Throwing the Dog Out With the Bathwater:

How Babies and Pets CAN Live Together
With the Help of Parents Who Love Them

As anyone who knows me will say, I love my children. All ten of them, with tails and without. Being the parent of two toddlers, five cats, a dog, and two fish, I could submit a snapshot of my large family to Merriam Webster for inclusion under the definition ‘busy.’ But busy though it may be, it is a happy household, and my children have learned from day one how to love, respect and care for pets as friends and family, and to co-exist with critters of all kinds. In fact, my son and daughter never hesitate to stop to tell everyone they meet on our evening walks all that they know about our dog Scarlett, from what she eats and where she sleeps down to instructions on how to pick up the dog poop and an admonishment for those who don’t carry plastic bags for their own dogs.

One of the most baffling and heartbreaking things I see every day here at LA/SPCA is the number of couples who turn in pets because of the birth or anticipated birth of a new baby. Often a person who is dearly in love with their furry family member will rush to a shelter to give up her tail wagging companion under the mistaken notion that baby and pet cannot co-exist. Many times relinquishment of a beloved pet is carried out amid tears of sorrow; occasionally, it is done with a sigh of relief as if the mere presence of a four-legged animal in the home puts the new bundle of joy at risk. So, you may ask, what is the truth about pets and children? Will a cat ‘steal’ a baby’s breath? Is a larger breed dog going to topple the toddler and rack up hundreds of dollars in hospital bills? The answer, my friend, is that pet ownership, and pets as enduring members of the family, is what you make of it. It doesn’t have to be an either/or proposition.

One of the most common reasons we’re given when cats are turned in is that a woman has been told by her doctor that something in the cat’s litter will make a pregnant mother sick. Now, I hate to criticize all the docs out there, but with every medical risk there needs to be some explanation on the causes and prevention of certain conditions, and I find it hard to believe that moms universal are being told that a kitty is a death sentence for their unborn child.

So here’s a word to the curious who wonder what this mystery substance is and what we can do to prevent form getting sick other than give up Fluffy.

 Toxoplasmosis, as the infection is called, is caused by a microscopic parasite in the cat’s feces. It affects unborn babies because they have weak immune systems, but only if the mother ingests (eats) something contaminated with toxoplasma. Daily changing of the litter pan (the eggs take around 3 days to be infectious,) and using disposable gloves and a dust mask when changing the litter, will all prevent toxoplasma spread.

And of course, there’s always getting someone else to do the dirty work for the first trimester when risk of infection is high. That’s known as a honey-do, as in “Honey, can you changes Noah’s litter box?”

All pet owners should be responsible for introducing a new baby to an existing pet (or an existing child to a new pet) responsibly, and in supervising the young child around furry companions. Play a recording of baby’s cries and other sounds that might startle a pet. Do this over a few weeks up until the new one’s joyous arrival. In cases where a new baby is coming, let the existing pets smell baby’s clothes or swaddling before she/he comes home from the hospital. Let the pet and child meet in a controlled environment under supervision, with one person holding the child and the other responsible for restraining the animal and limiting physical contact. There may be an adjustment period, so never leave the pet alone with a baby or young child until you are comfortable that fur won’t fly. It’s always possible that the pet can be startled into scratching by a fussy child or that the child can grab indiscriminately and harm the pet. It’s also possible that your pet may adore the baby and want to cuddle with him/her while not understanding the delicacy of the little one receiving the love. Small infants can be easily smothered or toppled from car seats if unfastened, especially when the pet doing the cuddling is a very affectionate 70 pound Rottweiler who thinks he’s a lap dog. But again, it’s a supervision issue. Just as you wouldn’t leave a baby in a car seat on the edge of a table or let him go crawling alone in the front yard, so too shouldn’t you go to lie down or do the chores out of eyesight of the little one and let the dog be the babysitter.

Another common misnomer is that newborn babies or small children will be allergic to new pets. In fact, the opposite is more than often true. The first two years of life are the time when children build up their immune systems and learn to tolerate different environmental allergens. The old adage that ‘A little dirt never hurt’ goes the same for pet dander and fur. Children who grow up with pets are less likely to become allergic later in life than kids who have never lives with a household pet. And for those who are conscious about every mote of dust that touches baby, animals can learn to tolerate, and even like, weekly baths and brushings.

The bottom line to all of this is that responsible parents and responsible pet parents alike should do their research and ask educated questions. Whether you’re a pet-loving household who is considering opening your home to a new two-legged family member, a troubled family trying to do the right thing for pets and people, or a people-only establishment considering the right new pet for a home with kids, it’s a matter of adjustment. We can’t choose what our children will be like in the womb, but we love them unconditionally even if they’re not perfect and would never consider (or not for long) turning them over to strangers for adoption if things ‘didn’t work out.’ Our pets deserve the same, and we should work with them to foster a home environment that is safe, healthy and loving so that we can give back the joy that they give to us.

- Heather Rigney