The bond between pet and child can be breathtaking to behold — unconditional love and tender care at their finest. But there’s more to the kid-pet relationship than sentimental moments. Children can tend pets, but they need guidance to do the job right. Here’s how to bring out the best and work with the worst when kids and pets live side by side — or just visit back and forth.

For parents and kids:
• General tips for living with pets
• Tips for living with dogs and cats
• A point to remember when dogs and kids interact
• Precautions to take with small pets

Article courtesy of PETsMART.com

Age Is an Object
The age at which a child can assume the basic responsibility for a pet depends on the animal and the child’s maturity level. If a youngster really loves the animal, is willing to care for him, and enjoys him, somewhere around age nine is a good time to start. Some children are ready a year or two earlier, and some are never ready.

The Buck Stops with Mom
Although it boosts a child’s self-esteem to call a pet her own and she can certainly take on quite a bit of pet care, a pet is a living thing and a member of the family. Don’t leave its well-being up to the kids. Be prepared to nurture the pet — newt or Newfoundland — with the best the household has to offer, independent of what the child is able or willing to do.

Let the Kids Choose Their Own Friends
Accept that some children just aren’t “animal people.” Don’t force them to feel guilty that they really don’t want to be around the household parakeet or spend hours tending the dog, especially if it’s a pet that was adopted when the children were babies or that they never asked for.

Skip the Empty Threats
If you adopted a pet at one child’s urging and whining and that child has lost interest, threaten to give the animal away only if you really mean it. Otherwise, you will just provoke guilt and bad feelings and will still end up caring for the animal yourself.