My wife and I have had pets our entire relationship and both of us had pets growing up, currently we have a dog and a saltwater aquarium with a clownfish. I think pets add a great deal to any family, they are a distraction when needed, a play friend for the kids, and a cheap form of entertainment.
All of my kids have spent many, many, many, hours engrossed in staring at the fish tanks we have had in our homes throughout the years. My oldest daughter for example used to sit in her baby swing and watch all the fish swim around in a brightly lit freshwater aquarium I used to have. She would stare at it in amazement for as long as I would let her and cry when I took her away.
My German Shepherd I have had longer than my oldest daughter has been alive, she has grown up with him and so have my quadruplets, my son Max’s first word was dog. All of my children love playing with the dog and he gives them a great alternative when they are getting sick of playing with me. I will say he is getting up there in years and his tolerance for hair pulling and being a living slide is slowly being replaced by fear of small humans.
