Animals are Just as Sensitive as Human Beings.
The average child between the ages of three to twelve years of age is usually fascinated by and loves animals, especially cats and dogs which are usually the most domesticated.
Usually their first instinct is to hug and squeeze them. Very often many children in an effort to pet the animal are not aware that they are actually hurting the animal.
Just like humans, animals have feelings.
Animals can tell when there is impending danger. They react to kindness and expressions of caring just like humans.
They are very protective of their offspring and are very loyal to their owners.
Animals need love and care just as we do.
Hence it is very important that we teach our children how to care for and treat animals without being abusive or cruel to them.
It is also very imperative that you take keen notice of how your child treats animals as some children tend to be very cruel, in some cases maiming and even killing animals.
Studies have shown that this was the practice of many serial killers as children.
Studies in Psychology, Sociology and Criminology, in the past 25 years have demonstrated violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescence histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recognized the connection since the 1970’s, “Murderers very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids,” says Robert K. Ressler who developed profiles of serial killers for the FBI.
According to Psychiatrist Dr. Rene Samaniego, cruelty to animals is an early sign and part of the symptom of conduct disorder which may later develop into psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder. It’s also associated with setting fires and bed wetting in children according to
Dr. Rene Samaniego, Filipino psychiatrist and educator. (EPPA Makati Medical Center Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy).
Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, director of Child Studies Center of New York University, “You have a child who has symptoms of aggression towards his peers, an interest in fire and cruelty to animals, social isolation and many warning signs that are ignored.”
Let your child understand that cruelty to all animals is wrong, whether domesticated or wild.
Here are a few suggestions you can use to guide your children when dealing with animals.
Teach them how to feed and give water to animals.
If the animal is sick, guide the child as to how to help with its care, this constitutes to the healing process.
Some children do not have an instinct to be gentle, so you have to show them how and ensure that you use the word gentle at all times. If the animal is furry, let them pet them in the direction the hair grows.
Avoid touching sensitive areas such as genitals, eyes, ears. Let them sniff the palm of your hand by gently moving it towards their nose.
Do not hit or throw things at them.
Do not pull their tails or ears.
Don’t yell at them or frighten them.
Some small children will pull, poke or take things from them. Try to avoid that.
Ensure that small children are supervised when they are interacting with animals.
Know your dog’s behavior. Some love hugs and kisses while some will snap at you if you try to hug them.
If they are asleep don’t startle them by waking them suddenly. They will snap at you.
If the animal is scared, its natural instinct is to protect itself. It will either attack or run away.
Hissing or growling tells that the animal is upset. Leave it alone.
Some pets are not as friendly as other. Dogs that are nervous around children will bite or nip them. Cats will scratch.
Again, it is imperative that young children are supervised during their interactions with animals.
Be careful of their approach to service dogs, do not tease or provoke animals. They will attack.
Set the example for your child. Let your child see you showing love towards animals. We often times don’t realize that we are our children’s first teacher. So be very careful of the examples you set for your child when dealing with animals.
Check out the link below on What to do When Your Child HURTS Animals:
Works Cited
7 Tips for Raising Caring Kids. Making Caring Common Project. Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved 4/2021. https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families/7-tips-raising-caring-kids
Animal Cruelty and Neglect FAQ. The Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved 4/2022. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animal-cruelty-and-neglect-faq
Whitehouse, Penny. What to do When Your Child HURTS Animals. Retrieved 4/2021. https://mothernatured.com/parenting/child-is-unkind-to-animals/
