Adopting a New Best Friend
Is your child asking for a kitten or puppy? While kittens and puppies are cute, adding one to your family is like adding a baby.
Adult animals are actually better first-time pets for families. Adult animals are often gentler, calmer companions, and often are already trained.
Adult animals make excellent first-time pets and best friends. Consider adopting an adult dog! Adult cats and adult dogs seem to know they have been adopted, and are so grateful for your love.
Pet ownership is known to promote positive mental and physical health for children and adults. Consider adopting adult dogs and cats.
Adult Dogs & Adult Cats Make Great Pets
Specific benefits to children and families include :
• Pets give unconditional love. They are non-judgmental, and, especially for only children, lonely children, or children who have sibling rivalry or emotional distress, a pet gives them someone to talk to. A pet can comfort, give support, and listen to a child’s troubles without judgment or consequence. And, when playing, a adult dogs and adult cats can become a child’s partner and best buddy.
• A pet can teach a child that he doesn’t have to take out his anger or fear on others. Some children become bullies and if they don’t have a safe place to share their truest emotions, they may project those emotions onto other children. Because a pet will love your child no matter what he says, a pet gives him a confidant, a safe place in which to verbally pour out his fears and his anger.
• A pet can teach empathy. Caring for a pet that is so dependent on you teaches empathy. Children learn to read the pet’s needs: is he hungry? Does the adult dog need to go outside? Maybe the pet is scared of the wind, rain or snow and needs to be comforted. Moreover, empathy is the one skill that can be taught and a skill that bullies often lack.
• A pet can teach confidence and responsibility. Children can gain confidence by having the responsibility of caring for a pet. Children as young as three years old can manage simple tasks such as filling the pet’s water and food bowls. As the child gets older, he can groom and walk the pet.
• Animals can help socialize children and increase verbal skills. Even little kids who are still learning to talk often chatter away with pets. In this way, adult dogs and adult cats give not only social and emotional support but also cognitive language skill support to children. A pet’s simple presence provides a verbal stimulus to help your child practice talking and socializing with another being.
• Pets (and animals in general) can be very therapeutic for children. Studies have shown how pets can help lower blood pressure, speed up recovery time, and reduce stress and anxiety. This is often seen with troubled children and autistic children, with children who experience PTSD –when they are with animals they can immediately relate because they sense the animals are unconditional in their love and affection.
Forever Animal Adoptions
PAWS’ goal is to make loving, forever adoptions that bring joy and life to both the adopting families and pets. PAWS is skilled in making matches that benefit both the adopters and animals. Sometimes, PAWS may suggest a different pet in order to better match the needs of your family. Want to start the search?
Adopting Adult Dogs & Cats add joy to homes! Check out our available dogs and available cats today! Contact us today for more information.
PAWS has the right to decline any adoption that would not be beneficial to all involved.