"Children often cannot judge correctly the amount of responsibility involved in keeping a pet and the manifold tasks it implies," informs us Ingrid Stephan from the Institute of Social Learning with Animals. A lot of children want a pet, but lose interest as soon as it comes to cleaning the cage or feeding.

Therefore it is a good idea to let them look after a guinea pig at school or the rabbit of a friend during the holidays. This way the parents can find out before actually buying a pet if their child's interest in keeping and looking after a pet is genuine, or if it only short-lived.

"In such a test phase enough emphasis should be placed on the nice moments with pets beside the work they involve," says Ingrid Stephan. "The parents' task is to organize the child's daily routine with the pet in such a way that it includes not only responsibility and 'work', but also time for getting to know each other, observing and becoming fond of each other. The parents should allow for ample time to observe the pet together with their child and for fondling the pet."

It is important to make the final decision together with the child whether to have a small animal as a pet or not. Small animals will only be happy and content when kept in pairs or groups. The parents need to realize that they will be the ones mainly responsible for the pets, and they should make sure they enjoy the pets as much as their child does.

IVH