How many of you have CHILDREN but have NO pets?

Question

I am always surprised ( and a little saddened) when I hear that one of my daycare children has no pets at home. I feel that having pets is crutial to teaching children to be loving and caring of all creatures. Why would you have kids and then have them be the only kid in 'class' who has no pet to talk about? Is it because you had no pets growing up? Are you just not "pet people?"

Hmmmm. I didn't expect so many people to list "renting" as a reason not to have pets. I rented for 15 years, and my first criteria was that the home allow pets...

I guess the number one reason is that people are lazy. I work 60 hours a week, and still run our hobby farm and raise 2 kids. I work sun up to sun down (probably why I am not overweight).

Why is taking care of a living creature "work?"

Weird.

Answer 1

Hee. I agree-I think having pets teachers kids so many crucial lessons. Some people just don't like animals or don't want the responsibility or they have allegies. I feel sorry for them-without pets I'd have a big hole in my life.

We have 2 dogs and 1 cat and yes, it's hectic and crazy but worth it.

Answer 2

Whereas I think pets are great, I think you are going a little overboard here. "Crutial?" So you basically think that if a kid does not have a pet they cannot learn to love all creatures? That is hardly true! Did you consider that some people CAN'T have pets? Some people have serious allergies. Some people have no room. Some people cannot afford them. Nothing worse than someone who cannot afford to take care of an animal torturing the poor thing by doing it anyway. And it is not like a kid in school is likely to be the ONLY kid without a pet. Most do, for sure, but many kids do not, or you would not be on here asking this. Even if they were, then they would simply talk about something else. I think that pets are great for kids, too, but you are certainly overreacting a little. Pets are nice, but they are far from necessary. If a kid gets plenty of love from their family, they hardly need a pet. A trip to the zoo or some time on Animal Planet will instill love of animals just fine!

Answer 3

When my husband and I were growing up, I always had some sort of pet and he grew up in a house with no pets. Now that we have 7 children together we adopted some pets for the family. We have a dog, 4 cats, 3 snakes, a turtle, a 29 gal fresh water tank and a 90 gal salt water fish tank (don't ask how many fish). It gets crazy sometimes but my children love the animals. Each one of the children has to care for at least one pet (with help of course). We feel the pets teach them responsibility and love at the same time, however, I do not think pets are for everyone and just because you have a child you shouldn't feel that you have to have a pet.

If you children ask for a pet and your not sure how it will go, my opinion is to borrow one from a friend or family for at least a week. if the thrill is gone than say no!

Answer 4

I have been a licensed child care provider in my home for 20 years. A fair number of my families have not had any pets at home. I guess I have not been surprised or saddened by this fact. Each family has an individual reason for being a home without pets. Some have allergies in the family. Some live in an apartment or rental home that does not allow pets. I've had a couple families where either mom or dad was a pretty serious "neat freak" and can't get comfortable with the idea of the extra dirt and pet hair. Some people travel extensively and feel it unfair to a pet to leave it at home alone often. I am mom to 4 and have had one or more children in school for the last 23 years. Families without pets is not as uncommon as you would think and it would be rather unlikely a child would be the only one in a classroom without a pet. Many of our elementary teachers in our community have a pet or 2 in their classrooms plus our school field trips often involve animals. I think that there are plenty of opportunities for families without a pet in their home to install a feeling of love and caring for animals in their children. Adopting a zoo animal or visiting a petting farm or going to a local community fair with livestock displayed are all excellent ways to talk to children about animals and their part in our world. Having a pet share your residence is not for everyone.

Answer 5

I am one of those parents whom my child does not have a pet at home. Yes, it does sadden me that my little boy(he's 2) doesn't have a dog, cat fish, etc. of his own to talk about. On the other hand, he does know what pets are, and how to treat them. A lot of the people's homes we visit do have pets, and he is rather well adjusted to them running around the house, or those in cages needing to be fed or areas cleaned. We live in an apartment complex where pets are not allowed. At this point, that is the major reason he does not have a pet. Growing up, I did not have pets at home either. I do not feel it is fair to him to get him a pet when the time allows, when his mommy doesn't quite possess the knowledge to care for one. He will have one though, starting small. We will work up, little by little, to a dog or a cat. I do agree with you that pets are a wonderful learning tool for children. Not only to teach them love and care, but responsibility and commitment as well. I hope this helps answer your question, and gives some insight into the ins and outs of "pet-less" households.

Answer 6

Well first of all good for you for having the energy and time to take care of your pets and children. That is great, really.

