Hiring pets...

RoseFairy

can this be done here too?


after our 'monkey as pets' fiasco, hubby considered going for rabbits as pets - but as we were near to going on holiday during Easter - i said no not now.

anyway while on holiday, hubby came across a pet shop and asked about buying a couple rabbits just for the holiday period for which the kids could get a taster of what it's like to take care of pets.... low and behold this was possible there (asian country) and on top of that if we brought them back on time we would be refunded about 75% of the price (cost equivalant of £7 to buy and £5 refunded!)

i was just as surprised as the kids when hubby brought two tiny fluffy albino rabbits with cage, food etc. we all loved it - but unfortuantely within a week we noticed that the novelty was wearing off for the kids:rolleyes:
and took them back asap - still healthy, but before the kids neglect them.

lucky for us the kids have understood that in their case, goldfish are easier:D


but, i wonder if this can happen here too for those embarking on pets for their children who have never had a pet before?

RacyRed

I’d have thought the many distractions to be had when on holiday would have meant that the kids were never going to prove themselves capable of proper pet care in that situation?
There is somewhere you can “hire” a dog to take for walks, but if I remember it was meant to be an ongoing arrangement and you pay for all of the pet’s upkeep, plus a lot more!
Not heard of anywhere you can take a pet on approval, which sounds like the sort of thing you need. But is it the kids who want a pet or is it really hubby? Why not get him to own up, get him the pet he really wants and educate the kids in pet care by example with Dad taking ultimate responsibility for the pets welfare?
I think that is a good way for kids to learn, the responsibility of pet care is best taught by example. It is too dangerous and unfair to the pet to expect children to assume responsibility for something when they have no idea of what is involved. By this I mean you can tell a child to keep a hutch clean/feed/water/exercise a pet but in their minds, if they miss a couple of day it is not a big deal, whereas it can have major implications for the pet’s health.
When a child learns by helping an adult the child doesn’t have the stress of full responsibility untli they have learned what is involved. After this they may properly commit themselves to caring for their very own pet.
Is there somewhere local that allows children to do supervised animal care? That might be the best place to start.

lynzpower

You can foster pets on behalf of families who are experiencing domestic violence

Her partner had wrecked the flat and smashed all the windows, leaving Bruno terrified. It was the first time he had turned his anger on the family dog - until then, Anne had put Bruno in the garden when she sensed trouble brewing.
But the refuge to which she and two young children fled could not take Bruno in, and Anne worried desperately about his safety. Abusers often threaten to hurt or kill pets if their partner leaves - and those who work with victims say some prefer to endure daily beatings rather than upset their children by abandoning the animal.
While at the refuge, Anne was put in touch with the charity Paws for Kids, which helps 36 refuges in north-west England find foster homes for pets. Other organisations have pilot schemes in the South West, Leicester and Scotland, and a similar service is planned for London.
Safe from harm
"It was just such a relief," Anne says. "I knew Bruno would be well looked after and I could get on with sorting out our new life." After eight months, Anne and her children found a new home and were reunited with Bruno.

http://www.pawsforkids.org.uk/
http://www.pfss.org.uk/

oystercatcher

I really don't like this idea of hiring out pets. It could be very frightening for the animals being moved to a new home every few weeks, getting to know new people, maybe being given different diet and exercise routines.

Also a pet shop wouldn't be able to take back animals and either mix them with others or re-hire without a quarantine period as who knows what diseases or infestations they could have picked up while out 'on hire'. Also what happens to the animals when they become older and not so 'cute' to hire out?

I agree with above poster. It needs to be the adults in the family who are prepared to do the care, maybe they can ensure the child does the care but ultimate responsibility is with the adult so if they aren't prepared to do it that means no animals.

I can never forget one of my son's friends saying his hamster had died and his parents were tut tutting because there was no food in the cage and they thought hamster had starved....... no thought that it might have been THEIR responsibility to make sure the 10 year old had fed the animal.
Poor little thing

lowis

why doesn't hubby/kids volunteer at a local animal charity to experience pet care? might be the best place top start.

Blackpool_Saver

oystercatcher wrote: »

I really don't like this idea of hiring out pets. It could be very frightening for the animals being moved to a new home every few weeks, getting to know new people, maybe being given different diet and exercise routines.

Also a pet shop wouldn't be able to take back animals and either mix them with others or re-hire without a quarantine period as who knows what diseases or infestations they could have picked up while out 'on hire'. Also what happens to the animals when they become older and not so 'cute' to hire out?

(

This is a horrible idea, whatever next? hiring out children, oh wait we do that already by passing them around foster carers.... (not calling fosters carers, I promise) poor animals how horrible for them.

foreign_correspondent

It may be ok fro a welfare standpoint for less intelligent animals, and those which are not territorial and dont bond much with people (although it's less than ideal) but for something like a dog it would be a nightmare.


Also, just be wary of what you are actually teaching your kids, as with the best will in the world, it may not be what you are hoping to teach them - ie. the lesson you may want to impart may be 'how to look after pets' - the message they are actually learning and taking on board is that pets are a 'disposable commodity', to be returned when they get 'boring' - unfortunately this is an attitude many adults clearly hold in this country, hence the massive numbers of abandoned and unwanted pups when they get to about a year old - no longer 'cute', and a lot of work.

If you are interested in a pet, and could commit to one for a year or two, but not having the responsibility for 10, 15 or even 20 years how about something with a shorter lifespan - ie a couple of mice....or, as others have said, doing some voluntary work, or fostering pets for an animal charity - lots of valuable lessons for your kids to be learnt there.

clutterydrawer

I have heard about places that run this service although personally i don't think it's a good idea - animals deserve a stable home, not to be passed from pillar to psot all their lives.

I agree with the previosu psoter who recommends volunteering at an animal shelter. i would say that if kids are willing to go and do a bit of work there once a week for an extended period of time, tehy would be willing to take good care of a pet of their own.

foreign_correspondent

OP - actually, and - please dont take this the wrong way, but- I think your OH needs to be educated just as much as the kids actually - with his little flights of fancy about having a monkey and his impulsive hiring of pets!!!

This isn't a judgement on him at all, but because of the way we live now, in lives often quite removed from nature, lots of people know very little about animals really, their lives, their needs and the responsibility of looking after them - your OH does just sound a little naive in this area, but obviously has an interest, which is why this subject keeps coming up.... (he does seem to be instigating the idea of having animals, rather than the kids suggesting it)

For this reason, it may be really useful to consider educating yourselves a little as a family - maybe a subscription to an animal or wildlife charity which gives updates on their work, or some voluntary work where you could learn more - perhaps in conservation, a local wildlife group, a city farm, or an animal rescue...?

It might just be an enjoyable and fulfilling way of spending time with animals without a big commitment, and you may all learn a lot together too.