I have done adoption homestudies for 28 years. In all those
years, the issue that makes me smile the most is the one about pets. Being an
animal lover, I personally love pets. Well, not snakes or crawly things… but
cats, dogs, rabbits, caged furry rodents – all fine with me. Of course, I had a
cat, a dog, hamsters, gerbils, fish, turtles and more, and cared for school pets over vacations. My kids have had a parade of pets, too. And
yes, we cared for the class frogs, birds and guinea pigs when school was closed.
I am certainly not objective when it comes to pets. Just love them. They are more accepting than
people. They truly know the what unconditional love is. But everyone makes his own decision about having pets.
The question that arises is should I tell the social worker
I have a pet? What if they don’t like cats? Will they turn me down as an
adoptive parent if I have a dog? The
issue is making sure your child is safe around your pet.
I remember many years ago a couple telling a colleague if their
child was allergic to their cats, they would get the child allergy shots. And If the child had asthma, they would get them a
nebulizer. Really?? As an animal lover, I get it – but really?? With their pets
their prime focus, she helped them reconsider
their adoption plans.
Another time a single woman stated she would keep her child
in one room and her dog in another - if he did
not “get along” with her child. I don’t think so… After a lot of discussion,
she understood I was watching out for the safety of her child and serenity of
her family. She decided to take her dog to training classes before her child
arrived and was amazed at how well behaved he could be. Her adoption was
successful. Her dog and son the best of friends, although she was always aware
of their whereabouts and never left them unsupervised.
When my older daughter took her first steps and the dog ran
across the floor growling at her, I knew
a decision had to be made. I knew what we had to do. Teary beyond belief, we
found another home for our beloved pet. Our daughter grew and blossomed. The
dog adjusted well, but I missed him. When my daughters were older, we got
another dog (actually two)..
I love pets. I love my kids. As a mother and social worker my job is to
make sure children are safe, secure and healthy. If anything will jeopardize
that, I have to speak up. I have helped thousands of families adopt. I have
helped them make many tough decisions. For some it was about adopting a
particular child or deciding what attorney or agency to trust with their
adoption process. For others, it was the difficult, often heart wrenching
decision about pets.
If you have pets, make sure they are good with infants and
children. Start leaving baby items, powder-smelling blankets, and small toys around your home. Dog and infant toys look
surprisingly alike. Teach your dog not to touch them. Teach your cat not to
enter a room (the future nursery or child’s room). Leave small plates of snacks
out and teach your pet to leave them alone. Teach dogs to “sit”, “stay”, “leave
it” (anything they should not touch or smell), “wait” and “get down”. Take your
dog on walks near parks or playgrounds so they get used to the sound and
movements of children. Never leave your pet and child unattended.
Many pet owners make good parents. With pets being many a
parent’s “first child”, they have developed patience, learned what
unconditional love really is, and have experienced the amazing feelings of
dependence and companionship. But parenting a child is different.
Children are totally dependent. They will not go
lie down on a pillow and entertain themselves for quite some time. That is your
job – to protect, play, nourish, sooth, teach, bathe and love - day after day for many years to come. And once
they are in bed, then you can groom, play and love your pet.
