Some People Think That Keeping Pets Is Good For Children | Band 8 IELTS Essay Sample

Some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is dangerous and unhealthy. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Here is a band 8 IELTS essay on this topic written by one of our students. Need help with IELTS writing? Get your IELTS essays, letters and reports corrected by me.

Band 8 IELTS essay sample

Pet ownership has become common in recent years, and many children are fond of spending time with their loyal companions like dogs or cats. While some individuals believe that this has a positive impact on a child’s behaviour, others argue that it is unhealthy and they may spread dangerous diseases. This essay will discuss both points of view and agree with the idea that having a pet is beneficial for young ones.

On the one hand, the primary reason for individuals to consider household animals as a threat is their aggressive behaviour. That is to say, children below five years do not know how to handle pet animals, and may provoke them by treating them roughly. For example, children may beat the pets or chew their ears. This causes a pet to become angry and attack young ones. Additionally, household pets may spread diseases like allergies and food poisoning because they carry dirt which contains various bacteria, pathogens and virus. However, a little bit of parental supervision is more than enough to take care of these problems. Parents should never leave very young children alone with the pet. It is also important to groom the pets properly so that they do not carry pathogens.

On the other hand, having a pet has various benefits for children. Firstly, caring for their furry friends, such as taking them for a walk, feeding them and grooming them teaches them to be responsible not only towards other animals but also with people. Furthermore, being exposed to dogs or cats from a very young age will strengthen their immune system, and thus reduce their chances of falling ill. A Swedish study, for example, reported that children below one year who grew up with dogs and cats have a healthy immune system and had no allergy issues or asthma, even though their family has the history of allergies and asthma.

In conclusion, although owning a pet has a few negative impacts on children, I believe that there are more benefits as they teach children empathy and also boost their immunity.

Band 7 essay sample

Some people believe / opine that keeping pets could potentially be beneficial for children whereas other people argue that having pets in your home is not good for us. Animals are not very clean and they could be dangerous for human beings. In this essay, I will discuss the different perspectives and also include my own opinion.

In today’s era it is common for humans to have animals as pets. Many people in the society believe that having pets will bring them happiness and healthy life. Moreover they can take their pets for long distance walk so they are helpful not only for their mental health but also for their physical health. For instance, with the animal companion they do not feel loneliness and even feel healthier in their companionship with animals. Interaction with pets makes kids more empathetic and responsible. Children are also less likely to feel bored when they have a cat or dog at home.

On the other hand, some people agree that animals are not good for our health. They are not very clean. Moreover, keeping pets in our homes is a little bit expensive. So we have to spend extra money to purchase their food. For instance, one of my friends has a dog in his home. They spend lots of money on his food and medical care. It is very hard for the common man to keep pets as their companions as they demand extra care and time. Also, animals possess little intelligence. Even if they are well-trained, they can still harm a little child at times if they feel threatened or provoked.

Overall, some people argue that keeping pets gives meaning to our lives. But others think they are just waste of time and money and they are not supposed to be in home. But I believe keeping animals in our home really does good to our life. We gain more health and happiness. Also, they help us get rid of our loneliness. Their company is particularly good for children.