Responsibility

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cavy

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can or should young people (below 18) be totally responsible for the care of guinea pigs, I have read a few things recently which make me think perhaps not, as some of you know I have 4 daughters who all have their ''own'' guinea pigs which they take responsibilty for under my supervision, the cost of there needs is met by me as is any veterinary treatment they may need,should a young person with no/limited income be entirely responsible for the care/well being of an animal?
 
That's a difficult question.

In the case of children (meaning under 16s) I think the answer would be a definite no. Some children, and I know it's by no means all, are fairly fickle with hobbies and pets and so I don't think unsupervised ownership is a good idea. Especially when there might be vet bills to pay. Saying that when my 14 year old sister's piggie got ill she paid some of the vet bill out of her pocket money, and would have paid all of it if need be.

As for 16-18 year olds, I think it depends entirely on the person. I've always had guinea pigs, but I got Sevi after a few years break when I was 17. I think I've managed just fine looking after her, and even though I don't work, I would have enough money to pay if she needed the vet. So in that case I can't see a problem.

As for making legal decisions....like I say under 16s no, but 16-18 is too much of an individual thing to say. Plus it must be said that some older people have pets they can't afford and don't look after properly.

Anyway that's my view!
Suzie
 
No, they shouldnt.

I believe when a pet is brought for a child, the PARENT is to take responsibility if the pet is ill, the child looses interest, etc etc

Animals are not toys, so parents need to understand that they cant just leave their kids to get on with it.

It makes me SO MAD when I hear that kids cant take their animals to the vet because their mum says no....

Or when kids just brush off illness and leave the animal to suffer.

The parent/carers should be there, should be educated properly in the needs of the animal, and should recognise and treat any illness before it even registers in the childs mind.

Getting a pet to teach responsibility works, but leading by example is the better way to teach your children.

At under 18 in the UK, you are not an adult, therefore, it should be 18. At 18 in theory you should be doing at least part time work, so can support the animal, any younger than that it is likely parents will be paying for the animal and the upkeep of the animal.
 
I agree with PP. I know there are some very responsible 16/17 year olds but some of the posts I have read on here recently by younger members have shocked and upset me. Equally though, there are some very irresponisble adults who do not care for their pets properly so I guess it is down to the individuals themselves. In saying that, there are laws in place where an under 18 cant drink alcohol, wont be able to buy cigarettes (from October) and cant vote, so I think it should be the same for keeping pets unless the parents sign something so that ulitimately, the responsibilty is theirs.
 
PerfectPiggies said:
At under 18 in the UK, you are not an adult, therefore, it should be 18. At 18 in theory you should be doing at least part time work, so can support the animal, any younger than that it is likely parents will be paying for the animal and the upkeep of the animal.
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just a quick question in relation to that statement, some people leave school at 16, and a lot when they leave get jobs, often full time i know cos a lot of my old friends left school at 16, so in your opinion should these people not look after their own pet, even though they have the finincial backing, but are under the age limit u just mentioned?

just joining in the debate, no offence to opinions

i agree with hesperus's opinion, that age 16-18 entirely depends on the individual person, and 16-18's cant all be grouped together under the catergory of unfit to own their own pets when a lot of people this age do have jobs. even when i was at school, from age 16 i had a job working 12 hours a week, and often did overtime when it suited and also started a savings for some of my wages
 
I think it depends entirely on the child/young adult concerned. If they have a responsible attitude towards their pet, and realise that it is an emotional and financial commitment that has to run for the course of the animals life then i don't see why they shouldn't.

As lez says, some kids leave school at 16 and go into employment. Have financial backing and grow up pretty quick.

I suppose you know your daughters better than anyone, you can make that judgement as to whether they take the animals welfare seriously. If you are happy to be there as back up, should they need any treatment or care that your daughters are unable to provide, then i think its fine.

I'm sure they are very happy piggies :D
 
At under 18 in the UK, you are not an adult, therefore, it should be 18. At 18 in theory you should be doing at least part time work, so can support the animal, any younger than that it is likely parents will be paying for the animal and the upkeep of the animal.
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I worked from the age of 16! I think you are tarring all young adults with the same brush because of a few bad tales you have heard.
 
