i think the only thing that makes me skeptical about the "i'm having a
kid, gotta lose the ferts" posts is that i feel like *maybe* the people
posting have come to a somewhat uninformed decision that now that they're
having a kid, they simply *can't* continue to care for their ferts.  they
really think they're doing what's best for the fuzzies by giving them up,
becaus they've seen so much that says "small kids and fuzzies don't mix"
out there.
 
in many cases, i'm sure they've actually determined the limitations of
their capabilities and really are doing what's best--but i think some
people are just assuming that they won't be able to give their fuzz the
necessary attention.  i commend everyone who's shared a story about having
children and demanding pets, without being accusatory.  maybe that's what
these people need to see to realize "hey, wait, maybe this *can* work for
us."
 
as for the people who are condemning folks for their "decision" to have a
baby three years into their furkid's life--take into account that many,
many pregnancies are at least moderately unwanted at first.  perhaps some
of these people didn't *decide* to have a child at all--but rather ended
up pregnant despite the best precautions, and decided to *keep* the human
child, knowing it was going to require some serious life changes that
they weren't planning for.
 
me, i don't intend to have kids. fuzzy mischief is enough--i don't need
mischief that's bipedal and has opposable thumbs! i know if i did end
up facing the decision of how to deal with an unexpected pregnancy, it
would not be an easy one. if such a thing is not already available,
perhaps some of you who have had children into a ferreted household
would be willing to write some sort of page addressing these issues?
i'd edit it for publishability... modern ferret could run it...
 
i think it would be a great resource.
 
-kat-
 
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 `'`','`/  . \/ /
       (  / \" /
        \(_  \(_   ferrets may nip, but people just suck.
[Posted in FML issue 3581]