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The life of an adopted child can get very lonely. If the child was adopted in her teens, she would have had many mental associations with her past life. It would be hard for her to break away from those and adapt to a strange new world. While she would long for company, she may also be shy, unable to mix with people and unsociable to an extent.
In this situation, a pet can be very good and therapeutic for your child. A pet gives company without imposing itself upon us, just by having the great virtue of not being able to talk. Your adopted child can spend hours with a good pet, something that language and cultural barriers may not allow her to do with other human beings. A good pet can be the panacea for that loneliness that many adopted children invariably suffer from.
These days though, keeping a pet is like petting an elephant with things being so costly. While the cost of food and living for the pet can be budgeted, medical costs can be unexpected and prohibitive. In this respect, it is a great idea to get good pet insurance. That will keep you happy while letting your child have uninterrupted company of a healthy and lively pet.
You may have a prejudice against certain pets. Some people don’t like cats, some don’t prefer dogs. While that debate is all to the good, make sure your adopted child gets just the pet she wants. Maybe she had a pet dog in her former home, maybe she played with one in a foster home somewhere. Whatever her association with a particular pet, it is better not to impose your own prejudices upon your child. Let her have whatever pet she wants, and your job is simply to make sure the pet stays healthy and well for many years.
