Steven Mellon, of Springdale, has a big collection of pets, and happily cares for them without any reminding.
Steven, 13, spends about two hours a day caring for his animal brood, which includes two guinea pigs, two rabbits, fish and a dog; however, his mother, Joan Mellon, is the primary caretaker for the dog, Keeley. Steven says he doesn't feel burdened by the effort.
"I like to care for them, because it makes me happy, and I like petting them," says the Springdale Junior High School student.
Having family pets can be a wonderful experience, and with animals like cats and dogs, the children usually will bond with the pets. So with the responsibility involved in caring for Bowser and Miss Kitty, can and should kids pitch inâ¢
Yes, say animal-adoption experts -- but, parents' expectations should be realistic, based on the child's age, and level of maturity and responsibility. And whether it's a dog, cat, bird or snake, like it or not, if it's in the household, parents should be prepared to be the primary caretakers.
"I would never recommend that anyone get a dog just for the kids," says Patty Mazza. She is a volunteer with Animal Angels, a shelter in Mt. Pleasant. "You can get it for the kids, but never, ever bank on them taking the responsibility."
Many well-meaning families adopt dogs, for instance, on the condition that the children -- who eagerly promise to do so -- take care of it, she says. But after the novelty wears off, the kids often slack off on their promises. The dog then suffers if parents don't take charge and pick up the slack. Sadly, some families return the animals to the shelter when the kids lose interest in the chore.
"Ultimately, it all comes back to the parents," Mazza says. "You're dealing with a living, breathing creature here. We're not Wal-Mart, where you can return an item."
It's fine for parents to tell kids that they expect them to take care of a pet as part of their chores, "but you have to know in your head that you're the one who's going to do it if they don't want to do it," she says.
Dana Schultz, education coordinator for Animal Friends, a no-kill shelter in Ohio Township, agrees.
"We don't want to teach kids that pets are disposable, and say, 'If you don't feed the dog, we're just going to get rid of it,' " she says. That warning, however, Schultz says, is "extremely beneficial" in getting children involved in caring for family pets
"It's a great way for them to develop empathy and enhance their sense of responsibility; at the same time, we do not suggest that the child is solely responsible for it," says Schultz. She coordinates pet-care classes that Animal Friends regularly offers for children.
Although each child is different, Schultz says that age 10 is a good general benchmark for children to start taking on pet chores, although they should start with small tasks. They can, for instance, be in charge of feeding or walking the dog once a day, or filling the cat's water bowl. Brushing and grooming a pet also can be a great bonding experience, and parents and children can bond if they do pet-care activities together, including attending classes.
"I think that it's a chance for adults to model: This is how we love and care for another creature, and what it means to be responsible for another being," Schultz says.
If you're looking for relief from the poop-scooping, though, your odds are pretty stinky. Chances are, the least-pleasant tasks, like the litter box, will remain a parent's responsibility, at least while a child is young, she says.
When children do take on new pet-related chores, parents can tie them to the kids' allowance, Schultz says, as a motivator. Or, perhaps they can impose consequences if the children fail to do a chore: for instance, no dessert if they didn't feed the dog. Never let chores go undone when a child bails, she says.
Some kids happily become super-responsible for their pets. Debbie Viducich's household is bursting with pets: four dogs, three cats, and, often, foster animals. Thank goodness her two daughters -- Isabella, 11, and Angela, 8 -- help out with the pet care, she says.
The girls feed and water the cats -- Billie, Aurora and Bubby -- and help walk and feed the dogs -- Charlie, Annie, Rockne and Fluffy. Isabella and Angela even pitch in with the foster animals, which come from Animal Friends.
"They're very excited," says Viducich, of Mars, Butler County. "I probably would have to work harder if I asked them to scoop the yard or the litter boxes, but they love our animals, and they absolutely love it when we foster."
Janina Hall's two sons -- Dustin, 14, and Dylan, 11 -- wanted a dog when they were younger, but the Latrobe resident told them to wait until they were a little older and more responsible.
For Christmas of 2005, Hall and her husband, Sherman, got Dasher, a Lhasa-poo, as a puppy. The boys absolutely love the pooch, and they help with feeding, walking and watering. The novelty hasn't worn off, as it often does for kids with pets.
"They just treat him like a baby; he's our baby," says Hall, 40. "They call him their little brother."
Even some younger children eagerly get involved in caring for their pets. Dawn Walker's daughter -- Jordyn, 7 -- "absolutely loves animals and loves our pets very much," the Uniontown resident says.
Jordyn pitches in with feeding and bathing Boomer, the family pug, and also feeds and waters her hamster, Cuddles. Sometimes, Jordyn needs to be reminded about the chores, but she otherwise does them happily. She gets a $2 weekly allowance, with a 25-cent deduction for any missed responsibilities. But that rarely happens, Walker says.
"She makes sure that everyone knows that they're her pets -- not the whole family's, but hers," Walker says.
Annette Dietz, of North Huntingdon, also gets plenty of help from her two young kids -- Megan, 5, and Colton, 6 -- in caring for the family's three cats: Kitty, Jingles and Harley, and a dog named Lucky. They help with some of the basics, including bathing the dog and taking him outside. Dietz says she didn't have to push her kids to do the chores.
"I was blessed with that part," she says. "They love (the pets) like their family."
Lorraine Caldwel,l of Pleasant Hills, recalls how well her daughter -- Erin, now 28 -- took care of the family dog, Sandy. Erin was about 9 when the family got Sandy, and she helped her parents choose the dog at the Animal Rescue League in East Liberty,.
"We said, 'You can have any dog that you want,' " says Caldwell, 67. "Sandy was standing there terrified and shaking and so scared of everything. Erinsaid, 'This is the one I want.' "
Erin brushed Sandy regularly, played with her, and made sure she had water, Caldwell says.
Pets can provide wonderful companionship for kids, especially when they get lonely, says Jen Burkett, 31, of Sarver. Her 10-year-old son, Austin, recently made a comment about being an only child: he told his grandmother that, as an only child, he was a "lone ranger."
"That just broke my heart," she says. "He doesn't have a brother or sister or a pet, so he had a valid point."
Burkett crumbled two months ago and got Austin a puppy named Lexi, who is a "boggle," which is a cross between a Beagle and Boston Terrier. Austin, without complaint, has been taking excellent care of Lexi; he feeds and waters her before and after school, and does mostly everything else -- yes, everything.
"In fact, he's been on poop patrol quite a lot these last few days," Burkett says.