It does depend on the individual, but if the person is responsible at ages 16-17 surely they will realise why before buying the animal someone over the age of 18 must agree to take overall responsibility for the pet?

We dont think of the individual teen when allowing purchases of tobacco and alcohol, so why should this be any different?

If you are talking about for yourself, then you know your kids, so can decide from that.

If you are talking about legally, I would definatly be in favor of putting some kind of law in place to say you have to be 18+ to own a pet, and if you are under 18, to have someone to sign on your behalf to say they will take overall responsibilty, kind of like a guarentor. Of course if this happened, people wouldnt been seen as individuals, like in laws in general!
 
PerfectPiggies said:
The parent/carers should be there, should be educated properly in the needs of the animal, and should recognise and treat any illness before it even registers in the childs mind.

Getting a pet to teach responsibility works, but leading by example is the better way to teach your children.
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I agree. When you are a child that pet is bought FOR you and it is up to the adult that bought to teach the child how to care for it and to realise they are also responsible for its vets bills etc. Its all part of growing up or was when I was a kid, things are changing so much now. Children aren't bought bikes and left to maintain that by themselves are they? - just a loose example
 
PerfectPiggies said:
No, they shouldnt.

I believe when a pet is brought for a child, the PARENT is to take responsibility if the pet is ill, the child looses interest, etc etc

Animals are not toys, so parents need to understand that they cant just leave their kids to get on with it.

It makes me SO MAD when I hear that kids cant take their animals to the vet because their mum says no....

Or when kids just brush off illness and leave the animal to suffer.

The parent/carers should be there, should be educated properly in the needs of the animal, and should recognise and treat any illness before it even registers in the childs mind.

Getting a pet to teach responsibility works, but leading by example is the better way to teach your children.

At under 18 in the UK, you are not an adult, therefore, it should be 18. At 18 in theory you should be doing at least part time work, so can support the animal, any younger than that it is likely parents will be paying for the animal and the upkeep of the animal.
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I agree 100% with you there
I will also add it is against the law to sell animals to a person under the age of 18. Therefore any pet shop or indivual selling to an underage person is breaking the law.
 
I have had guineas since was 11 and always fed/cleaned/groomed etc myself but my mum used to do a daily 'inspection' to make sure all was well any sign that it wasn't then we were off to the vets, I now do the same with my girls, my 2 younger girls only really 'help' with feeding due to there ages, I also have 40+ piggies of my own so am always in the shed anyway.
 
I think it depends on the child. I was a very responsible teenager but some of my peers werent
 
I think it really depends on the young person - but I do think that with under 18's living at their parents home, regardless of whether they are working or not, the parents should at least be responsible for making sure that their child is taking care of any pets properly. I know some people will have me marked as an annoying interfering old bag for that, but that's just me.

A lot depends on the parents too - I know for a fact I couldn't keep my nose out of it but some parents would happily hand over all responsibility to their child. I personally wouldn't (and couldn't) do this.
 
The original point made by Cavy was should a person under 18 with a limited income or no income at all, be responsible for a guinea pig? Indeed any pet? Surely the answer to that has to be no, unless they have a caring and responsible parent who is willing to pay for the care of that animal when the need arises.
Of course some 16 year olds leave school and go into full time employment, as did I.
A good example of what we are talking about could be this: My mum took in a lovely female stray cat whose owner had moved and abandoned her. She was pregnant, although we didnt know that at the time. I was 16 and working full time but lived at home. Anyway, she had her kittens and we found homes for 5 of them and I kept one. I was financially responsible for her and paid for her injections and for her to be spayed and she had to have an operation when she injured herself on wire fencing whilst out. That cost me my whole months salary! The following month, I still had to pay my mum back for the previous months rent and that months rent.
I could have had her PTS, as the vet suggested but I wanted to give her the best possible chance. She lived a long life with a noticable limp but I didnt once consider the cheaper option.
My older children begged me for a pet when they were little but I refused because I worked such long hours I knew it wouldnt be fair on the animal, whereas now it is different.
So I guess it does depend on the attitude of the young person but also of a responisble parent
 
I'm 15 and I pay for any vet treatment my piggies need. My mum cleans the piggies ect. but that's only because I'm ill and I can't manage it. I help when I can. If I wasn't ill I'd do everything for them.
 
