Babies and animals. Why give them away??

MrsMiller1002 · February 2011

In my short time on the board, I've seen a number of "should I get rid of my animals" post. It got me thinking, instead of shunning away your furry babies, why not be more prepared on how to incorporate them in the family?

I have a kitty(he's a big boy but still a kitten in my eyes) and 2 ferrets.

I do not plan on giving any of them away Although I've heard the horror stories of ferrets and newborns, My ferrets will be in there room, and only come out for play time when me or my husband is present. They also have their very own room to rome around.

We walk our ferrets so I'm thinking we could maybe take baby and ferrets for walks together. The baby of course won't pay any mind to the ferrets just yet, but just so that the ferrets don't see left out.

Any thing I can do to prepare my cat for our new addition?

Thanks ladies!

MrsGo4Hockeychick · February 2011

For your kitty, I set up a lot of the stuff early, and lined it with foil so they would learn to stay out of and off it. It only kind of worked, but neither cat was ever super interested in DD. One thing I will recommend is never allowing them to sleep with your baby...there are plenty of horror stories from that.

In all honesty, we didn't do much to prepare the cats...but we did closely watch them around her for a long time.

and to anyone reading this because they ARE going to give away their pets:

if you're going to give away animals because you're having a baby: NEVER adopt another animal again.

There is no reason to give up an animal because your family is growing.

mnewlee · February 2011

I don't understand it either. My cats are a part of the family, they won't be going anywhere. (much to my mil's chagrin)

I've read that if you bring a blanket that the baby has used home before the baby, that can help the animals adjust a bit.

I've also read that if you have any big changes, like the cat isn't going to be allowed in the baby's room, start blocking it off now. That way your cat (or dog) won't associate not being able to go in the room with the baby.

MrsMiller1002 · February 2011

Right?? I love my little animals, They are just as part of my family as this new sweeting growing inside me. I just think it's so sad, bc they can add so much joy to a family.

It's like the animals we're just place holders until baby got here. It's terrible.

SockMonkeySam · February 2011

I can not fathom letting my cats go. They are part of my family.

Kimbatron · February 2011

My MIL thinks that you should get rid of your pets when you have a baby because "it's not safe." I understand that some people have had bad experiences with dogs and babies, but if she thinks I'm re-homing my dogs, she has another thing coming.

Lambie. · February 2011

My cats have completely left DD alone. Sometimes I think they don't even know she is there.

ally2011 · February 2011

Situations change, people's time constraints change, health changes, dealing with elderly parents changes, etc., etc., etc.

Having a pet is not a one-size-fits-all deal. Nor does it mean that your life will never ever change to the point that you cannot care for them like you should anymore. Things happen. I think as long as an owner ensures that their pet is in a loving home, then they have honored their commitment to the animal.

I am a die hard animal lover (see other post) and would not give up ours personally. However, I am not about to go all "you are evil and should never have gotten that pet in the first place" on someone if they now realize they really can't care for it like it needs to be cared for. It is the kindest thing for the animal to find it a good, loving home. Keeping a pet when you know you really can't give it the care it needs anymore is cruel. And making yourself crazy trying to make it work when it clearly won't is foolish.

MsCrispy · February 2011

We have a dog and have already started preparing him for changes. We moved his beds around if we will be putting baby things in that spot. We also have a few baby toys and blankets that we are using to teach him that he has his toys and the baby has different toys.

I think starting early is key so your pet does not blame the baby on the changes. I think it is totally doable and I feel bad when people fail to prepare their pets and then give them away because they act out.

NicoleW28 · February 2011

I have 4 dogs and 2 cats and they won't be going anywhere. I also agree with Ally if you can't care for them anymore because of a baby rehoming them is best. I would hate to be ignored by someone who is supposed to love me.

Bodester · February 2011

We already know our dog is aggressive toward children. We've done extensive training to improve the situation but I basically won't be able to trust him around a mobile baby. He's a family member to us and it has been difficult sorting through how to handle the situation, so I understand how it may be difficult for others to understand the difficult decision that some of us have to make. My hope is that we can re-home him with one of our family member that he's already familiar with so that he's not completely uprooted.

MrsMiller1002 · February 2011

CDK1:
I had to give my dog away, she was 16 when DS was born and I was SO excited that DS would get to grow up around a dog. Unfortunately she was very used to our attention and very set in her ways (she was 16, who wouldn't be at her age!). Anyway, she growled at DS and raised her hackles any time he was in the same room as she was (even if we were in the room first, she would walk by staring at him, growling). If we had lived in a huge house with a yard I still don't think I would have given her away but we were in a 750 sq ft apartment (she was a 35lb mixed breed). Anyway, after 4 months of this she continually got "braver", she would start walking up to him and growling right at him, then she started snapping at him only. We constantly tried helping her adjust to him, set up his baby things early so she could get used to them, we didn't keep her out of his room ever (even after he was born!), he never pulled on her. She just didn't like him. At about 5 months when DS started rolling and becoming mobile it became dangerous and I had to give her away. It broke my heart. If there had been a way to keep her that didn't involve shutting her in a small bedroom all day, I would have done it in a second. It was such a hard decision. I had adopted her when I was 14 and she was approximately 4. She had been hit by a car and left for dead, but she survived. Ugh, this was over a year ago and I still tear up thinking about giving her away!!!
All this to say: I would have never given her away before the baby was born. It just never even crossed my mind. HOWEVER, after he was born, we tried for 5 months to overcome her aggressiveness (I knew she was aggressive, she couldn't live with other dogs either but she had never been aggressive towards a human), and it just didn't work. I had to give her away for the safety of my son. Also for her safety, if she had bitten an infant nobody would have adopted her and the vet would have suggested she be put to sleep. She was still very active and healthy for her age and that would have been cruel to do. This is the only time I think it's ok to give a pet away. After you have tried and tried and it just isn't safe for your children, or your pet.

This is a completely different situation. I totally understand this situation. If there is any aggression issues of an animal then yes, having them adopted is the right decisions after taking all the necessary precautions and having them fail. I'm sorry and I should have made that clear. I DO think you did the right thing with keeping your baby safe.

Elsker · February 2011

I see a lot of fuzzy mammal "pet babies", but no mention of reptiles here yet. My husband and I breed and raise reptiles for a hobby (two pair of beardies, breeding pairs of chameleons, snakes, mata-mata's, and softshells), and while I get joy out of handling and caring for them, they aren't exactly the same as our three dogs. I'm giving my snakes to a friend of ours that already cares for 45 of his own and has all the space and equipment needed, and we're looking for good homes of hobbyists to take on the chameleons. There are salmonella and parasite issues to think about with cold blooded animals, so I don't see a problem with finding them new homes when the baby comes....I guess not many others do, either, since nobody really mentioned them?

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