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Choosing the right pet for your family
One of the important aspects of getting a pet for your children is that it teaches them a sense of responsibility. The pet needs to be fed and watered every day, and it also needs lots of love
Your child will realise that he or she cannot forget about and neglect Sammy, or Sammy will die. Children also learn that the more that they give to a pet, in time and love, the more they get back in return.
There are a huge variety of suitable pets available for children. Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, budgies and goldfish make excellent children's pets. They are fairly easy to look after and can be very affectionate in return. Most of the 'small furries' are very responsive to handling and with gentle human contact from an early age, can become very affectionate.
Suggested pets
Goldfish are a very good starting point for becoming a responsible pet owner, but they don't give very much in return.
Hamsters make ideal first pets; they are cheap and easy to look after. They can become very affectionate if bought at a young age and handled frequently and gently. The only downside is that they only live for two years and if handled roughly may give a little nip. They are nocturnal creatures, so unfortunately they're most active when the children are asleep.
Rabbits and guinea pigs make excellent pets. They can be kept indoors or outdoors and need a nice big, warm hutch that is easy to move. They need fresh food and water every day and loads of love. They should be bought at a young age and handled regularly. It's also important that a rabbit should have a secure 'run' outdoors, so that they're not confined to their hutch.
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