know how the animal reacts to children. Be sure to spend some time with the animal and children together at the shelter, and talk to the staff about the potential pet, before adopting it.


The younger your children are, the more you will need to supervise them with the pets and teach them about the animals, particularly about treating pets respectfully and understanding their body language. Bites and scratches can result when kids don't heed "back off" signals from an animal, and younger children sometimes don't realize that the animal is a living thing rather than a toy.

Kids may want to adopt the turtles, birds or frogs they see in the backyard, but leave wild animals alone, Saint-Erne says.
"How are you going to feed it if you have to go out and catch worms every day?" he asks.

Acquire pets only from reputable shelters, pet stores and breeders, which will sell animals that were born and bred in captivity, or, at least, are suited for a household life with humans.