comment: >
context: Yes. From my observations, little kids are generally not good with pets anyway. Kids are too abrupt and don't know how to treat animals correctly. Cant say if this behavior is from parenting or lack of, but it seems prevalent. >
  
  I would say a lot of it, depending on the age, is parenting.  However, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is 'bad' parenting, could just be that there have never been animals in that kid's life TO learn from.
  Kids have to be taught how to respect animals ('if a cat hisses at you, leave it alone' type of stuff), and many parents don't do that, sadly. >
  
  My mom got me 2 puppies at age 9, I had not even asked for. Obviously, I was still super stoked. Within days the constant guilt tripping on not caring for them adequately started. I had zero concept of caring for a dog or even myself. It filled me with constant anxiety that she was going to “give them to someone who cares” if I even missed one walk or whined when I had to pick up poop outside. >
  
  This brings back bad memories.  I wasn't that young (teenage years) but my mom would say things like that to me if I didn't do things exactly as she wanted or when she wanted, because 'obviously I wouldn't adequately take care of them when she was gone'. >
  
  Ugh, sorry to hear that. Was the goal post always moved & the standards always arbitrary too? >
  
  They were always pretty consistent, but that is because the goal post was 'when ever she wanted' and the standards were 'when I tell you to and how I tell you to'.
  She would do it about things like property (as in where we live) because 'I wouldn't take care of it the way she wanted me to when she was gone'. >
  
  I agree with this! A pet should never be “ for the kids” , a pet should be considered as “ for the entire family” including the parents.
  It can be a fun way to teach them responsibility but ultimately it still falls on the adults hence why I agree and believe the adults need to consider if they can handle adding a pet to their family. >
  
  If parents are doing that then THEY are not ready >
  
  This hardly seems unpopular or even controversial. That said, more people need to hear it. >
  
  Teach your kids responsibility by modeling responsibility. If you want a family pet, YOU take care of the pet >
  
  If you get your kids a pet, you should be prepared to do 100% of the work. Why should kids, who don't even take care of themselves yet, be able to care for a pet. 
  Having family pets is amazing, but kids should get small chores that are checked by the parents, rather than bring the primary caretaker of the pet. >
  
  Taking care of a pet is not that difficult if parent support a child to not forget what’s need to be done >
  
  Extremely popular opinion but extremely true as well. >
  
  I got a dog when I was 16. She was the best thing that happened to me for 11 years until I had my baby. And she did teach me responsibility and what love meant >
  
  I hate people who neglect their pets because “well I told my kids it was their responsibility” and their kids are like 4 and 7… >
  
  Sounds like shit parenting.