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[NoMoreJuice!]

Oops

Sorry didn't mean to repeat. I was having too much fun with the kinetic sand!! Lol

Sorry I'm so defensive about regs, but the old surveyor really got under my skin and I haven't let that go yet. Yeah, I don't want to post names, but KSDC I bet you are correct. She is infamous!! Don't miss her.

[butterfly]

alcohol, medications, or..ahem..secret sexy things do not carry illnesses and disease.

I am a rule follower.

I was taught that right is right....even when no one is looking.

I would NEVER be comfortable lying or hiding animals from my licensor.

My regulation does address medication and other items that could potentially cause harm to children. Medications (and other items mentioned) have to be out of reach of children or in a locked compartment. These things are addressed in licensing and I follow the requirements involved in having these items. If you choose to have pets in the same dwelling as your business, you should also follow the regulation.

[Second Home]

I know it is inconvenient and costly to have pocket pets cleared by a vet . But I would rather do it than be forced to give away my kids pets .

[Cradle2crayons]

The only thing here we don't take for a checkup is the fish and the mice we breed for snake food and our chickens.... And we have a note from our vet explaining why...Actually they come here once a year and check my daughters pet rat, our snake, horses, rabbits, birds, etc... And just fill out a report for what doesn't get shots.

On the birds they check their vent and crop for bacteria and parasites....

On the horses hey do a fecal check, a coggins test, etc

On the rabbits just a general exam....

On the rat, snake etc just a general exam....

The cats and dogs get wellness checks once a year even though our vet only does vax every two years... And they get heart worm and fecal checks once a year because we live in the woods....

I'm not licensed so none of that is required but I do it anyway...

As far as pocket pets, I can't imagine a state requiring yearly checks. The only reason I do it is cause the vet is already here

[Annalee]

I'm going to assume from context clues that you have birds, rodents, or some sort of tank-dwelling amphibian or reptiles. Am I right?

I'd fight that reg, honestly. No one takes those critters to the vet, as you say. I'd fight it tooth and nail. What if you have an aquarium full of fish? Who takes FISH to the vet?! No one gets check ups for pocket pets. It's just not done. They don't have vaccines, etc. What's the point? And if/when they die you sort of say "oops" and buy a new one...

Make them show you the reg stating that these animals must have annual check ups, then ask for a reference to a vet versed in caring for them. I think most vets would laugh at you for asking for a well check for your iguana. many probably would run screaming from your tarantula or ball python. And hamsters/gerbils will probably get lost in the car on the way there.

Really. That's dumb. Fight it. Or hide it.

We can have hamsters, fish, dogs, cats, etc.....but NO BIRDS due to licensing. I think we have to show proof of vaccination for dogs/cats, but I think that is all. I agree...Ask for the reg for proof of what you are being asked to do! Sounds a little extreme to me. :confused:

[Unregistered]

I'm in the Midwest, and there's a huge amount of changes to the regulations. Basically, the rules are the same across the board for in-home daycares and daycare centers, and that is why there are so many new rules for us in-homers. Many really are silly considering this is also our homes where we live.

I am 100% a rule follower, very black and white with state regs, and up to now have never allowed any gray area as far as the state or the food program is concerned with my program. This, however, has me in a pickle, and has me feeling like boundaries are getting really blurred.

I see what one poster is saying about carrying disease, but if the animals have no part of the daycare, why should it be a concern? I guess I am just sad that the whole home part of in-home daycare is vanishing. I guess I will have to just add the expense of vet visits to my business, and figure out a way to get them there. One is a rodent, so no problem there. The others are very small birds with full wings (so that they can get away from our dog if need be), and I really can't see taking them from the house.

I know you have to spend money to make money, and it's my choice to have these pets. I guess I wish it could have been grandfathered. I definitely would not have gotten them in the first place had these regs been in effect, but we do and they are part of our family, so there it is.

This is pasted from the e-mail I got from my lady, who I'd like to mention is really great:

In reading through your handbook you mentioned your own family’s pets- which also include birds- all pets, dogs, cats, birds, etc. need to have an annual wellness check. For some animals their shots may be due to for updates, but if not, they still need that annual wellness check.

I guess we will have to figure it out. And soon. Thanks for the advice and opinions!

[Blackcat31]

I'm in the Midwest, and there's a huge amount of changes to the regulations. Basically, the rules are the same across the board for in-home daycares and daycare centers, and that is why there are so many new rules for us in-homers. Many really are silly considering this is also our homes where we live.

I think "they" really are trying to phase out home care.

