The Benefits of Having Pets in the Home

 

The idea of sharing your home with an animal is not everyone's idea of heaven, but for those who do, pets can become a part of the family. If you aren't quite convinced yet, it might be worth considering the benefits to children of having pets in the home.

 

A baby who is born into a house with a cat or a dog will grow up learning how to treat animals properly. They will have respect for animals and will understand that they are living breathing beings and not toys to be messed with.

 

They may also learn a sense of responsibility that only comes with caring for someone else. From an early age your child can be involved in the feeding and grooming routines of the animal and though you will have to take care of the hygiene needs, the children can be involved in exercising the animal.

 

There may be health benefits to keeping animals too. Studies have shown that children who grow up in a house with animals are less likely to suffer from allergies. Chasing round after your pet may also provide exercise for your child.

 

One of the biggest worries that most people have is, what will we do when the animal dies? Depending on the animal that you choose, they may have a very short life span, with small rodents for instance living an average of two to four years. Cats and dogs may live longer-up to twenty years in some cases but with an average of eight to twelve.

 

This means that whatever animal you open your home to, they are likely to die during your kid's childhood. It can be upsetting to lose an animal that you are attached to but this could also be a useful opportunity to teach children about death. Explaining the death of a pet is far less painful for a parent than having to explain the death of a loved one, so it can make the first experience of death a little easier to deal with.

 

Many benefits of having pets are intangible. The loving bond that your child can form with the pet gives so much to them-the pet becomes their friend. They are a comfort when your child-or you-are sad, often being able to sense that you are sad and trying to spend time with you. They are equally comforting to cuddle up with when the child is sick.

 

When stressed, a furry pet is a stress release, helping you to unwind when you pet them. In fact they are so beneficial to healing and stress relief that there are now special programs in many hospitals and nursing homes that have trained animals visit the residents. It has been shown to decrease the amount of time spent in hospital and can ease depression in nursing home residents.

 

The rules of the area or the home that you live in may mean that you are unable to keep an animal-or you may simply decide that it is not the right thing for you. But if you do choose to have a furry friend, the benefits will be many.