How to navigate the world of internet pet adoption with your kids

Welcome to , an ongoing series at Mashable that looks at how to take care of – and deal with – the kids in your life. Because Dr. Spock is nice and all, but it’s 2018 and we have the entire internet to contend with.

Visiting pet adoption sites with names like Petfinder and Adopt A Pet can be addictive (and fun) ways to spend time online. And while adults usually can refrain from adopting every adorable dog and aww-worthy kitty that they see, many parents are discovering that the sight of a cute puppy up for adoption can trigger pleads of “Can’t we bring it home?” from their kids.

But if you are ready to acquiesce to the pleading, what should you know before letting your child use the Internet to find a new family pet? We’ve got answers.

Kids should be involved but not in charge

Media Relations Manager for San Francisco SPCA, Krista Maloney told Mashable that when it comes to deciding whether to adopt a pet, “children should never be solely responsible for the animal. Only adopt if you’re prepared to take on 100% of the responsibility.”

Searching for a pet online can be a great way to start. But Krista recommends not choosing a pet based only on appearance. Use the Internet to research the breed or breed mix and different local rescue groups, then visit the shelter.

“Ask about prospective pets’ “personality and activity level [and] learn about the history of the animal if you can,” advised Maloney. “Good family pets are friendly and social, and enjoy being handled by adults and children.”

And in all areas of pet adoption, from that initial search online through the meet-and-greet session at the pet shelter to assigning pet care tasks, she recommends that “all members of the family are actively involved in the process, especially kids!”

As for who should choose which pet to adopt? Parents are “ultimately responsible for the dog and should have the most influence in the process,” emphasizes Diane. “It’s pretty easy to fall in love with every dog you see and parents should set boundaries ahead of time.”

Seek out the right sites

Doing your own research before getting your kids involved in an online search can help streamline the process and ensure that your child doesn’t end up on a site catering to puppy mills. Having a list of pet adoption sites that you’ve checked out can help make the search safer. 

Diane Rose-Solomon, a Certified Humane Education Specialist through the Humane Society of the United States and author of several pet books including What to Expect When Adopting a Dog, told Mashable that “online adoption search engines are a great way to narrow down the search for your next pet.” 

Examples include:

: This site lets you and your kids conduct all types of searches, from finding a shelter or rescue organization near you to looking for a specific breed of cat, dog, or other pet. 

: Whether hunting for a special breed of puppy or a senior mutt, this site makes it easy to browse. You can also see how many pets in each category are available in your state.

: It’s all about the shelters and rescue organizations at this site. Entering your zip code or city name takes you to a list of the shelters and rescue groups in your area, which you can then search for a specific pet.

Find the right fit

Karinna Hurley, Lecturer in the Department of Human Ecology at UC Davis, told Mashable that “children at any age can potentially benefit from having a pet.”

Researchers at UC Davis’ Infant Cognition Lab “have found that experience with a pet can have an impact on even young infants. For example, in one study we found that having a dog or cat at home influenced how 4-month-olds looked at pictures of animals, suggesting pet experience shapes their developing cognitions about animals,” noted Hurley.

However, the human ecology expert also pointed out that parents should offer guidance when it comes to determining how a new pet will fit in into their family.

“Parents should help kids take into consideration how an individual animal will fit into their family,” emphasized Hurley. “Different types of animals, or even breeds within the same species, will have different needs, for example, in terms of exercise levels.”

So if you’re a family fond of spending the evening curled up on the couch watching TV, a cat or lap dog might fit well into your family. Are you and your children into long hikes on the weekend and a morning jog around the block? A dog who loves to play and run such as a Labrador retriever may fit well into your family. 

Hurley suggests that parents begin by identifying local pet rescue groups. Then let older kids and teens look online but “ultimately look together at possible adoptees as a family.” Next step: Head out for a visit as a family to meet potential pets. 

Learning from our pets

Marta Pelrine-Bacon has a 15-year-old son and three dogs, all of which are from shelters.

She believes that parents should play an active role when it comes to involving their children in the search for the right pet rather than give them freedom to hunt for a new dog or cat.

“When he was younger, I’d worry about him falling for a picture of a dog, and perhaps an inadequate description. You don’t really know what a particular animal is like until you meet them,” she points out. “We went to shelters, but we did look at some pictures online together as a family.”

Her tip: “Schedule family time to look and be clear on what sort of pet you’re looking for. Be honest with your kids about what sort of pet you are willing to adopt.”

And after bringing the pet home, teaching your kids to help care for your new animal is worth the time, says this experienced mom. 

“I think having dogs has helped our son be kind,” reflected Pelrine-Bacon.

Hurley is enthusiastic about the benefits of pet adoption and rescue for helping children develop emotionally. 

“Pets in the home offer parents wonderful opportunities for discussions about feelings and emotions,” she said. “Children learn from modelling, and animals in the home can provide lots of opportunities for parents to model compassion and caring towards another being.”

Diane Rose-Solomon agrees, calling pets “our greatest teachers.”

In a world that sometimes feels unsafe, Pelrine-Bacon believes that kids can feel safer with a pet by their side. 

“Our son can feel anxious about the world sometimes, but snuggling with a dog, or being reminded how the dogs bark and watch out for us, makes him feel better,” she added.

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