My Toddler Won't Leave Our Pet Alone!

Keeping Children and Pets Safe

By Keath Castelloe Low

For many families their first "baby" is the furry kind, usually a dog or cat. Then along comes another baby, the human kind. Sometimes these two babies are able to coexist and interact without problem. Other times this does not occur. What does a family do when their little one is so fascinated by the family dog or cat that they just will not leave the pet alone? What does a family do when safety for either the child or pet becomes an issue?

Sachia Logan, mother of three from Independence, Mo., says that her 2-year-old son adores their pet beagle, Jacia. When Logan hears her son say that familiar statement, "I hug Jacia," she knows what is coming. "This involves lying on top of Jacia with both arms around her," she says. "She does not much enjoy this at all! Jacia is a very sweet dog and has resorted to just barking until he jumps and then she runs out of the room and under a bed." Luckily, no real injuries have occurred.

Sometimes the family pet is a hamster. Jacia is not the only fascination in the Logan home. Their dwarf pet hamster, Oscar, also receives a lot of attention. Unfortunately, after bringing Oscar home, Logan learned that hamsters can be very testy until they have been handled and are used to human contact. Oscar has been home two weeks and her son wants to play with him constantly. "He wants to hold him, let him out of his cage, feed him Cheerios, etc.," Logan says. "Now, I am sure part of this is newness, but ... this is the longest week of my life!" So far her son has only been bitten once, but this has not been enough to discourage his fascination with Oscar.

Roxanne Frue from Asheville, N.C., says that safety became such an issue for their only son, Will, that she and her husband, Michael, had to make a very tough decision in order to protect their family. "Will was fascinated by our dog, Raymond, from the start," Frue says. "He thought Raymond was the best dog in the world. Will always wanted to hug him and love him, but that wasn't really Raymond's style."

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