Right now I have a huge aviary with finches and parakeets, another large cage with cockatiels, 5 small house dogs that are housebroken, clean and happy as a hog in mud because of where they live, we LOVE them and wouldn't be without them . . .and then I listen to clients tell me how they wouldn't HAVE an animal in the house, because you catch all kinds of diseases from them, blah blah blah. My dear sweet cousin, who is a Vet Tech said it best; "I can't imagine my life without my pets."
Outside I have two great pyrs that I LOVE dearly and who love me, 6 Alpacas with 4 more coming home this month. . .adding chickens, goats and maybe ducks and turkeys next year . . . my list is endless.
I rescue dogs, which is how I have 3 of the 5 I have now . . .there is another little girl in a horrible cage where my Skeeter came from that is starting to worry me greatly . . .terrible conditions. How can someone who considers themselves a human being treat a "dumb" animal the ways they do is beyond me . . .she is fixed, housebroke and just darling and lives in a horrible dirty cage day after day after day and would starve to death if the neighbor didn't feed her . . .its so sad. . .and I know if I ask, I will get her because the owner simply does not care. . .
I think raising a child without some kind of pet is not always a good idea . . .I think animals makes a child learn patience and kindness and pride in taking care of someone who is not capable. I know its not always feasible in some cases, because of allergies or location, but there is always some kind of pet fish or otherwise that will work out . . .just MHO.