| If your kids have been begging you to get a pet | | | | feeding and the occasional cleaning of the tank. If |
| for the house, but you are not ready to make | | | | you do not feed the fish, they will die, so it's a |
| the commitment of getting a dog or cat, you | | | | simple lesson for any family looking to get a pet. |
| should not worry. There are many other great | | | | I recently visited a farm where they had a pet |
| options of different pets to get. | | | | goat. While this is not recommended unless you |
| You want to make sure that you get something | | | | live in a rural area, I was happy to learn that |
| that will not require a lot of maintenance, yet will | | | | goats can make a great pet. But again, if you |
| teach your kids a lesson or two about | | | | don't have large outdoor areas for them to frolic, |
| responsibility. | | | | it is not a good idea. |
| When I was young, we had several iguanas. The | | | | A hamster is another fun option for any child. You |
| only major cost with iguanas is the animal itself, | | | | will need to change their mulch regularly and get |
| and then getting a decent sized tank and lighting. | | | | them a tank to stay in, but your kids will love the |
| They are cold blooded creatures, so you will want | | | | affection that a hamster can offer. Also in the |
| to get a heat rock for them to lie down on. Heat | | | | same category as a hamster would be a guinea |
| rocks in general can be bought for under $40. | | | | pig or gerbil. Kids love these animals and they are |
| Another great creature for the home is the Prarie | | | | easy enough to handle. You have to be careful if |
| Dog. These animals are commonly found in areas | | | | you have males and females mixed, because |
| like Montana and Wyoming, where they have a | | | | they will eventually want to breed. If that |
| bad reputation for eating farmer's crops. As a pet | | | | happens, then you're going to have more of |
| though, they actually are incredibly loving and tend | | | | these animals than you want. |
| to stay out trouble. | | | | Any of the aforementioned options, depending on |
| Of course one fantastic option to teach your | | | | where you live, would be a solid starting point to |
| children a lesson or two in responsibility is getting | | | | work your way up to a dog or cat. |
| a fish tank. Fish require little attention, rather than | | | | |