I'm 18 and pay for all my guinea pigs expenses and also feed them and clean them out etc , i am responsible for the cat aswell but my mum pays his vets bills, my mum and boyfriend obviously give them cuddles and love aswell but i find it hard to manage sometimes so i would imagine a younger person would find it even more difficult financially x
 
lolseh said:
I'm 15 and I pay for any vet treatment my piggies need. My mum cleans the piggies ect. but that's only because I'm ill and I can't manage it. I help when I can. If I wasn't ill I'd do everything for them.
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That shows that your mum is caring and responsible. which is great :)
Hope you feel better soon!
 
teabag said:
At under 18 in the UK, you are not an adult, therefore, it should be 18. At 18 in theory you should be doing at least part time work, so can support the animal, any younger than that it is likely parents will be paying for the animal and the upkeep of the animal.
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I worked from the age of 16! I think you are tarring all young adults with the same brush because of a few bad tales you have heard.
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Silly really when u can have sex at 16........i think it depends on the individual.

I do think a few people on here are very quick to judge. Remember you are reading messages on here and will not know the FULL details or situation.
 
Thats how 3 yrs ago i needed up with 4 mice and nearly a black eye! Two 17 yrs olds they looked around the age were on a field near my friends flat tieing them to fireworks! I mangaged to get the last 4 (think it was only cos my friend is 6ft odd and big built ! lol ) So responsibilty at 17 was not obviously there, the EVIL ...well you know lol Id have love to have tied them with their tails to the firework ;D
 
We are talking about generally, not specific people and not specifically on here.
 
They should be able to have any animals they like !
Under 16 then NO
Over 16 then YES

Ive had pets all my life and I'm 17 now - Ive never had a job, I buy all my piggys what they need and my mum dont pay a penny.

I totally think its up to the person and if they want animals and want to care for them properly then its up to them. If there old enough then why not :)
 
I think its up to the individual too, I left home at 16 went to work lived in lodgings for a while and always had pets mainly hamsters buns and I had 4 cockatiels I looked after them brought food etc But there's also people that are irresponsible as adults. Depends on the person really
 
well i have had my 'own' guinea pigs from the age of 14, but i learnt the value of money and knew that if i had these pets i had to pay for their food, vet bills, bedding etc which i have done, mum sometimes buys veg for me if i run out or I'm having a week where i dont have much money, I'm 20 and work part time, i think if your going to care for a pet under 18 and have the money to, or a parent who is willing to help out should you not be able to afford the vets or anything then why not? as long as your taking good care of the pets, and they are recieving everything they need inc love and attention then its upto the individual.
 
iloveanimals how do you pay for everything if you've never had a job? are you rich? ^-^
 
lolseh said:
I'm 15 and I pay for any vet treatment my piggies need. My mum cleans the piggies ect. but that's only because I'm ill and I can't manage it. I help when I can. If I wasn't ill I'd do everything for them.
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i'm 13 and i have m.e.,so i'm in the same boat, i do absoloutely all i can for the piggies, my mum helps clean as i can't. my mum says i couldn't be a better owner, i pay for all their stuff, however my mum and i kind of share them as sometimes i'm flat out in bed and can't do anything for myself let alone the piggies. i love them to bits and the vets ALWAYS say that they couldn't look better cared for, it's true. as you say i think it depends on the child, my teachers at school etc. all say i am very mature and way ahead of my years. but i think parents have to except some responsibility as many children drift from one thing to another like a passing hobby. :tickedoff:
 
I had my first pig aged 12. Up until I started working part time at 17 my mum was ultimately responsible, even if I did think I "paid" for everything. I used my pocket money/allowance. So technically I wasn't paying for it, my mum was - I assume this is the same with all under 16s who don't work and say they are "responsible".
 
I was in P@H today and the sign above the small animals said they cant sell livestock to people under 16 years of age unless accompanied by an adult. I thought it was 18 :(
 
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