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I was wondering what you guys do with your pets during daycare hours. Do you let your pets interact with the daycare children in the daycare area? Do you keep your pets separate from the daycare area during daycare time?
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My 2 dogs roam the house freely during the day . They do not go in to the playroom when kids are playing . And the kids do not play with them . One of my dogs was a reading partner to one of my dckwho barely spoke , she would lay near him as he pretended to read to her. My bearded dragon is in my son's room away from the dck space and the gecko is in my living room where the kids can see the tank and her but not touch her.Comment
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My cats roam freely but I keep them out of the daycare space for the most part because of cat hair. YUCK.
Our snake is in my son's room.Comment
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The hamster is in a tank with a screen lid on a table in the classroom. Our Pekinese is the old man of the house & just avoids the kids other than barking up a storm at pickup & dropoff. Knows every place he can get to stay out of the way of dcks.
Outside the chickens and ducks are in a fenced pen. Technically the kids aren't supposed to have contact with the birds, but they have been known to "escape" out into the backyard while we're out there (tricky little birds :
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My two Boston Terriers roam freely but they stay ling the living room mostly all day. My 2 cats roam free as well but they avoid the kids.. They are usually upstairs sleeping on my bed. My dart frog tank is in my living room and it's locked. My bearded dragon tank is on a large heavy cabinet in the playroom and it has a locked screened lid.. The kids love watching her. I make special backgrounds for each season. My dogs and cats have all been raised around the kids and they are all UTD on their shots. My younger dog (18 months) DOES go to daycare 2 times a week tho... Gets her wiggles out... LolComment
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We are only allowed dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, gerbils and birds. I think that's the whole list.
My tropical fish stay in their aquarium, but the kids get to watch them
Licensing made me take out the aquatic frogs because of risk to the children
Aquatic frogs - they can't live out of the water
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My dogs don't interact with daycare kids. They're very nice dogs, but they are still animals, and I would never take the chance of a child accidentally hurting them and getting bitten in defense.
They either are outside on nice days (they have their own large, fenced area separate from the kids' area) or gated in my foyer on other days.Comment
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:We are only allowed dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, gerbils and birds. I think that's the whole list.
My tropical fish stay in their aquarium, but the kids get to watch them
Licensing made me take out the aquatic frogs because of risk to the children
Aquatic frogs - they can't live out of the water:::::..........
My hamster is in the daycare room with a screened lid, and is now secure to the wall unit, that is already secured to the wall......licensing here too
Three dogs...a ****-a-poo, and 2 long haired Chihuahua's stay out of the daycare room from gates. All up to date on vaccinations, heart guard, flea and tick, the works!Comment
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This thread reminded me of a pet funny related to my daycare.
I have a 10 year old kitty cat named grace. She was a rescue as a kitten and has moved around with us over the years. She doesn't like people... Dogs... Other cats... Well.. She's just... Well... grace.
She stays far away from kids... And other animals and hides when inside but stays outside mostly.
I had a daycare kiddo who was behind developmentally in language. Every time grace would come inside I would tell dcg "don't mess with grace. She bites!"
Of course, the cat never bit anyone but that was how I explained to the littles not to touch.
Dcg first words?? While pointing to grace one day... "SHE BITES!! SHE BITES!!" Lol.Comment
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cradletocrayons,
! That's funny!
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Thank you all for replying. I wasn't sure if anyone would bother responding to my simple little question. I have done licensed home daycare for 25 years and have always had a dog and 2 cats (well, for the most part of the 25 years. As each pet died, I did wait a while before getting a new pet, but we would still have the other 2 pets during that time.) Anyway, I have always had pets and allowed them free roam within the daycare room and allowed the children to interact with the pets. I never had any parents fuss about the pets other than a couple of people who either the parent or child had major allergies.
But since I moved to the area I am in now, about 2 years ago, (and this is the lowest income area I have ever lived in) the majority of parents won't even come to an interview because I tell them I have pets and allow the pets in the daycare area. Many of the ones that do come to the interview freak out over the pets. During one interview, the mother and little girl both acted like a lion had just come down the steps when my little 1 year old cat came into the room! They both screamed, the little girl jumped onto the mother's lap, the mother patted her back repeatedly very fast, and even asked if we could continue the interview outside! I told her that if they can't be inside for the interview, I certainly can't watch the little girl all day long every day. That was the end of the interview!
I am trying to figure out how I can block my dog and cats upstairs for most of the day. I just feel really bad about blocking pets in a bedroom all day long, especially when they can hear us downstairs. But I know a lot of pets are put in crates all day while their owners are at work all day. I guess it isn't horrible to block them into a bedroom.Comment
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I also disclose pets at first conversation because of asthma issues down south.
But I'm lucky that 99% of people here have pets... Most have a lot of pets.
My little special dcg had never been around ANY pets prior to here. Her mom and most of the family are deathly afraid of cats. But the mom really wanted ky exposed to animals and boy she got that here.
I think I'd just have to get more creative advertising. "Pet therapy" maybe? Lol. I wouldn't lock up mine. But I do understand why most do.
Locking up my pets or not having them would be a daycare deal breaker for me.Comment
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I also ALWAYS let people know before they interview that I have two dogs and two cats, more for allergies than anything. I've never had an issue... So sad that people react that way. I have one cat that hates everyone but me and she avoids the 1st floor at all costs when I'm working. If she ever makes an appearance I tell the kids she's mean so they won't touch her but I've also told the parents the same thing. I let them know she avoids the kids so there's never been an issue but that I tell the kids she's mean so they leave her alone (just in case they see her). The parents completely understand and we laugh about it. My dogs are like two more kids around here and everyone loves them. Most dads (and some moms) will call them over for a pet and cuddle when they pick their child up. I don't know what I would do if people started to suddenly dislike my animals... They are part of my family too.Comment
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We have a dog on runner out back NOT near the kids....birds of any kind are a NO-NO due to licensing...I have a beta fish in daycare so that covers my QRIS "live thing":: I know of home daycares that have hamsters, gerbals, rabbits, etc....QRIS requires we have a live plant or animal of some kind and it must be on children's level to take care of
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