42 THE COURIER SUN • PETS • OCTOBER 29, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com pets CHOICES OF KID-FRIENDLY PETS BY TRESA ERICKSON Kids in general love animals, so it’s only natural that parents would want to bring a pet into their family. Some pets are better with kids than others, of course. Snakes, for example, generally do not make good pets for kids because of their size and strength. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, often make great pets for kids, especially more affectionate breeds. Following are some tips for selecting a kid-friendly pet and helping kids respect it. Of all the pets available, dogs and cats are often the best choices for kids. Dogs and cats tend to interact more with people and are more apt to put up with spirited kids. Some breeds do better with kids than s others, so fi nd out what breeds are considered kid friendly and focus on them. If you’re looking for a pet that is a little less hands on, hamsters are ideal. Kids can get a great deal of enjoyment watching a hamster run around its cage, in and out of tunnels and around and around on the wheel. And, when kids are interested in a little cuddling time, the hamster can be removed from its cage and held in the hand for a bit of petting. Just make sure you supervise the activity, as hamsters will nip. While fun to watch, hamsters do not live a long time. Keep that in mind. You don’t want to traumatize your kids with the death of one hamster after another. For parents looking for a pet that is completely hands off but pure fun to watch, fi sh or turtles might fi ll the bill. An aquarium of colorful fi sh darting this way and that can keep kids entertained, as can a turtle moving around in its cage. Because they are so hands off, however, some kids can grow bored of their pet fi sh or turtle. Whatever pet you choose, you must teach your kids to respect it. Kids need to understand that pets are animals, and like them, they have preferences. Kids don’t like to be bothered when they are eating, drinking or sleeping, and neither do pets. Kids don’t like to be smacked or teased, and neither do pets. When teaching kids to deal with pets, supervision is crucial. Select a good kid-friendly pet for your household and teach your kids to treat it with care. The Perfect Pet is Waiting for You! NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA has HUNDREDS of puppies, kittens, dogs and cats to choose from! Mixed-breeds, purebreds, small breeds too! OPEN DAILY FOR ADOPTIONS SUN - THURS 10 AM - 9 PM FRI - SAT 10 AM - 10 PM Sweet Celebration! Bow Wow Meow Cafe & Concierge, located in Maspeth and members of the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce, is a boutique party planning service for your pets. We specialize in hosting events from birthday parties to weddings and everything in between to honor and celebrate pets. Our staff is Pet Tech CPR & First Aid trained to ensure your pet’s safety during every event. With guidance and support, we will turn your ideas into a reality. It’s a fun, easy and affordable way to help make your pet’s special day unforgettable! We take care of everything for you: finding the perfect venue, planning the guest of honor’s outfit, and supplying party favors and freshly baked goods. You will be able to choose from a variety of flavors of gourmet treats that will be served to your fourlegged guests. Some of our most popular flavors include carob, peanut butter and pumpkin, all of which are made with 100% natural ingredients. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on some upcoming street fairs we will be attending and new products. Be sure to visit our website or contact us if you have any questions about our services or products! From left to right Margaret Bruce, David Bruce, Kailyn McIsaac and the Birthday Girl, Gloria Good animalleague.org • 1.516.883.7575 25 Davis Avenue • Port Washington, NY Home of the Mutt-i-gree® FOLLOW US: 1.516.883.7575
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