Author: Darcy Pattison
Publisher: Mims House
Rating: WORTHY!
Illustrated by Ewa O'Neill.
This is a charming, entertaining, cutely illustrated, and educational book for young children to help them understand the importance of some real thought if you want a pet dog. Both the main character, who remains nameless (his essay has no name or date yet he still gets an A!), and his cousin Mellie want a pet dog, and they have to write an opinion essay - researched carefully - on what kind of dog they want. Note that the text was a little hard to read on a smart phone - even one with a large screen - so you'd want to get this in print form or read it on a larger format ebook reader.
Do they want a big one or a little one? Do they want it energetic or more sedate? Do they want want which needs a lot or a little exercise? Lots of play or not so much? Do they have other pets which might be a consideration if there's a dog running around the house? One question which isn't asked, and it's an important omission: Are there babies or very young children in the household? Some breeds are not good with toddlers and babies.
Do they want a dog which is easy to train? Do they want a guard dog? One which needs lots of grooming? There were a lot of good questions asked, but also some important ones were missed as I've noted above and want to discuss here, too. No consideration is given to how the dog will be housed. Do you live in a large house with a yard, where a large dog would be fine, or does your family rent an apartment where a large dog might not be welcomed by the owner?
Another consideration which was missed was whether the dog is expensive to feed and take care of, or inexpensive? All dogs need shots and visits to the vet for annual check-ups, but smaller dogs eat a lot less than large ones. Will it need to be spayed or neutered? The answer, if you're in any doubt, is yes! Is there a secure place in the home where the puppy can be left when the family is out for a short time - so it doesn't get into things and chew your shoes up? Who will take care of the dog when the family goes on vacation? Is a barking dog going to be a problem in your neck of the woods? What kind of treatments will it need to prevent fleas?
I would have liked to have seen more covered, but the most important thing which was not covered was safety. Is this a breed which has a track record of aggression? In the illustrations of "10 popular dog breeds" I saw a Bulldog and a Rottweiler. Both of these breeds can be unpredictably aggressive.
Bulldogs are part of a larger group of dogs collectively known as pit bulls. And while not all such dogs are bad, these and Rottweilers are responsible for three-quarters of the recorded attacks upon people, and most of their victims are the very young and also the elderly. Pit bulls kill an American about every three weeks on average. Fifty percent of the time, it's the aggressive dog's owner or a member of the owner's family who is the victim.
Everyone can offer anecdotal stories of a truly family-friendly dog who is a member of these groups, but the hard statistics show that anecdote isn't the same as having the facts before you, so be sure to thoroughly research the breed you plan on adopting. And know that it is an adoption. This is a real family member, not a toy or a show-piece or a short-term fad.
That said, this is a great start for wising kids up to some very important aspects of pet ownership, which if taken to heart can bring a dear companion into your life which you will also take into heart. I recommend this book as a starting point for making that journey into the bigger world of caring and responsibility. And don't forget, pets tend to have a lot shorter lifespan than humans, so it's a good idea to educate children to that, too. Love them dearly while they're there with you, and it's a lot easier to bear their departure. Trust me. And good luck!
