Younglings and furry heroes

Allowing for pets to come into our lives is not only the ethical stance, but the more utilitarian one as well, given the emotional benefits on children and even on us.

Pets can help children develop empathy; treating animals with kindness and patience allows for them to develop emotional intelligence. Beyond this, children may also benefit from better self-esteem, cognitive development and social skills.

We often fall prey to not thinking of how our children can suffer from spells of depression.

Pets can help not only as mood boosters, but also as emotional pillars for support. Dogs, in particular, have a great sense for when human beings are feeling low and can help to bring back their regular self. In many instances, pets can serve as a pre-emptive to such mood fluctuations.

In this day and age of being glued to our screens, and children hooked to gaming consoles or smartphones, a dog or a cat can be a refreshing change of pace.

Imagine, if you had the chance to teach a puppy how to fetch a Frisbee, or if you could take a kitten on regular bicycle rides atop a basket as a child. The sheer delight of racing across the park with them on a day where the wind rustled the leaves and nature hummed tunes of harmony.

The joy of cooling off with a drink under the shade as your pet excitedly jumped around for their expected treat is something no electronic device can ever hope to match.

Felines and canines aside, you can even opt for a rabbit for your child. And watch as your rooftop gets transformed into an exciting playground with just the mere presence of the creature with an overzealous fondness for crunchy veggies.

In Dhaka, there are rampant superstitions and misconceptions, characterising pets as harbingers of doom or disease, whereas a little bit of research would show that these have as much truth to them as black cats bringing bad luck. 

Parental supervision is required to ensure the safety of a pet, and in order to demonstrate how to care for said pet, especially for children under ten.

Most pet owners will attest to how there's nothing quite like the experience of helping a lifeform develop and growing together with them. In many ways, it's like bringing the idea of Pokémon to life, minus the battles and badges.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Model: Shehran