1. Let your child know that a pet is a lifetime commitment, and the whole family must be willing to commit to it. If you, as the parent, are not ready to accept full responsibility for the pet (even if your kid promises you won't have to), then it's not a good idea to get one.
2. Children need to learn what it means to have a pet. If you tell a child "if you don't take care of it, it's going right back where we got it", the child will learn that a pet is disposable, and can be returned if it becomes inconvenient (not a good message!).
3. Give your child an understanding through your example, that a pet is something that needs to be planned for, budgeted for, and respected. Give your child pet chores in small doses. They can start by feeding the pet with supervision. Gradually increase the child's responsibility if and when they are ready for it and show an interest.
4. If your child loses interest in the pet, show them a valuable lesson by caring for and loving the pet yourself and refusing to cast it aside when the newness wears off.
5. Pets have shown to enrich the lives and health of their owners. Help your child to see what pet ownership is all about, and all of you will benefit.