My own sister's children have grown up without pets. My sister is very allergic to cats, and has been her whole life. Her house is too busy to keep a dog happy, and she is also now allergic to them - in fact to anything with feathers or fur. Sigh. And as she and her husband both work full time, and have between them about 35 piano students as well, and until a year ago, my sister was taking classes toward her Master's, they made the decision that it would be best not to get a pet that couldn't be properly taken care of. That would not be a good lesson for their kids.

I respect that, (though I do hassle the heck out of her for that). But their kids have experienced the rest of the pets in the family their whole lives - my nephew used to refer to my parents' house as "GrammaGrandpaGracies!" (Gracie was the Great Dane.) And if, when she grows up, my niece did not inherit her Mom's allergies, I KNOW she'll get a pet - maybe a bunny or a kittie or a doggie. She has wished for all of them at one point!