A pet can be a delightful addition to any family.
A dog, cat, rabbit, bird or other creature can provide companionship, comfort, enjoyment and even relief from the stresses of the day.

Children growing up with pets will learn some valuable skills in how to care, and take responsibility, for an animal and at the same time experience the joys of having their own special friend with which to play.

If you own a pet or are considering buying one there are some aspects to consider to ensure that the partnership is a successful and healthy one. By far the majority of families will choose a cat or dog, or possibly both.

Choosing a pet
It is advisable to do a little research before buying a pet. Your pet will be part of your family for many years, so it is important to make the right choice. Consider asking for some advice from vets, animal breeders, animal clubs or other pet owners. Organisations such as the Petcare Information and Advisory Service can help with choosing the best breed of dog or cat to suit your situation (ph: 1800 631784).

In choosing a pet you will need to consider the following: the ages of your children, the size and breed of the animal, your lifestyle, routines and the amount of time you can devote to it, costs (vet bills, food, shelter, grooming), space and exercise requirements, and most importantly the safety of your children and animal.

School aged children are generally better able to understand and respect animals and some people may prefer to delay buying a pet until then. However if your child is younger and you have a pet, you will simply need to watch the two more closely.

Dogs
Every year many children, particularly pre-schoolers, are bitten by dogs. Most of the children are bitten by their own dog or a friend's dog. To minimise the risk:

• Always supervise children near dogs.
• Take your puppy or dog to obedience classes to learn the basic commands of "sit", "stay", "drop" and "come". Provide opportunities for your dog to socialise with other children, adults and dogs.
• Teach children to interact with dogs by modelling the desired behaviours, for example, standing still when approached by a dog, allowing a dog to sniff your hand and patting dogs gently on the chest or under the chin.
• Children should be taught never to approach a strange dog, play roughly with one or to disturb a dog that is eating or sleeping.

Cats
The main health risk for children associated with cats is infections, either from cat bites and scratches or children touching or eating dirt that contains cat faeces or fleas (this applies to dogs also).

• Cat litter trays should be cleaned every day and kept well out of reach of young children.
• Any cat bite or scratch should be thoroughly washed and an antiseptic applied. Deeper wounds should be seen by a doctor.
• Ensure your cat has regular veterinarian checks, immunisations and flea control.
• It is possible that a cat can smother a baby by lying on their face while they are asleep. Keep the cat out of the child's nursery.

Other animals
The birds that children need to handle with caution are members of the Parrot family, including budgerigars. Parrot fever (psittacosis) is common in Australia. Ensure that children always wash their hands after handling parrots.

Small mammals such as guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits are also favourites with children but sometimes they need as much protection as children, namely from being squeezed, dropped or carried about for hours! Children should be discouraged from poking their fingers into a cage because of the risk of bites.

Fish can be fun to watch, however the fish tank needs to be kept out of reach of children, or the fish pond secured with wire netting.

Reptiles such as turtles, lizards or even snakes may not be everyone?s favourite pet however, they are common to some areas and children need to be taught not to disturb them.

Farmyard animals such as cattle, sheep, chickens and goats are generally not considered pets, however children who live on, or visit a farm, are often exposed to them. Provide a safe play area for children by installing a fence around the farm house and provide enclosed play areas in work areas, such as the dairy.

Horse riding is a popular pastime, especially for teenagers. Horseriders should wear a Standards Australia approved riding helmet and proper riding boots. Horses with an even temperament and those older than 5 years are safer for young inexperienced riders.