Applying the term “adoption” to pets: What’s the effect on adopted children?

September 19, 2010

One of our members recently asked the following question:

“We are planning on getting a dog for our family from a rescue. My question is this: people always talk about “adopting” dogs/pets....how does this language affect adopted children?”

Here is an opinion on the topic from Patty B., Celebrate Adoption’s professional facilitator and mentor, and mother of two adopted daughters:

I think it is okay to "adopt" a pet, as long as you are making them a member of your home, and you are not going to get rid of them if they have behavioral issues. Many people feel their pets are part of the family, myself included.

Pets can be great in helping the family connect. We have had many a family gathering focused on the dog doing tricks, training the dog, playing with the dog and the dog (poor thing) being dressed up by the kids.

Dogs continue to be an important component of my children’s lives—in fact my elder daughter just called to tell me she is on her way to take her dog to the park.

However, if the dog sleeps in the barn, or outside, it is not a household member and probably should not be "adopted."

I think the term you use—whether it be “adopted” or “rescued”—is an individual decision. Just be clear that to kids, the act of bringing a dog into the family could be a metaphor for adoption.

My younger daughter was with me when we picked up our dog—she was 5 years old at the time. Upon arrival, we met the dog’s ‘birthmom’ and ‘foster mom’. These were her labels, not at that specific moment, but later. Our kids were the ones who said we adopted the dog.

Because the dog’s birthmom had so many pups, and another dog had just two, the other dog nursed the puppy that became ours. My daughter always wanted to take him back to see his foster mom and birthmom. We never did because it was very far away, but it did open up conversation about her birthmom.

Dogs are a lot of work to train, but once their education is complete, they are wonderful additions to the family. When kids have special needs, they take solace in their pets. They get unconditional love and can talk through their concerns without criticism. They are playmates and they keep them comfortable in times of anxiety or stress.

With learning disabled kids, dogs are being used to promote reading. These programs have the child read to the dog, and kids seem willing to practice their skills in this manner.

Obviously I am a fan of dogs...but they are a lot of work!

What are your thoughts on applying the term “adoption” to pets? Add your comment to this Blog entry below and we’ll post it. Celebrate Adoption encourages dialog on all adoption topics, including this one.
 

Tags:

Add comment

Name:


Website:


Comment:




Please enter the security code: