BENEFITS of Pet Ownership for Kids with SPECIAL NEEDS BENEFITS of Pet Ownership for Kids with SPECIAL NEEDS BENEFITS of Pet Ownership for Kids with SPECIAL NEEDS BENEFITS of Pet Ownership for Kids with SPECIAL NEEDS

By Sarah Lyons

By Sarah Lyons

By Sarah Lyons

By Sarah Lyons

Pet ownership can bring joy and happiness to any home. For children with special needs— particularly for those with sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD and social or behavioral issues—adopting a domesticated pet can provide wonderful benefits. Here are some great reasons to consider adding a pet to your family.

Pet ownership can bring joy and happiness to any home. For children with special needs— particularly for those with sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD and social or behavioral issues—adopting a domesticated pet can provide wonderful benefits. Here are some great reasons to consider adding a pet to your family.

Pet ownership can bring joy and happiness to any home. For children with special needs— particularly for those with sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD and social or behavioral issues—adopting a domesticated pet can provide wonderful benefits. Here are some great reasons to consider adding a pet to your family.

Pet ownership can bring joy and happiness to any home. For children with special needs— particularly for those with sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD and social or behavioral issues—adopting a domesticated pet can provide wonderful benefits. Here are some great reasons to consider adding a pet to your family.

Helps grow social skills

Helps grow social skills

Helps grow social skills

Helps grow social skills

Kids who spend time playing with a pet typically enjoy interacting with people more than kids who don’t own a pet. They also learn to develop skills such as trust and interpreting nonverbal cues. Owning a pet can also encourage empathy toward animals and humans alike.

Kids who spend time playing with a pet typically enjoy interacting with people more than kids who don’t own a pet. They also learn to develop skills such as trust and interpreting nonverbal cues. Owning a pet can also encourage empathy toward animals and humans alike.

Kids who spend time playing with a pet typically enjoy interacting with people more than kids who don’t own a pet. They also learn to develop skills such as trust and interpreting nonverbal cues. Owning a pet can also encourage empathy toward animals and humans alike.

Kids who spend time playing with a pet typically enjoy interacting with people more than kids who don’t own a pet. They also learn to develop skills such as trust and interpreting nonverbal cues. Owning a pet can also encourage empathy toward animals and humans alike.

Lowers stress

Lowers stress

Lowers stress

Lowers stress

Having a furry friend to play with, pet and cuddle can lower stress and

Having a furry friend to play with, pet and cuddle can lower stress and

Having a furry friend to play with, pet and cuddle can lower stress and

Having a furry friend to play with, pet and cuddle can lower stress and elevate mood. Stroking a pet’s soft fur can have a calming effect on people. People who spend time with a pet on a regular basis have lower blood pressure, lower heart rate and less stress. Patients that were visited by a service animal while in the hospital also reported less pain. elevate mood. Stroking a pet’s soft fur can have a calming effect on people. People who spend time with a pet on a regular basis have lower blood pressure, lower heart rate and less stress. Patients that were visited by a service animal while in the hospital also reported less pain. elevate mood. Stroking a pet’s soft fur can have a calming effect on people. People who spend time with a pet on a regular basis have lower blood pressure, lower heart rate and less stress. Patients that were visited by a service animal while in the hospital also reported less pain. elevate mood. Stroking a pet’s soft fur can have a calming effect on people. People who spend time with a pet on a regular basis have lower blood pressure, lower heart rate and less stress.

Patients that were visited by a service animal while in the hospital also reported less pain.

Helps develop life skills

Helps develop life skills

Helps develop life skills

Helps develop life skills

Kids who have the opportunity to care for a pet will also develop important life skills, such as time management, responsibility and an understanding of the importance of schedule for feeding, walking and cleaning their pet.

Kids who have the opportunity to care for a pet will also develop important life skills, such as time management, responsibility and an understanding of the importance of schedule for feeding, walking and cleaning their pet.

Kids who have the opportunity to care for a pet will also develop important life skills, such as time management, responsibility and an understanding of the importance of schedule for feeding, walking and cleaning their pet.

Kids who have the opportunity to care for a pet will also develop important life skills, such as time management, responsibility and an understanding of the importance of schedule for feeding, walking and cleaning their pet.

Builds stability

Builds stability

Builds stability

Builds stability

Kids who crave stability and routine will benefit from having a pet in their lives. Pets can provide a different type of stability that they may not get from peers or family members.

Kids who crave stability and routine will benefit from having a pet in their lives. Pets can provide a different type of stability that they may not get from peers or family members.

Kids who crave stability and routine will benefit from having a pet in their lives. Pets can provide a different type of stability that they may not get from peers or family members.

Kids who crave stability and routine will benefit from having a pet in their lives. Pets can provide a different type of stability that they may not get from peers or family members.

Promotes learning

Promotes learning

Promotes learning

Promotes learning

Many parents have found that having their pet near them during virtual learning or while doing homework helps children stay calm and focused. Pets are a great addition to any family but can be a huge help to kids with special needs. Before adopting a pet, consider what type

Many parents have found that having their pet near them during virtual learning or while doing homework helps children stay calm and focused. Pets are a great addition to any family but can be a huge help to kids with special needs. Before adopting a pet, consider what type

Many parents have found that having their pet near them during virtual learning or while doing homework helps children stay calm and focused. Pets are a great addition to any family but can be a huge help to kids with special needs. Before adopting a pet, consider what type

Many parents have found that having their pet near them during virtual learning or while doing homework helps children stay calm and focused. Pets are a great addition to any family but can be a huge help to kids with special needs. Before adopting a pet, consider what type of animal would best fit your lifestyle, space and budget. It’s important to do your research and get a pet that will work for your family. Ask your children for their input and let them help choose what type of pet they would like to join the family. Chances are your new pet will have a positive impact on everyone in your household. of animal would best fit your lifestyle, space and budget. It’s important to do your research and get a pet that will work for your family. Ask your children for their input and let them help choose what type of pet they would like to join the family. Chances are your new pet will have a positive impact on everyone in your household. of animal would best fit your lifestyle, space and budget. It’s important to do your research and get a pet that will work for your family. Ask your children for their input and let them help choose what type of pet they would like to join the family. Chances are your new pet will have a positive impact on everyone in your household. of animal would best fit your lifestyle, space and budget. It’s important to do your research and get a pet that will work for your family. Ask your children for their input and let them help choose what type of pet they would like to join the family. Chances are your new pet will have a positive impact on everyone in your household.

Important Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet

Important Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet

Important Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet

Important Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet

Cost - Pet ownership can be expensive. Before adopting an animal, research the cost of purchasing the animal, vet bills, food and any other items needed. Depending on the type of animal, the cost could go on for many years.

Cost - Pet ownership can be expensive. Before adopting an animal, research the cost of purchasing the animal, vet bills, food and any other items needed. Depending on the type of animal, the cost could go on for many years.

Cost - Pet ownership can be expensive. Before adopting an animal, research the cost of purchasing the animal, vet bills, food and any other items needed. Depending on the type of animal, the cost could go on for many years.

Cost - Pet ownership can be expensive. Before adopting an animal, research the cost of purchasing the animal, vet bills, food and any other items needed. Depending on the type of animal, the cost could go on for many years.

Space - It’s important to choose a pet that is a good fit for your home and yard size. If you are renting, check to make sure your property owner allows pets.

Space - It’s important to choose a pet that is a good fit for your home and yard size. If you are renting, check to make sure your property owner allows pets.

Space - It’s important to choose a pet that is a good fit for your home and yard size. If you are renting, check to make sure your property owner allows pets.

Space - It’s important to choose a pet that is a good fit for your home and yard size. If you are renting, check to make sure your property owner allows pets.

Care - Determine who will be responsible for your pet. Some special needs children may not be able to clean up after or manage some of their pet’s needs. Who will be responsible? Are you willing to commit to this for the lifespan of the pet?

Care - Determine who will be responsible for your pet. Some special needs children may not be able to clean up after or manage some of their pet’s needs. Who will be responsible? Are you willing to commit to this for the lifespan of the pet?

Care - Determine who will be responsible for your pet. Some special needs children may not be able to clean up after or manage some of their pet’s needs. Who will be responsible? Are you willing to commit to this for the lifespan of the pet?

Care - Determine who will be responsible for your pet. Some special needs children may not be able to clean up after or manage some of their pet’s needs. Who will be responsible? Are you willing to commit to this for the lifespan of the pet?

Attention - What does your child’s schedule look like? Does your child have time to give the attention the pet deserves? Are you home enough to walk a dog? Do you travel often? Who would take care of the animal while you are at work, school or on vacation?

Attention - What does your child’s schedule look like? Does your child have time to give the attention the pet deserves? Are you home enough to walk a dog? Do you travel often? Who would take care of the animal while you are at work, school or on vacation?

Attention - What does your child’s schedule look like? Does your child have time to give the attention the pet deserves? Are you home enough to walk a dog? Do you travel often? Who would take care of the animal while you are at work, school or on vacation?

Attention - What does your child’s schedule look like? Does your child have time to give the attention the pet deserves? Are you home enough to walk a dog? Do you travel often? Who would take care of the animal while you are at work, school or on vacation?

Noise - Some kids may have sensitivity to loud noises. If this is the case, you may not want to adopt a dog that barks loudly. If your child is a light sleeper, you may not want to have a nocturnal animal’s cage in the room at night.

Noise - Some kids may have sensitivity to loud noises. If this is the case, you may not want to adopt a dog that barks loudly. If your child is a light sleeper, you may not want to have a nocturnal animal’s cage in the room at night.

Noise - Some kids may have sensitivity to loud noises. If this is the case, you may not want to adopt a dog that barks loudly. If your child is a light sleeper, you may not want to have a nocturnal animal’s cage in the room at night.

Noise - Some kids may have sensitivity to loud noises. If this is the case, you may not want to adopt a dog that barks loudly. If your child is a light sleeper, you may not want to have a nocturnal animal’s cage in the room at night.

Keeping these things in mind will make it easier to determine which animal would be the best fit for your family.

Keeping these things in mind will make it easier to determine which animal would be the best fit for your family.

Keeping these things in mind will make it easier to determine which animal would be the best fit for your family.

Keeping these things in mind will make it easier to determine which animal would be the best fit for your family.

When you think about it, there are a lot of different New Years. The most well-known one in western society is of course January 1.

Don’t ask me how the Chinese culture determines its New Year, but I enjoy it every year, as one of the twelve animals transitions to the next. And other cultures have their own New Year, as well.

Even businesses have their own new year — they call it their “fiscal year” — which often starts July 1, but I’ve also seen it start September 1.

And then there is everyone’s favorite: the new school year. Well, all the parents’ favorite, anyway. The kids? Not so much, maybe.

As far as ocean safety is concerned, a new school year means that summer has come and gone. Our Kauai Junior

By Monty Downs, M.D. Former President, Kaua’i Lifeguard Association

Lifeguard program is done, and we have a new crop of youth ready to make Kauai safer, for tourists and residents alike.

And on the beaches themselves, summer surf conditions will be transitioning to the winter surf. Last winter was bombs away. This summer season has been very active as well — the difference being that the summer swells tend to hit the South side and not the North side.

Lifeguarded Beaches

Haena Beach: Northshore, Haena

Hanalei Pavillion: Northshore, Hanalei

Hanalei Bay Pine Trees: Northshore, Hanalei

Kee Beach: Northshore, Haena

Anahola Beach: Eastside, Anahola

Kealia Beach: Eastside, Kapa’a

Lydgate Beach: Eastside, Wailua

Poipu Beach: Southshore, Poipu

Salt Pond Beach: Westside, Hanapepe

Kekaha Beach: Westside, Kekaha

The South swells tend to not get as giant as the Aleutian-spawned winter swells. But trust me: they can be every bit as dangerous, just perhaps in a different way. In fact — to some peoples’ surprise — considerably more drownings occur on the South Shore than on the North Shore.

This is partly because there are so many people on the South Shore beaches. It’s also partly because people tend to know not to venture out into giant conditions. However, rip currents can be every bit as significant in smaller conditions: all it takes to get you into trouble is to be pulled out over your head — maybe even just a few yards from shore — then a couple of waves break on you, you panic, and next thing you know, you’re in serious trouble.

I bet many of you know by now — if you’ve read my previous articles — that the key is NOT to panic.

(THE OTHER KEY IS OUR MANTRA TO PLEASE SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD).

I often point out to people that you can probably hold your breath for a minute or two when you’re relaxed, sitting on your couch. Expert surfers can hold it more than five minutes. But, if you’re in a panicked state, your one minute becomes more like three seconds! Then you’re gasping for air and gulping in water — a dangerous cycle. If you think I preach this over and over again, you’re right. It’s for good reason: remembering this can save your life.

So let me repeat: if you get pulled out over your head and you’re not a strong swimmer, RELAX, go with the flow; when you’re feeling settled, wave calmly for help and wait for help to come — be it one of our well-trained Kauai lifeguards or a beachgoer coming out to you with a surfboard or a rescue tube.

OK. Enough of this serious stuff. Why am I so serious, anyway? Well, I’m a career ER doctor and I have seen far too often what can happen if you don’t properly understand and respect rip currents — and if you panic.

On a positive note, hundreds of thousands of people safely enjoy our beaches every year.

I will say it one more time before I go: your beach and ocean time should always be spent where lifeguards can see you. (If they can’t see you, it’s a lot harder for them to save you.)

If you’re swimming at beaches where there are no trained lifeguards on duty, you are risking your life. Period.