How to Convince Parents to Allow a Pet

If you have been dreaming of having a pet at home to cuddle and play with, yet are nervous about asking your parents to allow you to have a pet, don't be. There are some things that you can do to help you convince your parents to allow you to have a pet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Learn about the specific pet that you want to have. Get information on how to take care of the pet in terms of feeding, exercise, space requirements and typical veterinary care. Make a list of the supplies that you will need and learn about the typical temperament of the pet that interests you. You can do your research by reading books, finding information on the Internet or by talking to friends that already have the kind of pet you want.
2. Act responsible, respectful and well-behaved at home. Pets are a big responsibility, and you will need to show your parents that you can act responsibly. At home, make sure that you do all of your assigned chores and keep your room clean. You may even want to offer to help with extra chores around the house. Be well behaved at both home and at school and keep your school grades up. All of these things will show your parents how responsible you can be.
3. Talk to your parents about how you want to have a pet. Do this in a mature fashion and try to avoid whining or complaining. Tell your parents what pet you want to have and go over all of the information you have discovered through your research. Explain why you want to have a pet and tell your parents what you will do to take care of it. Allow your parents to ask you any questions they may have and be truthful with your answers.
4. Give your parents some time if they need it. In most cases, your parents will need to think about getting a pet before they make a final decision. Be sure to allow your parents some time to weigh the pros and the cons without you constantly bugging them about their decision. Continue to act responsibly at home while you wait on your parents to decide.

Tips & Warnings

• If your parents have financial concerns about getting a pet, offer to get a part-time job to help pay for some of the expenses.
• You may want to consider getting a small, easier-to-care-for pet as a first pet. Hamsters and gerbils are good choices for first pets. If you do well taking care of a small pet, your parents may be more receptive toward allowing you to have a bigger pet such as a cat or a dog.
• If your parents don't allow you to have a pet, ask them what you can do to change their minds. Maybe they want you to show them how you can be responsible for a period of several months or maybe they want to wait until you get your next report card to check on your grades. Do whatever they ask you to do, and maybe you will get a pet in the future.