Saturday, April 24, 2010

Sooper Saturday!

A CONTEST!

This is my dad. He neffur had a pet when he was a kid until his dad decided dat he needed to learn responsibility, when he was about 12 he gots a woofie. Mom sez dat was almost to late... April 26th is kids and pets day. In partnership with Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul we are offering a $20.00 Care a lot gift card. We are doing da selecting. Here's da rules: Dis is only open to dem in da United States (sorry). We want you to tell us why you think kids need pets. Go ahead, leave da reason in da comments. Since our dad neffur really learned responsibilty from haffing a woofie, his mom loved da doggy to much to let him go hungry until dad amembered to feed him, don't use dat one. And please, no one say dat dey gots a pet and let it haf babies so da child could see da miracle of birth, mom hates dat. Der are movies yoo can get at da libary dat show da miracle in full color (one of da best birth control methods fur teens, in mom's opinion). On Tuesday, April 27th, we will haf a drawing fur a winner! Now, get commenting!

18 comments:

Hansel said...

We think kids need pets to learn to care for another creature. Not only does it teach responsibility (usually) but it teaches them unconditional love that comes from the animals. They can learn how to love another living thing. it's the most true and wonderful kind of love that is the most amazing to experience. That bond that they get with a dog or cat... is like no other in the world.

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

A great contest idea my friends!

The Island Cats said...

We think kids need pets because they learn how to take care of a living thing. And like what Hansel said, they learn unconditional love...

What a good idea for a contest!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Bekhause we need them!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Sweet Purrfections said...

Hansel already took my answer. Pets teach that unconditional love that all humans need to experience in order to give love to others. Having pets also allows children to have someone to share their deepest thoughts with someone who won't judge them. My mom used to cry in her woofie's fur all the time as a child.

Cat Street Boyz said...

In Mom's experience and our agreement in never wanting to miss a meal, kids should only learn love from a pet. They have so many responsibilities with school work and even finding the time to clean their rooms. Kids need us furkids to listen to their problems, lick their tears, play games when they need a pal and cuddle when they feel scared from that ghost movie they begged to watch. They will learn responsibility by watching their parents care for their four legged friend. They will learn love by interactions from their furkids.=^Y^=the Cat Street Boyz

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

I think kids need pets. There are many positive reasons. The responsibility of feeding and giving then attention are important. The love of experiencing an animal up close is important. The love given by animals in return is important.

But that's not why I am writing. My reason is not of the love of pets, but something more profound.

Our pets do not live as long as we do. They die. As sad as that is, it is a profound learning experience for any child. When a beloved pet dies, we (as children) begin to understand, by extension, that we die as well.

When I was young, a pet died. It was difficult to understand. But there had been a few birds that hit windows and Mom had buried them with us, so we had a slight idea of death.

When the cat died, it hurt a lot more. The burial was harder that with the unfortunate birds. But we understood that it wasn't alive anymore. That it would never sit and purr in our laps or chase strings around the floor. That is was "gone".

The experience of that helped me to accept when my cousin drowned a few years later. He was the same age as me. I had difficulty understanding that he was gone. I even vaguely thought that somehow he would still be there the next time we visited. He wasn't there, of course.

But knowing about the birds and our cat helped. It was the first time that I realized that humans can die, too.

The cat helped, and I think it is important that children learn that lesson. None of us are permanent.

In all the years since, I have appreciated my dear shorter-lived companions. It does not alter my grief at losing them, but it reminds me that I too, shall pass someday and that the world will continue without me. Because of my dear pet friends, I have learned to accept that.

The loss of a dear pet friend is possibly one of the most important (and sad) lessons children learn.

The Big Thing

Jackpot The Cat said...

Well if a kid had me, Jackpot the Cat, they would know they had the Best Cat in the Universe. Other reasons for kids to own cats: feeding them, scratching them, giving treats, cat adoration, Jackpot is superior to all cats, learning how to follow cat blogosphere orders, being friends with zippy, sadie and speedy, being a member of the CB.

How's That?!!

Kat's Kats said...

I agree with all that has been said here already. I would like to add another. My son has Aspergers. He also has bipolar/ADD. This means that he is hopeless at reading human body language (he is 14). But by truly interacting with "his" cat (Mister Kitten as opposed to the late Quigley) he starts to learn the body language of a cat.

Learning the body language of one species helps him to learn the body language of another. If you don't realize that there is a difference between mad and sad in people other than yourself (and in yourself you don't see much of a difference anyway!), it makes it even harder to see those cues. But a cat scratches when they are upset! Talk about instant feedback!

I am very glad that we have four cats... and that my son interacts with them. Since he started talking more to them, I have a young man who actually talks to me!

Katnip Lounge said...

We would like to add that pets teach all of us, not just children, compassion for beings other than ourselves.
xx Lounge Kats

Gigi said...

I think every kid should have a pet to learn that we share the planet with beings that have intelligence and emotion. We need to treat all beings, human and otherwise, with respect.

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Great contest, although we are not eligible, we would still like to champion the idea that kids needs to learn how to share and care for furries.

BeadedTail said...

Our mommy has had pets since the day she was borned and she can't imagine not having a pet in her life. As the others have said, pets teach unconditional love, companionship, trust and responsibility. Our daddy never had pets until he met our mommy but he's learned how to spoil us very well too!

ZOOLATRY said...

All creatures great and small, the Lord God loves them all.
And so should we... and children
will learn the magic and mystery of giving ~ and receiving ~ love that has no limits, no conditions, no rules. Pure and simple love.
We have a picture and post running at Zoolatry tomorrow (April 26) in honor of Pets & Kids Day. Stop by if you can.
The Zoolatry Girls
Maggy & Zoey & Ann

The Meezers or Billy said...

'acuase WE needs a bestest furriend and so to THEY. and WE can be the mostest bestest furriends EFUR

Samantha & Mom said...

Oh wow!! All of the above!! We think kids need us as much as we need them!! We need their love and they need ours!! Cuddles in the night, meows and laughter in the morning. It's a good way for them to learn responsibility and unconditional love!! Thanks for the cool contest!!
Howdy from your TX furiends,

soxycat said...

such a pretty kitty!

The Florida Furkids said...

We hope we're not too late!!

Kids need pets because we know how to train THEM!

Actually, we also think kids need pets for all the good reasons effuryone else has mentioned.

Sniffie and the Florida Furkids