However, coming from a mother of three (6,5,3) by the time we get home from work, and school, around 5pm, I barely have time to cook and feed the family, then comes homework, bath time, and bedtime. After they go to bed, my husband and I start with the housework. If we had a pet, it would be abandoned and lonely. I do not think that any of God's creatures deserve to be abandoned and lonely. Not only that, there are expenses in having a pet that unfortunately, we cannot afford right now. Our budget is tight. I do plan on having a pet in the future when my kids know how to take care of it. In the meantime, some of our friends and relatives have animals that my children get to enjoy when visiting. You may feel that "having pets is crucial to teaching children to be loving and caring of all creatures." You have a good point, but it is not the only way. My children are taught to be loving and caring by myself and my husband. They have great relationships with each other. They help each other, show sympathy, empathy, stand up for each other, learn to get along with each other, and mostly they have learned the meaning of unconditional love. They did not need pets for that.

Humans do not have kids so they can have pets. (Why would you have kids and then have them be the only kid in 'class' who has no pet to talk about?) Having pets is an extension of a family. The logic there is missing in that question.

So you see people have other reasons for not having pets. And again I commend you for your energy.

Answer 7

Why are you so judgemental?

My hubby and I both like dogs, but with 2 children under 2, we literally don't have the time to take care of a dog properly.

Would you rather that we get a dog who is neglected and shut in the kitchen all day?

Oh, and yes, we rent - which IS a factor because we do not have a fenced-in yard.

We plan to have dogs eventually, but we'd like our children to be a bit older first - it's not fair to the animals to bring a new one home when the kids are still at the "grabby" stage.

Our 13-month-old daughter, however, is NOT pet-deprived. Her grandma has a dog, and her aunt lives on a farm with dogs, cats, horses, cows, chickens, ducks, and a pet turtle.

I honestly don't think that not having a pet is going to "damage" a child. Give me a break.

Answer 8

I am a preschool teacher, I'm also a parent of three. The majority of the schools I have worked in have not allowed pets other than fish due to allergy potential in the kids, as well as the staff. The last school I worked at was a small private school and they did a lot of animal related things, there was a pet bunny, they hatched ducklings, etc. In the end they ended up doing away with having animals in the school because they lost several potential families due to having the animals there.

I agree that having pets can teach valuable lessons, but most preschool, and even school age children cannot begin to assume responsibility for a pet. We have a cat and four goldfish, I allowed them only because I was willing to care for them. My kids are school age, two in elementary and one in middle school and they have enough going on with school and activities that animal care would definitely be neglected if it were solely their responsibility. There are a lot of parents that are not willing to take on animal care, parents who work all day and then have kids and a household to take care of have enough to deal with, pets are a considerable expense and amount of time involved with care, it's not something to be cosidered lightly. Anyone getting an animal should be assuming that they will be caring for it for it's entire lifespan, pets are not disposable, more than likely the child's interest will wear off and the pet becomes the responsibility of the parent. If the parent did not want to be responsible for care in the first place what happens to that animal? They get neglected, or only minimal care, they are given away, or they end up in a shelter. It's not fair to the animal.

Answer 9

I grew up with pets around the house. I have never NOT had a pet. I used to raise Boston Terriers. Currently, I am in my 30's and have a 2 year old daughter. The only "pet" we have now is a really old goldfish that she named Bubbles. My mom has a cat. My husband is allergic to cats and we do not have time for a dog. I do not think that she is being deprived in any way. When she is old enough to say, "Mommy can I have a dog?" then we will discuss it. I am not forcing pets on her though. After a lifetime of always having one around to care for, I am enjoying the break. I don't have to come home to see one squished on the road and having to explain to her where her doggy went. Nor am I having to come home to find that the dog had an upset tummy and pooped and hurled all over the house while we were gone for the day.

Answer 10

I have three children (6, 4 and 3) and no pets. I have to say I find your remarks above somewhat offensive, that I'm a bad parent because we dont' have a pet???

There are several reasons we do not. First, my daughter is asthmatic and should not be around pets with fur. Second, my son is autistic, and is PETRIFIED of dogs especially. Third, I am insanely busy with my three kids, and do not have time to properly care for a pet. I refuse to be like my sister in law that got a dog, and it lives in a crate in their basement like some kind of gargoyle until the "dog sitter" comes to take it for a walk a couple times a week.

And lastly, my children are not remotely the only ones in their class that don't have a pet, I would say 75% of their class do not have one. And they are loving and caring of all pets despite not having one in their home. I grew up with turtles and lizards and fish in my house - my sister was severely asthmatic so we could not have anything with fur.

Answer 11

Some people may be allergic ot had pets as children and hated to take care of them and wouldn't put their kids through that.

I have three kids, 3 dogs, 2 puppies and a 150 gallon fish tank with 3 Oscars, 2 catfish, 1 red devil, 2 turtles, 1 blue gill, and about 6 other fish I do not know the name of..

Some people like me like to give kids animals to play with!