I am 100% a rule follower, very black and white with state regs, and up to now have never allowed any gray area as far as the state or the food program is concerned with my program. This, however, has me in a pickle, and has me feeling like boundaries are getting really blurred.

I see what one poster is saying about carrying disease, but if the animals have no part of the daycare, why should it be a concern? I guess I am just sad that the whole home part of in-home daycare is vanishing. I guess I will have to just add the expense of vet visits to my business, and figure out a way to get them there. One is a rodent, so no problem there. The others are very small birds with full wings (so that they can get away from our dog if need be), and I really can't see taking them from the house.

Can you have a vet come to you? We've had that done before because we have a 200+lb dog and stuffing him in the car sometimes is just not a reality. I think we paid less $50 for the home visit compared to the $35 in office visit

I know you have to spend money to make money, and it's my choice to have these pets. I guess I wish it could have been grandfathered. I definitely would not have gotten them in the first place had these regs been in effect, but we do and they are part of our family, so there it is.

This is pasted from the e-mail I got from my lady, who I'd like to mention is really great:

In reading through your handbook you mentioned your own family’s pets- which also include birds- all pets, dogs, cats, birds, etc. need to have an annual wellness check. For some animals their shots may be due to for updates, but if not, they still need that annual wellness check.

I guess we will have to figure it out. And soon. Thanks for the advice and opinions!

I replied in blue above.

[MarinaVanessa]

Woah, wait. So if you have a hamster you have to take it every year???

That doesn't make sense. Why require someone who paid $8 for a hamster to take it to the vet and spend $50 minimum for a checkup every year??

[Blackcat31]

Woah, wait. So if you have a hamster you have to take it every year???

That doesn't make sense. Why require someone who paid $8 for a hamster to take it to the vet and spend $50 minimum for a checkup every year??

Hamsters and guinea pigs as well as other small rodent like pets can carry a viruses that humans can get...

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/lcmv_rodents.htm

I'm not positive but I believe that reptiles and birds can also spread illnesses and such that classrooms are often limited in what types/kinds, if any they can have.

I am not at all surprised by this regulation. ANYTHING that can cause illness, injury and/or harm in ANY way seems to be regulated now days...

[misslori50]

alcohol, medications, or..ahem..secret sexy things do not carry illnesses and disease.

I am a rule follower.

I was taught that right is right....even when no one is looking.

I would NEVER be comfortable lying or hiding animals from my licensor.

I agree, but then i would not have pets around my childcare kids

[Second Home]

What I don't really get is that when you go for a check up for a rodent or reptile they do nothing but look at the animal . No routine blood work , no vaccinations , maybe a fecal if you really push and ask them to .
So a vet check will not really tell you if the animal is indeed healthy .

I have / had different types of rodents and reptiles and I have had vet checks on some of them during the time I have owned them . None of the exotic vets do much in the way of a check up but ask you questions or your concerns.

Many of the classrooms in my kids 3 school have reptiles . Each classroom is allowed to have some type of animal in elementary if the teacher wants .
There are also some in the middle school classes .

[Cradle2crayons]

If the animal in question is a bird, op there are genuine reasons hey need to be vetted every year... And checked for diseases... Because there are some that can cause serious illness in people....

If the animal in question is a rodent... Then I have no advice...

[SilverSabre25]

OP, maybe you can check with a local university or vet tech school and see about getting low-cost exams in exchange for letting your pets be practice for the students?

[Unregistered]

Yeah, they can potentially carry disease, but how, pray tell, does a caged, indoor animal contract a disease like rabies or Avian bird flu? And if they are not in childcare areas of the house or handled by the children, how does it concern my childcare business? Plus, the biggest concerns for all of these little pets happen naturally (ex: salmonella for turtles/newts/lizards/frogs, or the bad infections that can happen from scratches from cats or rodents because they step in their own poop) and is not going to make a lick bit of difference from a vet visit or not. And like MV and others said, you don't take $5 pets to the vet for $50 checkups. After seeing an ad in Family Fun magazine, I can't help but wonder if it isn't spurred by the AVMA and AAHA partnering up with the state to enforce such a thing.

Again, I just wish it was grandfathered in for already existing daycares, and apply only to new pets. We certainly won't be getting any more, no matter how much we enjoy them. More and more, the state is crossing the line, and having way too much control over what happens in my home, that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the daycare.

I will follow the rules, as always, because it is easier than being paranoid all the time. I am just so glad we don't have the hermit crab anymore...

[Unregistered]

Also, thank you for the suggestions about home visits or vet school checks! Those are both excellent suggestions and I am going to look into each!