Kids fat? Get a dog or cat

Shrinking backyards and a generation of kids obsessed with computer games mean dogs and cats are no longer the treasured companions they once were.

Despite 20 per cent of Australian children being overweight or obese, figures released by the Australian Companion Animal Council show many families are shunning pets – children are instead turning to TV.

Nationwide, the number of dogs kept as pets fell from four million in 2000 to 3.75 million in 2006, while cats declined from 3.2 million in 1988 to 2.3 million in 2006.

Australian Veterinary Association president Dr Kersti Seksel said the trend was concerning because pets added to the quality of people's lives.

"Australian children these days are much more likely to be sitting inside playing video games than running around the backyard, which is a shame," she said.

"Owning a pet is a simple joy and encourages everyone to have a more active lifestyle."

Bondi parents Natasha and Paul Havard buck the trend, ensuring their kids Zach, 8, and Noah, 6, get plenty of outdoor play with their much-loved pet of two years, poodle cross Marley.

"We have restrictions on the PlayStation because if we let them they would probably play it all afternoon," Mrs Havard said.

"There are some fields up in the top here where they take (Marley).

"They play in the park and take balls and he runs them around."

Australian Medical Association NSW medical director Dr Robyn Napier agreed a pet was a good way to get children off the couch.

"Having a pet encourages outdoor activity (and) I think it also gives a sense of responsibility for kids too," she said.

She said, while a lack of physical activity was partly to blame for high obesity rates among children, poor diet also played a part.

She said sitting in front of a computer or TV motivated children to eat.

"If you're sitting in front of a screen you may as well eat at the same time," she said.

"If you're out there running around with a ball, you can't."

The declining pet population has also been blamed on changing lifestyles, with quarter-acre blocks and room to run around a thing of the past.

"We tend to live in apartments and high rises more than we did 15 years ago," Dr Seksel said.

"Modern suburban dwellings are much less likely to have a big backyard, which tends to restrict choices about pet ownership."

She said the decline in cat numbers was so severe there could come a time when having one as a pet was no longer possible – and dogs might follow suit.

However, pet ownership by Australians remains high compared to other countries, with an estimated 63 per cent of households owning some kind of pet, and 53 per cent owning a cat or dog.

Reference: www.news.com.au

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