It's official, children who grow up with pets have better social skills and empathy with others than children who don't, writes Sheila Wayman.
EMMA TOBIN and her sister Katie were always pestering their parents for pets. "We had guinea pigs, budgies, springer spaniels and a pony when we were growing up in Kilkenny. My love of animals comes from that and it's why I did veterinary."
While keeping pets may not be career defining for most children, numerous studies have shown they benefit from being with animals. Children who grow up with pets have better social skills and empathy with others than children who don't.
When the National Children's Office published a survey in 2005 on the most important influences on a child's wellbeing, animals scored highly in the children's answers even though they hadn't been seen as a priority by the adults consulted.
More than 5,000 children aged seven to 15 were asked to photograph what made them happy and feel positive about themselves; pets and animals ranked fourth, after parents, family and friends.
Keeping a pet gives children the responsibility of looking out for someone other than themselves, says Tobin, a veterinary radiologist and formerly the "pet vet" on RTÉ's Den TV.
"Dogs, cats and small furries give such joy and affection. It's really unquantifiable what pets give to children."
Pets can be undemanding companions and unquestioning confidantes, providing light relief from relationships with family and friends.
No matter how much you're being pestered by your child for a pet, the reality is you the adult must take responsibility for its care. It's funny how quickly squabbling among siblings to be the one to feed an animal, can turn to vying not to do it when the novelty wears off.
So if you're prepared to do most of the work, what sort of pet should you choose? The main considerations are the age of the child, home circumstances and money available. (Buying and housing an animal is only the start, the cost of feeding, bedding, boarding during holidays and vets' fees all mount up.)
"Toddlers and pets don't go well together," says Tobin. "They tend to grab and pinch, and a dog may growl and snap but it's not the animal that is at fault."
Unless there is a dog already in the house, it's not an ideal starter pet for a small child. Instead she suggests beginning with "something small and furry, such as a hamster or gerbil. It teaches the child how to clean a cage, provide food and fresh water every day, and then they could graduate on to a rabbit."
For an older child, a dog is undoubtedly a most rewarding pet. "I would tend to go for a breed well known for being tolerant with children," says Tobin. "Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are wonderful and it takes a lot to provoke them. They are very reliable, although they do come with a few veterinary problems, such as heart disease."
For a larger dog, Labradors are very reliable too, she says, "but they need plenty of exercise and a reasonably big garden". For any family, it's a big decision to get a dog. "Both parents need to be on board," she stresses - "even if they are separated".
When both parents are working outside the home, it's nearly impossible to care for a dog. "If you are gone at six in the morning and not back until eight at night it's a no-no," says Tobin. "A lot of the behavioural problems we see in animals are due to parents being out at work."
However, she suggests that with shorter absences, a small breed dog and a dog flap on your back door into a garden, operated by an electronic tag on the dog's collar, it could be done. In such circumstances, cats would make better pets. "Cats are independent and look after themselves. A kitten is loads of fun."
While kittens and cats can be easily acquired from a local rescue centre or sanctuary, Tobin doesn't recommend animal pounds for sourcing a dog. "I would prefer people without children going to pounds. I feel strongly that animals who have been rescued and put in a pound are not the best choice, you don't know how they're going to turn out."
When buying a puppy, try to see its parents, she advises, so you can see what it's likely to grow into. "And never arrange to meet a breeder in a car park, always go to see the premises."
The new chief executive of the ISPCA, Mark Beazley, strongly disagrees with the view that dogs in pounds are not suitable for children. He explains that the Republic's 34 pounds take in strays, and dogs that have been surrendered by their owners for many different reasons, while sanctuaries rehabilitate neglected or abused dogs.
He recommends when parents go to a pound or sanctuary, they bring the children and take a dog they like out of its enclosure to "see how they react to a dog and how the dog reacts to the children. Our staff would have a fair idea of the dogs and their suitability."
Despite all the publicity campaigns stressing the commitment of owning a dog, many people still don't realise the responsibility and cost it entails.
Beazley estimates that a medium-size dog will cost €1,500 a year to keep, with vets' fees being especially costly. The ISPCA finds it very frustrating that more than 16,000 dogs are surrendered by their owners each year, for many reasons, including a new baby on the way, a family going on holidays who doesn't want to pay the kennel fees, and the house being re-decorated so the hairy mutt no longer fits in.
"The modern nuclear family of wife, husband and two kids then feels the need to have a dog. But look at your lifestyle," Beazley cautions, is it really compatible with owning a dog? If you have the slightest doubt, "get a Nintendo DS with a dog game instead".
With more than 14,000 unwanted dogs destroyed in the Republic each year, Beazley adds: "We really are a disgrace in western Europe. Scotland, which is similar in culture and has one million more in population, puts down 600 dogs a year."
Exotic pets have become very popular in recent years, particularly in the greater Dublin area. However, the manager of the Camden Street branch of Petland in Dublin, Graham Webb, says he would never recommend reptiles for children, due to "their intricate lighting, heating and feeding needs".
They can also be very expensive, with a bearded dragon costing up to €500 to start off with appropriate housing.
"If they are not managed very well, they can become very sick," agrees Tobin.
If you really want to get an exotic pet, it's best to buy from a specialist shop.
Adult supervision is the key, says reptile expert Thomas McElheron in Boardwalk Pets, Wellington Quay, Dublin. "Reptiles have always been popular, but they're everywhere now. People are living in smaller homes, have less time and no gardens. They are an alternative to fish."
