• Your child's desire. No, you can't buy your four-year-old an elephant and probably not a cow, either. But if she's crooning for a puppy, she might ignore, or even abuse, the cute gerbil you bring home from the pet store. And if her heart's desire is a kitten, a bird that can't be held or petted might just leave her cold. Moral of the story: If it's possible to get your child the pet she wants, do so. If not, talk to her honestly about why that pet's not good for your household and what other kind of creature might satisfy her instead.



• Your child's age. My daughter insists that now that she's had exactly two pony rides, she's ready to ride Leggs, a horse that I lease from a friend. What my daughter doesn't understand is that as a three-year-old, she can't possibly control this horse, who actually is too energetic and nervous for many adult riders. Bottom line: Your child's wishes may not mesh with her abilities--whether it's her physical strength and coordination, her level of self-control, or her experience dealing with animals. A headstrong Rottweiler, for instance, will need an experienced adult "leader" to train it, not a six-year-old boy. Conversely, small mammals, like mice, gerbils, hamsters, and even puppies and kittens may be too delicate for very young children to handle.



• Parental interest. If you truly love animals, just about any pet will do. But if you're not an animal person, consider the amount of time, money, and energy that a species requires. Dogs, for instance, need to be house trained, groomed, walked, and, for optimal household harmony, obedience trained. Cats must have their litter boxes cleaned and need interaction with humans, including patting, playing, and compliments. Fish require little social interaction or veterinary attention--but their tanks do need to be cleaned regularly. Even guinea pigs can suffer from depression if they're ignored or not taken care of properly.



• Family lifestyle. If no one is home during the day because everyone's at work, daycare, or school, a puppy--which needs a great deal of care, training, and socialization--may not be the best choice for your family. Even older dogs can be quite lonely (and, consequently, often noisy, destructive, neurotic, and snappish) if they find themselves alone at home too much. And if your family does a great deal of traveling, consider the emotional wear and tear on your pet if it frequently will be left in the care of a kennel or pet sitter.



• The revulsion quotient. Even devout animal lovers may not be able to handle sharing their home with certain creatures--like tarantulas, snakes, rats, or millipedes. If that's the case, be honest with yourself and your children. A parent who is afraid of or disgusted by a pet can't model good stewardship.



• Finances. It's hard to predict just how expensive any individual animal will be, because you can't really predict what sort of veterinary care it may need. But you can make a few generalizations. Big animals eat more than small animals, for instance. Purebred animals cost more to buy than crossbreeds, and may require more veterinary care as well, due to genetic weaknesses. Vet and boarding expenses for so-called exotics, such as rabbits, birds, and reptiles, tend to be more than those for cats and dogs.



• Aesthetics. If, despite having children, you have your heart set on a perfectly tidy house, consider your pet choices carefully. Dogs, cats, and rabbits shed to varying degrees, which can leave hair all over your furniture, rugs, and clothing. Many animals also can chew or scratch valuable furnishings, or make your lovely garden look as if it had been invaded by a horde of pirates digging for buried treasure. And caged pets (e.g., rats, hamsters, and gerbils) can spill shavings and hay all over the floor, as well as create some pretty bad smells when their cages aren't cleaned regularly.

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