Kid Stuff : Selecting Right Pet Is a Beast of a Job

Finding the right pet for the right kid is no easy task. But Wilshire Animal Hospital veterinarian Cassie Jones says some general rules apply:

* All birds are bad choices. Kids almost always crush them to death.

* Rabbits are great pets. They use litter boxes, come when called by name and don’t bite. But their backs break easily, so kids must learn to hold them properly.

* Guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and rats are good for kids 8 years and under. Because children regularly pick up rats and mice by the tail, which will break off, kids should be taught to pick them up by the midsection.

* Tortoises, lizards and snakes are best for kids 8 and up. Reptiles may prompt inquiries into habitat and diet that may exceed the veterinarian’s knowledge, Jones says, so head for the library.

* Dogs should be selected with an eye toward child-friendly breeds. Small, snippy breeds are almost always a bad choice, and aggressive ones such as pit bulls are also not wise picks. “The Right Dog for You,” by Daniel F. Tortora, is a useful guide, Jones says.

* Cats are good pets for all ages, especially when children and kittens grow up together.

* Vietnamese potbellied pigs are also good for all ages. They can endure lots of roughhousing, can be housebroken and will run away if they are being hurt. They also don’t need much exercise.

Jones says all children must be taught to handle animals without hurting them and to tend to pets’ physical needs.