Pets in our family

When you choose to own a pet, you choose to make that pet a part of your family. Just like every other member of your family, they have needs and a right to be treated fairly, safely and caringly.

If your family doesn’t spend much time at home because of work, school and other commitments, having a pet, which relies on you to look after its needs for the whole of its life, may not be such a good idea.

Pet owners need to spend time exercising, socialising, training and grooming their pets..

Personal care

You have your own bed or bedroom. Your pet needs their own space too, somewhere to feel safe, to sleep and to relax.

Your house will also need secure fences and gates. This is very important for dogs as it is against the law for them to leave the property without you.

When someone in your family is sick, they visit the doctor. When your pet is ill, you need to take them to visit the veterinary doctor. This is all part of the personal care your pet requires.

Pets have needs

It is also your responsibility to feed and water your pet. When you exercise and get hungry, you often feel like a snack. It is the same for your pet. They need food for energy, so it is very important to make sure they have plenty of healthy food and fresh water.

When you have had a hard day at school or at the park, it always feels great to come home and take a shower or have a bath. It’s the same for your pet, they like to be fresh and clean too.

Most cats manage to keep themselves clean, but dogs need regular cleaning and grooming to stay clean and be free of any pests or bugs.

Most pets love to play, so make sure you include them in your games and activities. Remember, they are part of your family too and they love to feel wanted.

Training your pet

It is also very important to let your pet socialise with other animals. You have your friends and they need theirs. They also need to be trained to act suitably around other humans. It is a good idea to start training your pet while they are still young.

Younger family members

If you have younger brothers or sisters, they need to know how to act around your pet. They need to learn to not play roughly and not tease or mishandle your pet. It is also very important for pets to learn how to behave around babies and young children too.

Young children do not always have the ability to recognise warning signs when pets are upset. The best way to minimise any possible risk is to actively supervise any interaction or separate if this is not possible. Children 0-4 are at the highest risk for dog attack related injuries.

Just like humans, pets also like to be left alone when they are sleeping, eating or not feeling well.