Teenagers and animals, when having a pet is a bad idea

For many parents, the idea of giving their child a pet is to encourage responsibility and, in the case of a dog, possibly to encourage the child to take exercise. Many children will pester their parents for something cute and fluffy and the decision to buy a pet can be a hotly debated one in a lot of families. The downside to pet ownership is the commitment certain types of pet require, and the veterinarians' bills can be a significant issue for a family who is not very well off.

Many parents worry that their child will not be as keen on the pet once the bundle of fluff becomes a fully grown animal requiring attention but with less cute appeal. Teenagers should be more capable of taking on responsibility for a pet, and a parent may feel that their teenager would benefit from caring for a dog or cat, at the same time gaining a companion.

If your teenager seems very uninterested in pet ownership then any pet you acquire will be your responsibility, you cannot force a child to like animals. Some children are allergic to animal fur or feathers, others may have had a particularly bad experience with an animal and be scared of them; either way, a pet in the house may not be a welcome addition. If the whole family decides they want a pet, but your teenager seems neutral, do not expect a lot of enthusiasm, they may see the pet as just one more thing competing for your attention.

The trouble arises when your teenager seems to actively dislike the pet and it becomes a source of conflict. Parents may buy a pet thinking it is for their children and then get cross when the child wants nothing to do with the animal. Your teenager may actually be jealous of the pet; when they are young, kittens and puppies require a lot of caring for, and this takes parental attention away from the teenager.

If your teenager becomes extremely moody around the animal and even cruel to it, this should sound alarm bells, and the parents need to discuss the teenagers' feelings towards the animal. Cruelty towards animals is a sign of a disturbed personality; generally as human beings we are tolerant of animals, especially household pets. If the teenager shows no signs of remorse about their cruelty you need to take this seriously, as an indicator of a number of behavior disorders, and your teenager may need therapy to identify what is their underlying problem. Getting your children a pet may seem like a good idea; but parents need to make sure it is something that all their children welcome, and not a potential area for conflict.