Want to connect with other special needs families? Come join the conversation at January 13, 2009
Try This Tuesday #26: Getting a Pet
As I mentioned last week, I will be giving a topic suggestion each Tuesday to write about. Of course, it is just a suggestion; you are still welcome to write about any topic you wish.
Topic Suggestion for this Week: Getting a Pet
How did you decide whether getting a pet would be good for your family, including your child with special needs? Are there any special things you considered in choosing a pet, or in deciding not to get one? How did you teach your child to interact properly with it? Any regrets about your decision, whether it was to get one or to not get one?
My family's decision of whether to get a pet is an ongoing question. My husband did not grow up with animals, whereas I had both dogs and cats in my house. From the time of our marriage until Michael was about 3, we had a cat, but he was very sick at the end of his life and finally had to be put down, which was very emotional for both of us.
Now Michael would really like to get a pet, preferably a dog or a cat. Besides the discussions about how much work and cost would be involved, I am not sure how careful I would have to be about leaving Michael alone with a pet. While he is high-functioning and very smart, he also can be unpredictable when he gets upset and doesn't always have a lot of common sense.
On the other hand, having a pet to love and play with (and help take care of) could be a great thing for him. This would also be a good time in our lives because, until school gets out in June, I am home in the mornings and usually only gone for about 5 hours a day for work.
As you can see, we are still weighing this decision, so I am looking forward to reading others' thoughts and experiences in this area.
Please join in and share the creative solutions YOU have found to your own challenges, or feel free to post your own challenge for input from others. For more details on how to participate, read the welcome post.
Topic Suggestion for Next Week: Teaching Impulse Control
Trish can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Friday in addition to hosting Try This Tuesday. You can also find Trish blogging at Another Piece of the Puzzle and Autism Interrupted.
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Comments on Try This Tuesday #26: Getting a Pet »
Cale @ 12:45 am
Carl's allergic to fur, and I'm phobic of dogs, so this never was an issue for us.
But we did make the transition from fish to waterfrog to turtle. If we could keep one alive for six months, we could move up to the next level. If not, we had to restart at fish and work our way up again.
This might be possible with furry creatures as well. Something like mouse to gerbil to rabbit to dog? Could be a way to teach patience/responsibility/delayed gratification at the same time.
Maddy @ 12:57 am
Aha! So that's what Barbara meant by her comment on my blog. I should have found the time to check it out but things are still a little hectic around here.
We have had this debate for approximately 5 years when we first adopted the cats = fantastic for speech and relationship development, not so good on the asthma, eczema, allergy front.
Hence after a similar 5 year debate we bit the bullet and purchased the pooch. I am now as fit as a flea after my three hour walk a day, and that reminds me………..better buy some flea powder.
Cheers
Another Piece of the Puzzle ยป Adopting the Older Child & Getting a Pet @ 1:33 am
[...] we are not adopting an older child or getting a pet, at least not at the moment. Getting a Pet is the topic of today's Try This Tuesday post over at 5MFSN, and, although we are talking [...]
Heidi @ GGIP @ 9:05 am
I will be interested in coming back and reading more opinions about this. I don't have an opinion!
Deborah @ 10:07 am
Trish, we have two cats, a dog, and multiple goldfish. For my family, the pets have been a very positive thing. The children have learned responsiblity by taking care of them, and they love snuggling with them (well, not the fish!).
With my oldest daughter, I do have to be vigilant because she is unpredictable and can rage violently. Interestingly though, the pets all love her and they seem to help her calm herself. Although she has cause physical injury to people, myself included, she is tender and gentle with the pets.
Our cats and dog have all come from the SPCA and I think that helps also. The children are learning that shelter animals can make great pets, and we have avoided some of the high strung behaviors that purebred dogs can sometimes exhibit.
Just to be on the safe side, our cats are declawed, and when looking for a dog, we searched to find the most mellow creature we could.
Life with our pets is great – and I believe my children are better for it!
Sheri Rouse @ 10:17 am
For me I decided I wanted one and I got one. there was no fretting, no considering for weeks. I wanted, we got. I love animals and I wanted my children to grow up caring for and loving animals.
My child has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. He needs constant supervision ESPECIALLY around the animals in our home. But he is learning and is doing much better (after 7 years)
My kids are better off for having animals in their life. The unconditional love is a good experience.
I look at it much like kids. If you consider the expense, the "trouble", the work, the unknown you'd never do it.
Sheri Rouse @ 10:20 am
I also must say that I am highly allergic to dogs and cats and have had MANY over the years. My doctor once gave me the advice that if you can handle 3 weeks of allergy torture you will acclimate to your own animal and your body will not be allergic to yours. It is tolerable for the love they give us!
Lisa @ 10:20 am
Great idea.
xo
Jaime @ 10:52 am
Shortly after we began our debate about getting a dog, my sister's family – and their dog – needed to move in with us. I realized that Tyler (now 2) wasn't as excited about dogs when they are around full-time — and I'm too busy to take care of and play with a dog right now. So we decided to wait until Tyler's a little older. Maybe you could borrow a pet from someone for a week or two in order to help you evaluate the decision in a realistic manner?! Good luck with the decision.
gail @ challenges & adventures @ 2:26 pm
how funny! i posted on my blog about whether we are going to get another dog before i even knew what your topic for today was. with our son, a dog has been a good choice. he has learned to be gentle with dogs and loves them alot!
Tammy and Parker @ 5:23 pm
I'd go with something like a goldfish. But that's just me. Preferably a wooden one.
That's just me though. One more thing that came with poop that needed to be cleaned up would simply throw me over the edge.
Trish @ 1:05 am
I'm totally laughing about the poop comment, Tammy! When I was in college, I had a plastic goldfish in a little tank with a magnet on a string. When you turned it on, the magnet activated and made it move around.
I appreciate everyone's comments. I guess what it really comes down to is how much my husband and I want or don't want a pet. If we both were on board, we would probably have already gotten one.
And, Maddy, I'm not sure what Barbara said, but your comment last week along with all the adorable pics of your new addition definitely inspired my choice of topic!
Mary @ 2:59 pm
My son's are both autistic and our first dog for them was a begal.He started out in the house but ended up out side.They are sweet eventempered and I've never known one to bite.My dad raised them for a number of years.
Try This Tuesday #27: Teaching Impulse Control @ 2:14 am
[...] what a great response last week to the topic of getting a pet. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences on the subject – it was really helpful to [...]