Kids love dogs, but we cannot have one - any ideas?
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Anonymous
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hello,
My kids keep asking for a dog, but our circumstances do not allow for one. Any suggestions in NW DC or nearby where kids could interact and play with dogs, or volunteer in some kind of dog/ animal related activities? Kids are five years old. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Any ASPCA shelter? At least some will let you take one out and walk it. |
Anonymous
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I don't think a shelter is the best place for 5 year olds.
I'd look around your neighborhood. Offer to dogsit or walk a neighborhood dog on occasion. You'd have to start slowly though, since most owners might be a little wary of two rowdy 5 year olds with their dog. |
Anonymous
| No shelter is going to let a 5-year old 'volunteer' interact with their animals. As a dog-owner, I wouldn't let random 5-year olds interact with my dog either. You should just buy them a stuffed dog and promise to revisit the 'pet' thing when they are older. |
Anonymous
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OP - ok, thanks everyone.
I just have to make more friends with dogs/ cats I suppose....they adore them. They do have stuffed dogs and talking-walking Max. They stop every and any dog on the street and pet them...... |
Anonymous
| Pet sitting! I think my son started when he was seven. So nice for him and good learning experience. |
Anonymous
| Actually, some shelters have programs where kids can come and read to the animals. The animals (typically dogs, but some shelters let them read to other animals, too) enjoy it and get to spend time with humans and it's relaxing for them, and it's doing a nice thing for the animals - by helping them get used to happy time with humans, it's a nice service for the animals - plus kids get to practice reading. (And you can read anything - anything from bringing a picture book and make up a story to reading something more sophisticated - the dogs don't judge anyone's reading skills and won't care about the plot or whether the reader takes extra time to sound things out or skips a word. Good way to build confidence!) Pretty sure they're generally supervised so you wouldn't have to worry about the kids having to do much other than hanging out and reading to the animals, but they can get animal-hangout time, reading time, and also feel like they're doing something really nice for the pups. Call around to the local shelters and ask if/when they have one of these programs (and if not, ask them to set one up or just request that your kid be able to come and volunteer to do it). |
Anonymous
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Hedgehogs, guinea pigs, iguanas?
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Anonymous
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Yes! Check out local libraries, some have programs for kids to read to dogs. Also check out PALS
https://peopleanimalslove.org/programs/pet-visit/ |