Moms Council: Children and Family Pets

Hello and welcome to this week's Fredericksburg Patch Moms Council, an online forum of ordinary mothers just trying their best to raise their children. The Moms Council will take your questions, share advice and offer solutions every Wednesday at 1 p.m. This week's topic is long-time family pet and new baby; what to do when the introduction doesn't go as planned?

I, like many young couples, got a four-legged friend after we married. For five years, our cat was our one and only "fur baby". Then our son came along and our priorities shifted. Our cat, still very important, remains just our family pet. Fortunately for us, our cat accepted this new little person in her life. But what happens when your fur baby doesn't react well with your children or vice versa?

No one wants to think of "what if" your baby is allergic to your beloved family pet or if your child is just too rough for your four-legged family member. I've actually had a friend who had to find a new home for her cats because her son kept football tackling them. Not only was she concerned for the safety of her son but also for her cats. Share with me, if you've had to remove your pet from your home, where did you find a new home for it? I'm happy to say, her story had a happy ending and her cats found a quiet home with an older woman.

Ridding your home completely of your long-time family pet isn't always necessary. You could always reassign your four-legged friend to stay in a certain part of your home. What do you do to keep your little one out of the kitty litter or the dog from eating the baby's toys?

Not all family pets and children are meant to live together. Some pets are better suited to live in a quiet environment sans screaming children. A child could be allergic or unable to understand not to pull the cat's tail or ride the dog like a pony. Whatever the reason, how do you explain to your children why you are unable to keep your beloved pet?

Join the discussion -- we want to hear from you! Share with me, at what age is it appropriate to bring a new pet into the home? Are your children old enough to ask for a pet? Do family pets encourage responsibility in children or just add to the chaos? For more information about the format and an introduction to our Mom's Council, read our intro post .