Keeping Children, Cats, and Dogs Safe While Living Together

Pets can complete a family. They bring companionship, joy, and stress relief. Pets offer an opportunity to teach children the responsibility of caring for another living thing. A pet can also have a therapeutic effect for children coping with difficulties.

Parents have the ultimate responsibility when deciding to add a pet to the family. Many different kinds of animals are available as pets suitable for children. Cats and dogs are among the most popular family pets. Safety for both the animal and the children has to be a top priority.

Families choosing a cat or dog as a pet usually are attracted to breeds that are characteristically good with families and tolerant of children. It is important for parents to remember that all pets, no matter how easy going the breed, will bite or scratch if provoked enough. Parents must put in place safety measures for the benefit of both the pet and the child.

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers have to be supervised constantly with pets. Children of this age are extremely impulsive and do not understand the consequences to their actions. They pull hair, ears and tails; poke eyes, noses and mouths; and step or jump on legs, tails and bodies. Even the most docile animal who has put up with this treatment before could suddenly bite. Expecting an animal to tolerate this treatment is cruel and abusive.

With children under 5, focus on teaching the child gentle touching.

o Show children how to pet the cat or dog from the neck to the back and stop at the tail. It doesn't feel good for the animal's fur to be ruffed backwards. Also, don't allow the child to pet the tail since his hands could touch the anal area.

o Make a firm rule not to touch the animal's face. This will lessen the chance of the child poking the dog's eyes or the cat's nose.

o Do not allow the child to put her face close to the animal's face. Many animals don't like their space invaded. A dog can snap. A cat can scratch.

o Another rule you cannot waver from is not allowing a small child to pick up the cat or small dog. Hugs can easily turn into strangle holds and the pet may be dropped. Young children should only be allowed to hold a pet when they are sitting.

As children get older, they can be trusted with more independence when in the company of their pets. Even children in the lower elementary grades need to be monitored when playing with their pets. They like to include their cat or dog in their imaginative play and when recreating what they see on television. Children may like to play dress up or bad guy vs good guy shooting games.

Parents need to always take the responsibility for the pet and child's safety. More things to think about for children of all ages include:

o Never, ever allow a child to jump over an animal. The pet may move at the last minute and the child may jump on top of the animal causing serious injury.

o Teach children to allow their pet to get away. This is particularly true for cats. When you see your dog or cat getting up and moving away from your child and she keeps going over to her pet, intervene. This is the pet's message that he doesn't want to play. Also, do not allow your child to chase her pet when it's trying to get away. When an animal feels cornered it can attack.

o Plan ahead and provide your pet with an escape route and safe place to go. Do not allow your child to disturb your pet when in its safe place. For a dog it can be his doghouse or bed. For a cat it can be its cat tree or a back bedroom.

o When animals get older their bodies start getting achy and they can become more temperamental. Parents must protect the elderly pet by restricting access by children if the pet has become less tolerant.

If your cat or dog is not working out as an appropriate family pet, be responsible enough to find him a suitable home. Honestly evaluate whether your cat or dog likes living with the activity and attention of children. If not, find him a home with only adults. Also honestly evaluate whether your family's lifestyle or children's personalities are appropriate for a pet. If you are gone from home all of the time, or if your children are not respectful of your pet's needs, find your pet a more compatible home.

Karen is a mother to 3 children, ages 18, 16 and 6. She has fostered 20 children and still counting. Karen is a special education teacher and uses her talents to parent special needs and drug expoed children in foster care. She also runs a successful online home-based business. http://karenjmiller.info/