Owning a pet can be beneficial to a child of any age. As children get older, taking care of their own pets can help add a sense of independence and responsibility. This page provides information for parents about the different aspects of owning and providing for a pet.

PAMF Content for Parents

• HealthWise KnowledgeBase: Allergies to Animals


• HealthWise KnowledgeBase: Exotic Pets


• HealthWise KnowledgeBase: Pet Vaccination to Prevent Rabies


• HealthWise KnowledgeBase: Taking Care of Your Pet to Protect Your Young Child


• HealthWise KnowledgeBase: Teach Your Child How to Interact with Pets

PAMF Content for Your Preteen

• Adopting a Pet


• Asthma


• Choosing a Pet


• Fostering an Animal


• Pets


• The Sea Monkey Story


• Spay and Neutering

Outside Resources

• Care for Animals: The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) presents this Web site to help people select and care for a pet. The resources on the site include animated journeys, information for new pet owners, a kids corner and posters for sale.


• Pets and Disasters: This Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teaches young owners how to to care for their pets when a disaster such as a tornado, flood or hurricane forces evacuation.


• San Francisco SPCA: This Web site for the San Francisco Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is dedicated to saving homeless dogs and cats, to providing lifesaving care and treatment to dogs and cats in need, to helping pets stay in loving homes, and to cultivating respect and awareness for the rights and needs of animals and the importance of the human-animal bond.

Recommended Books

• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting and Owning a Dog by Sheila Webster Boneham


• Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet by Gary Kowalski

Have you read one of the books we have reviewed?

Rate it!