Pets can be a true blessing to a family. They help us strengthen our bonds, teach the kids responsibility, and provide additional opportunities for play and exercise.
However, under the wrong circumstances, animals can also become a source of stress.
Which is exactly what happened to RedditorThen-Yoghurt-6322and his home. In an honest post on the subreddit ‘Am I the [Jerk]?‘, the dad explained that despite his best intentions, a kitten that he got for his eldest child has added a considerable amount of destruction to their everyday life.
This man got a kitten to make his daughter happy
Image credits:Alena Darmel / pexels (not the actual photo)
However, the little one’s joy might come at the mom’s expense
Image credits:Caleb Woods / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits:Trym Nilsen / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits:Joe Cleary / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits:Then-Yoghurt-6322
You have to think about the big picture when considering a family pet
Image credits:Yerlin Matu / unsplash (not the actual photo)
“I would definitely advise against getting a pet if some of your family members are not keen,” Broadbent told us. “Pets require love, care, attention, and money, and not only is it unfair on the pet to bring him into a home where neglect might occur, but it may mean that relationships are strained.”
According to experts from theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA), a non-profit representing more than 105,000 vets in the US, everyone who thinks about introducing a furry, feathery, or other companion to their family needs to ask themselves a few very important questions:
You can also get firsthand experience before bringing home a new pet. “I think using dog walking apps or asking a friend or neighbor if you can dog or cat sit over a period of time will help you all decide whether you have the time and energy a pet deserves,” Vicki Broadbent, the author ofMumboss(UK) andThe Working Mom(US and Canada) added.
Clearly, there are many factors that influence this decision, and while we don’t know the entire picture, it sounds like the dad behind the post might’ve focused too much on one — pleasing his older daughter. That, of course, is a noble cause but maybe he could’ve found other ways to bring more joy to her life.
After all,approximately 3.2 million catsenter shelters across the US every year. We should be doing everything we can not to contribute to that number.
People who read the story believe the dad should’ve listened to his wife more
Dominyka
Rugilė Žemaitytė
Neilas Šurkus
Parenting
