Barking Up

Family

Junior wants a pet?
Be sure your
household is ready.

12/4

1998

040114

CAROL SORGEN

Special to The Jewish News

here's nothing cuter than
your little darlin' cradling a
cuddly, playful kitten or
puppy. But before you
decide to give your child a pet for the
holidays, take some time to figure out
what kind of pet, if any, will suit your
family best.
"YoU have to think of your family's
needs, not just what your children
may want," advises Dr. Leon
Rosenberg, director of the Johns
Hopkins Children's Mental Health
Center.
Rosenberg himself admits that, in
his family, "we tried dogs and gave
up," because of the responsibilities
dog-owning entails. On the other
hand, cats have worked out fine.

Adds Dr. Susan Borenstein, a
Rochester-based veterinarian, "When
you're buying a pet, you're investing
in another family member and if
you're busy with a toddler, it might
not be a good.idea to get a puppy or
kitten because you need plenty of
time to train a pet properly"
Safety plays another role in making
a good decision, Rosenberg explains.
Avoid fad pets, such as weasels or pot-
bellied pigs, which rarely turn out to
be as lovable as they're advertised.
Other exotic animals, such as fer-
rets or snakes, don't make good
household pets, either, according to
Baltimore, Md.-based veterinarian
Julian Schreibman. "Unless you know
what you're doing, these are not the
kinds of animals you should bring
home for your children," he says.
Even when choosing the more tra-