His advice is do your research and get the species most suitable for you. "Think beyond the initial purchase, they all need maintenance. Corn snakes are by the far the easiest to keep."
For children under six, most pet shops agree that goldfish are a good choice. They're cheap to buy and relatively easy to keep. Tropical marine fish are much more complex to set up and the manager of Fish Antics in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, James Martin, would only recommend them for children over 12, where an adult is involved too. "It's quite scientific with the different food and salts, the learning is quite complex. But it's a good hobby."
For children aged six and up, "guinea pigs make really first-time pets," says Amy Good of the Cornelscourt Pet Centre in Co Dublin. They are happy to sit on a child's lap, she says, whereas rabbits need much more work. "Theyneed four hours of exercise a day, it's those long legs, so they need an enclosed garden" - or the run of the house. They can be trained to live indoors and use a litter try like a cat."
Although hamsters are also popular with younger children, they're nocturnal so they can be boring and grumpy during the day. Gerbils are livelier and move fast, so Good suggests they're better for 10- to 12-year-olds.
"Rats make great pets, they are very intelligent," says Webb. But his shop doesn't sell mice - too smelly, "they don't have bladder control".
However, even the smallest pets shouldn't be bought on impulse. The age of the child and the circumstances of the family must be carefully considered, says Paddy Meaney of The Galway Pet Store on Quay Street in Galway. "We always try to discourage impulsive buying. We would advise people to go away and think about it."
Pet pros & cons: what animals are suitable for children and what are the starter costs?
FISH
FOR:Goldfish are cheap to buy and keep, and relatively little time is needed to care for them. Tropical marine species are particularly beautiful to look at.
AGAINST:It's hard to strike up a meaningful relationship with a fish. Younger children won't be able to handle the regular water changes; older ones won't be bothered. Setting up an aquarium of tropical marine fish is complex and needs plenty of adult input.
COST:Plastic bowl and two goldfish, from €25; better to invest in a larger tank with water filter, from about €60. Tropical marine starter kit costs more than €220 with fish ranging from €15 to €200.
BIRDS
FOR:Cheery, vocal companions who respond well to training and are attractive to look at.
AGAINST:Nervous by nature, they're not suitable for handling by children. Parrots - it really is a life-long commitment to buy one.
COST:Budgie and cage starts at €75; at the top of the range, a hand-reared African grey parrot sells for €1,200.
HAMSTERS
FOR:Cute and easy to look after.
AGAINST:Nocturnal, so can be pretty boring during the day. They smell and can bite.
COST:Starter kit of animal and cage from €80.
GERBILS
FOR:Very soft to touch, they're sociable and fascinating to watch.
AGAINST:Should not be kept alone, but they are prolific breeders so make sure you have a same-sex pair. They gnaw on everything and are adept escape artists.
COST:€10 each, a cage from €45.
GUINEA PIGS
FOR:Good for handling by even quite young children. They are friendly and rarely bite. Relatively cheap to buy and keep.
AGAINST:Smelly if the cage isn't kept clean. Need to watch their diet, fresh vegetables daily, and they are prone to illnesses.
COST:€15 each and €75 for a cage.
RABBITS
FOR:Smaller ones are easily handled by children. They score high on cuteness and live longer than guinea pigs.
AGAINST:They take more looking after than you might expect. Large rabbits need large hutches and plenty of space to exercise.
COST:€35 for a smaller rabbit; €75 for a cage and wooden hutches start at €150.
RAT/MOUSE
FOR:Rats are very intelligent, clean and make great pets. Both are cheap to keep.
AGAINST:Many adults can't stand these rodents. Mice smell so much many pet shops won't stock them.
COST:€20 for a rat, from €50 for cage.
CATS
FOR:A kitten can provide hours of fun for children and then grows up into an intelligent, engaging companion. Very independent and, apart from needing access to daily food and water, is able to fend for itself.
AGAINST:More aloof than dogs. Can't be taken for walks.
COST:Most kittens can be acquired free or at minimal cost, but they will need to be vaccinated and neutered.
DOGS
FOR:Makes a faithful, fun and unquestioning friend; is likely to become a much loved and protective member of the family. Good incentive to get children out for walks.
AGAINST:Needs lots of attention and daily exercise. Vets' bills can mount up, particularly as they get older.
COST:About €30 for a dog from a pound; but you will often be given vouchers to cover the cost of neutering, vaccinations and worm/flea treatment worth in the region of €220. Pedigree puppies cost several hundred euro, depending on breed.
EXOTIC
FOR:Nobody has to walk them. Corn snakes and adult geckos do not need space or daily attention.
AGAINST:Heating, lighting and feeding requirements are too intricate for children to handle on their own. Not for the squeamish, as animals such as geckos, bearded dragons and tarantulas need to be fed live crickets, while you'll be keeping frozen mice in the freezer to feed a snake.
COST:starter kit for a corn snake from €170; for a bearded dragon, up to €500.
PONY
FOR:A very special relationship, exercise and fresh air come with owning a pony. For many teenage girls, ponies are far more appealing than boys, so it can delay the dreaded day when dear daughter starts dating.
AGAINST:You need plenty of expertise, money, time and land - or even more money to keep it at livery stables - to care for a pony.
COST:Varies greatly, but expect to pay €3,000 for a decent, well-trained, reliable pony.
*The starter costs given are approximate.