Pets in Childcare Area

[taylorw1210]

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.

It's not horrible to block them into a bedroom - like you said, many are crated all day while their owners are working. However, I understand you not wanting to. I would not want to either.

I always disclose in my ads that I am a dog friendly household. If I am speaking with a referral, they usually know that since they are being referred by a current or past family - but I always make sure to inform them prior to them visiting. I do that to ensure they do not have any allergies.

I have had one family where the children were incredibly afraid of my dog. At the time I had only my boxer, who is the gentlest dog ever. Mom knew how scared of the dog her kids were, but she chose to enroll them because she didn't want them scared of dogs. We were able to work through that issue within 2 weeks.

I have only had one family decline an interview because of my dog, however. She responded to my ad which plainly stated that we are dog-friendly, and when I clarified with her while confirming her interview for later that day, she got mad and claimed I did not state that in my ad. I double checked the ad she responded to, and then copied it to her to show her that I did have that advertised, and she never responded after that and did not interview.

Everyone else has had no problems and enjoy greeting the dogs during drop offs/pick ups. My dogs (I just added another to the family this week) spend a reasonable amount of time in the same area with the daycare kids, but I also separate them to give them some "chill" time. My boxer prefers to be with the kids at all times - I joke that she is my assistant. I also make sure I explain to the families that my animals are current on all vaccinations, and that I have been training/competing with dogs for in obedience, agility, and confirmation for almost 2 decades - so they understand I'm very knowledgeable and am not your average dog owner.

[daycarediva]

What would be a good classroom pet? We have an ant farm and a worm farm. We had a fish (she died from overfeeding, or the crayon thrown in her tank, or both), but the kids weren't really into it.

I looked at turtles (they seem smelly, ecoli/salmonella is concern)

Hermit crabs are sooo neat, but I guess they pinch. HARD.

Rodents smell. We had a rabbit, but she was older when we adopted her and she died this summer.

[Meeko]

My Westie, Gus...gets kissed by every child every morning and kissed again at home time (when he often gets kisses from parents too). He hangs out on the back of the couch, right where folks sign in and out. He's a big snuggle bug all the time.

Pic is with my youngest daughter when she was home sick. He makes a good teddy bear. But not good with the trash can in my bedroom................

All parents know he is part of our family. He comes and goes as he pleases in all areas of our home. I love my daycare kids, but he means more to me and any or all daycare kids will go before he does.

[permanentvacation]

I never had a problem with having pets in the daycare before I moved to this area. I have created a lot of threads on this forum where I state that the things parents want or don't want are so different in this area then where I used to live. I never had a problem getting kids where I used to live. People loved my daycare and everything I did related to my daycare there. Here, I just can't figure out what parents want and don't want and don't understand why they are so different here than where I used to live.

[Unregistered]

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

Seriously?! Because here we can't let children have any access to a pet's food, water, or pottying area (that includes fish!)

[Unregistered]

AND plants are not allowed. They say that technically, we can have them, but they have to be at ceiling level.

[Cradle2crayons]

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

Why are birds a no no?? Here there are no issues with birds and birds are about the only animal allowed at local schools to visit due to cat and dog allergies.
actually a few weeks ago, I took one of my birds to all of the first grade classes and it was a hit. My phone is still ringing off the hook from teachers wanting to make appointments to meet "Glitter"

[Hazel]

Why are birds a no no?? Here there are no issues with birds and birds are about the only animal allowed at local schools to visit due to cat and dog allergies.
actually a few weeks ago, I took one of my birds to all of the first grade classes and it was a hit. My phone is still ringing off the hook from teachers wanting to make appointments to meet "Glitter"

Maybe they don't allow birds for allergy reasons as well? My daughter is allergic to birds too. Very allergic. We had parakeets once and when they would preen themselves and fluff/ ruffle their feathers a light dust would puff into the air. We had to mist them (per the vet) to keep that dust from passing into the air. We kept them until they passed but never got them again.maybe it was just the type of birds we had but the allergist said its a general bird "thing" and she was allergic to it. It's not nearly as bad as cat or dog dander tho.

[SignMeUp]

There's some disease that they can carry that can be transmitted to people. I'll see if I can find it.

It's chlamydia-psittaci.

[melilley]

We have a lab and he roams freely throughout the house.

I always tell prospective parents, during the first phone call, that I have a dog and he is around the children. I have never had anyone not come to my house because of it. In fact, two of my daycare parents said that they chose me because I have a dog. Ironically, neither of the two families have dogs, but they want their children to be around them.
One family wants to get a dog, you should have seen the smile on the dcd's face when he saw my dog at the interview! Dcg wasn't too fond of my dog when she started, but it's been two weeks in and she will go around him now.

I have to say that I wouldn't like the thought of having to put my dog away during hours, but, if it was turning clients away that I did have one, not just one client, but if it was many, and my livelihood was at stake, I would have to find a way to keep him away from the children. As much as I would hate to do that, it would have to be done.

[melilley]

My Westie, Gus...gets kissed by every child every morning and kissed again at home time (when he often gets kisses from parents too). He hangs out on the back of the couch, right where folks sign in and out. He's a big snuggle bug all the time.

Pic is with my youngest daughter when she was home sick. He makes a good teddy bear. But not good with the trash can in my bedroom................

All parents know he is part of our family. He comes and goes as he pleases in all areas of our home. I love my daycare kids, but he means more to me and any or all daycare kids will go before he does.

He is sooooo cute, I want one!!!! lovethis

[Cradle2crayons]

There's some disease that they can carry that can be transmitted to people. I'll see if I can find it.

Oh yeah, I am aware of the possibility and allergies and diseases etc...

But the risk and incidences of a bird transmitting a disease isn't as high as a cat or dog... I mean worms... Cat scratch fever... And not to mention allergy incidence.

I could more understand if cats and dogs were a licensing no no... But birds?? Ehhhhh

[ColorfulSunburst]

My cat is on the 2nd floor when children are here. All three dogs are in the basement. During nap time I let them be outside.

[jenboo]

My dogs don't interact with the daycare kids... For the safety of everyone. My dogs are in my bedroom with a dog door to the side yard.

[SignMeUp]

Oh yeah, I am aware of the possibility and allergies and diseases etc...

But the risk and incidences of a bird transmitting a disease isn't as high as a cat or dog... I mean worms... Cat scratch fever... And not to mention allergy incidence.

I could more understand if cats and dogs were a licensing no no... But birds?? Ehhhhh

And aquatic frogs??

Yeah. It's not like much makes sense anymore

Oops. My attitude is showing