Welcome to Trade-a-Pet!

Parents of children with pets know the value that owning and caring for a pet can add to their children’s knowledge of science and nature. Each different type of animal brings with it a whole new set of adventures as kids learn about how habitat, nutrition and activities vary for each new creature. But most parents aren’t willing or able to house a menagerie of pets to provide this learning experience for their children. That’s where Trade-a-Pet© can help.

What is Trade-a-Pet©?

Trade-a-Pet© is a family activity for those interested in providing hands-on science and nature learning experiences for their children. The premise is as simple as it sounds. Participating families trade pets for specified periods of time so that their children can care for and learn about the ecology of multiple types of animals.

How Trade-a-Pet© Works

Families within close geographical range start a group, much like a bridge club or book club. Each participating family must have a pet that can be exchanged with others. The group needs to start by setting the rules and getting everyone to sign agreements to those rules.

Suggested Rules & Guidelines

1. Parents agree that they are responsible for the visiting pet, and they will oversee all interaction of their children with the pet.
2. No venomous or otherwise dangerous pets can be traded.
3. Each pet parent will provide a detailed description of their pet’s needs while visiting another home.
4. Pets that stress easily should not be traded more than once a month (or the appropriate amount of time for that pet) and must have necessary quiet or dark placement at the visiting home.
5. Any pet that will be handled should have a veterinarian’s health clearance.

Risks of Trade-a-Pet©

Any time a pet is transferred to a new environment with new caregivers there are risks involved. If all the group members are educated and responsible, those risks will be minimized. However, you should still consider the following:

* It is possible that a pet could escape when being handled by someone who is unfamiliar with it.

* Pets could become stressed and therefore fall ill when its surroundings are changed.

* In the worst case scenario a pet could die while in the care of someone else in the group, either due to natural causes or improper care.

Advantages of Trade-a-Pet©

In addition to the obvious advantages of teaching your children about science and nature, Trade-a-Pet© has some other, not so obvious advantages.

1. Temporarily caring for someone else’s pet can help you make an informed decision about whether or not that type of pet is a good fit for your family.
2. Having other families temporarily caring for your pet will give you pet sitting options when you travel away from home.
3. Having a new temporary pet in the home can be a distraction from television and video games.

The key to a successful Trade-a-Pet© group is having members that are passionate, caring and responsible pet owners.