WATERLOO - It's a common phrase: Every kid needs a dog.

Though it might be true, parents have much more to consider when choosing a pet for their child than their children's "needs."

Diann Helmers, a local pet rescuer that works through petfinder.com and the Cedar Bend Humane Society, has had pets in her house from the time both of her children were in the womb. They're now 30 and 14, and Helmers is convinced they now know how to care for a pet.

"They were told at a young age a pet is a lifelong commitment, not something you get bored with and then dispose of like a used rag," she says. "They count on us for their survival."

Though petfinder.com considers a child to be under the age of 5, Helmers believes children under the age of 10 or 12 can't be expected to fully accept the responsibility of a pet.

Often, the care of the beloved family dog or cat is a responsibility left up to the parent, and one that should be left to the entire family.

"Kids don't understand the consequences, and they forget. You wouldn't put a kid in a car and let them drive," says Helmers. "The key is responsible adult interaction. It's the key to success even if it's a fish."

Helmers recommends parents weigh the consequences of having a pet in the house, and research the types and breeds of animals before making the leap.

Every family has different needs in a pet, and common pet choices are sometimes not thought through. Puppies need to be trained and chew on everything; dogs are more dependent than cats and even hamsters and guinea pigs need roomy cages and attention, says Helmers.

But raising a pet can be a great way to teach kids responsibility, if done the right way with parents.

Children at the UNI Child Development Center enjoy daily interaction with guinea pigs and fish that reside at the center and other animals brought in on occasion. Jill Uhlenberg, coordinator of the center, believes the animals can teach kids everything from responsibility to social skills.

"I really think it's valuable to have pets even at toddler age but with supervision," she says. "It's important for children to learn about natural characteristics and learning responsibilities," she says.

Workers at the center are aware of both the needs of the children and the animals, and are there to make sure the two are interacting in appropriate ways.

Though Uhlenberg believes children need to be old enough to understand when parents talk to them about their behavior with animals, in the end adopting a pet is left up to the adult.

"I honestly don't know if there's a specific age. I think that it's a real parent preference," she says. "I have a new baby grandson, and I love big dogs, but if I introduced them, the dog wouldn't know what the baby was and the baby wouldn't know what the dog was."

Having pets in the house from the time children are small can teach them about death as well as life.

It's one of the reasons Becky Willhite, a veterinary technician at Cedar Valley Veterinary Center, believes guinea pigs are a good "starter" pet.

"It's a good way for them (kids) to learn pets need water, food and a clean place to live. But by the same token, guinea pigs don't live forever. It's a good way to handle death with a child before it's a person they know," she says.

Willhite's 2-year-old granddaughter has been helping feed the family dog since she could walk, and it's teaching her responsibility as well as giving her interaction with her pet.

Willhite began teaching a puppy socialization class last fall, and she's finding more people are approaching pet care as a family activity.

"We find a lot of families get dogs in the summer when school is out. The all raise the puppy until he's two or three months along," says Willhite. "It takes time for the dog to fit into the household, as well as housebreaking and exercise and grooming."

Considering Pet Adoption?

The Cedar Bend Humane Society and petfinder.com are both great resources when considering pet adoption. Here are a few tips from Diann Helmers, pet rescuer. Helmers' adoptable pets can be found on petfinder.com under Agape Fosters.

Animals need the basics - food, water and shelter, but just as important in making your pet happy is daily exercise, socialization, training and medical care.

Spaying and neutering should continue to be a top priority when selecting a pet.

Be prepared to be fully dedicated to the animal you own. When children see parents get one pet after another - a "revolving door" of pets, it only teaches them animals are disposable.

Look for behavior, not size, when selecting a pet and research the breed you are trying to adopt. Many times people want smaller dogs, but they can be more hyper, more easily stressed out and less patient with children than a bigger dog.

Getting a pet is a two-way street. Just as you want the new pet to enhance your child's life, you must also be sure you enhance the pet's life.

Never use a living creature to show kids responsibility unless an adult is involved every day.