Your role as a pet owner

All these days we have been advising you on how to take care of your pets. We spoke about caring for your dogs, cats, fish, birds and even tortoises. Something you should never forget is that you are your pets’ owner. You have the responsibility of taking care of them, feeding them and cleaning them.

However, it is important that you take on tasks that are only appropriate to your age. Here are a few examples of what you may be able to do:

Toddlers - A toddler can help parents with pet care simply by being involved - “helping” parents fill their pets’ food and water dishes, grooming pets, accompanying parents on walks with the pets or to the veterinarian. Another thing a toddler could do is to give dogs a treat for good behaviour, i.e. gets in bed or crate before family leaves the house. We are sure that you and your pet both will enjoy this special job!

5 - 7-year-olds - This age group is capable of doing some of the tasks above (feeding, watering, grooming) without parental help. Still, you cannot be expected to remember to do these jobs without friendly reminders from your parents. Just ask mum or dad to remind you, or have a picture timetable. Paste a picture of a child feeding a dog. When you see the timetable next, you will rememeber what you have to do.

8 - 12-year-olds - You still need the supervision of your parents. You can take your pet for a walk. Take one of your parents also with you. It is always fun to walk and talk with your father and mother. You will enjoy walking your pet and also get some extra time to be with your parents.

If you are below the age of 10-12, it is not advised that you should walk a dog without adult supervision. However, you can feed, water and play with the pet alone (depending on the pet’s temperament and area for exercising).

Teenagers - Depending on your maturity, you can sometimes take full responsibility for your pet, including feeding, cleaning up after, taking your pet to the vet and exercising it.

Now, you know what you can do according to your age group. It is always good to talk to the vet, and if you can, read books about pet care. Then you can get a wide knowledge about caring for your pet. Be vigilant for any unusual signs from your pet. Keep a close eye on it.

Then you can identify when your pet is really sick and when it just needs attention.

Make sure you give it food on time, and take it for its walk around the same time every day. Pets are always good at getting used to a timetable. So, follow a timetable; it will be good for you as well as your pet.

It is always best to take the responsibility of a pet. This is the first step of learning to take responsibilities. So, go ahead, do whatever you can do to help your parents take care of your pet.

- Janani Amarasekara