Expressing concern about global birthrates, Francis said such couples were acting in a selfish way that diminished humanity.
ROME — Pope Francis has not been reluctant to offer his views on polarizing subjects, but on Wednesday, he waded into an issue involving two subjects on which consensus is almost impossible to find.
Pets and kids.
Speaking on parenthood during a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Francis bemoaned the global decline in birthrates — what he described as a “demographic winter” — and was bluntly critical of couples who prefer to have pets rather than children.
People who have pets instead of children, the pope said, were being selfish, exhibiting a “denial of fatherhood or motherhood” that “diminishes us, it takes away our humanity.”
What's cuter than babies and pets? Babies and pets together! Take a look at these adorable babies and their cute pets sleeping. WARNING: Extreme cuteness below!
I came across this story in a Facebook post this morning, and the woman that wrote it is asking people to share it, so that’s why it’s being duplicated here. This woman is to be commended for being so courageous and open with her experience. She says: I do not have a blog. If I did I would post this there, as this will be lengthy. I keep things here on Facebook pretty light and post about my crazy, funny family life. I am posting this for 2 reasons. First, I see more and more pictures of babies with their pups. I am absolutely not saying there is anything wrong with that… I do it, too. Second, I am noticing my son being more and more aggressive with Daphne, our amazing white lab. Putting together these pictures and writing this post brings up so many emotions that I really never wanted to feel again. I have realized, that when faced with it, the pain never goes away, ever. I can put myself in that hospital again in my mind like it was happening now. It’s a horrible, heart wrenching feeling. Our gorgeous Scrappy suffered constantly from ear infections. This we knew. We have a pool and there was no way to keep him out, he loves to swim. Oftentimes I would come home and he would be alone just doing laps… So funny!! He was on meds for his ear infections but I became lazy on taking him to the vet which seemed like constantly. I started splitting his pills in half so they would last longer. Why? To save a buck? Shame, shame, shame on me!! I assumed he learned to live with the pain… I mean, why keep swimming? He was a smart dog! THIS WAS/IS THE SWEETEST DOG ON THE PLANET!! Hey, I consider myself pretty sweet too but I snap on occasion. I was not home when this happened, I was on a shoot. I got a call from Tom saying he was on his way to the hospital, he told me what happened. I could not understand? I got in my car and drove. I don’t think I said a word to Britt, who was with me. My mind was numb. When we got to the hospital Brittany was ahead of me when walking into the room. She tried to stop me from entering. I have never felt that kind of pain in my heart, never. It is a different kind of pain when it is your child. The pain was crippling, hurt me to the core. When they stitched up Zach I had to leave the room because they had 2 nurses holding him down and the doctor straddled over him. I seriously thought I was going to faint. Daddy was with him, Zach was not alone. Zach was playing with Scrappy… Sitting on him and reached forward and grabbed both of his ears, hard. Scrappy snapped. In about 5 seconds he ripped my son’s face to shreds. It was knee jerk. Kind of like when someone steps on your broken foot, you lash out. Dogs can’t yell, they can’t curse you out or say ‘OUCH!!’ It was a knee jerk reaction from the sweetest Golden Retriever that would actually die for Zach. It just happened. When we came home from the hospital I went to the backyard and looked at him and just cried… He cried, too. He felt awful, I know he did. Because the hospital considered this a mauling, it was reported and he was to be put down. Within 24 hours animal control was at our door for quarantine. He did his 14 days. In the meantime my mom, who happened to own property in Texas at the time (but lives here), made a massive plea and campaign to keep him alive and she would take him to Texas (he is with her still). This was granted. I can’t tell you enough how this was such a blow to our family because Scrappy was family, he was not just our ‘family dog.’ I am sharing these pictures after all of these years because if your animal is trying to tell you something, please listen. If your dog swims regularly there is a good chance they will have ear infections. Be proactive, listen to their eyes… They really want to tell you. I LOVE my pets so much and I have learned so much by this experience. I ask, no I beg, that you share this because I wish I would have paid closer attention. Please, take your pets to the vet, the clinic. Anywhere where they can get the help they need because they do love you so much.
True story: I was working the other day and decided to light one of my beloved Bath and Body Works holiday candles that I’d just scored during their huge seasonal sale. For the first few minutes, I reveled in the awesome, spiced-apple scent while working on the day’s assignments. But after a few minutes, I started coughing uncontrollably and I felt so lightheaded. As I tried to think of what could be causing it, my eyes wandered to the candle and it hit me — this thing was making me sick. I put the candle out and after about 20 minutes, I felt totally fine. That’s when I knew I had to start researching side-effects of using scented candles. If you’re anything like my candle-loving self, you’re about to be so disappointed in what I found. While your favorite candles may smell good to you, their chemical makeup could be making you sick. According to MCS-America, most fragranced products contain anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 different chemicals. Even more alarming is the idea that despite the U.S. National Academy of Science have declared that fragrances should undergo neurotoxicity testing, most of the products on the market have not undergone testing to make sure that they’re safe for humans. To read more on this story, click here:Popular Christmas Decoration Has Babies And Pets Being Rushed To The Hospital
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I wasn't sure if we should laugh or just feel bad for these kids, but this video is definitely worth watching. The staff at Pennsylvania’s Center in the Woods preschool thought they would surprise their toddlers with a visit from Mr. McFeely, the delivery man character from the PBS Kids show “Mr. Rogers’.” The youngsters eagerly listened to Mr. McFeely as he sat in front of the classroom and introduced another special guest, Purple Panda, one of the costumed characters also on the PBS show. Mr. McFeely stood up to welcome his friend, and as he entered the classroom, Mr. McFeely held Purple Panda’s hand. The kids however, were not so welcoming. Chaos immediately ensued. Screaming and crying children scattered to a far corner of a classroom, seemingly petrified by the sight of the Purple Panda, which was actually a person wearing a panda suit. Confused, Mr. McFeely just told the kids to “stand right here” and as he waved at them. He then tried to calm them down by admitting that it’s not actually Purple Panda but “somebody pretending” to be the panda. His words did not soothe the children. The Youtube clip has received over 770,000 hits and thousands of ‘Likes’ since it was first uploaded on April 9. I must admit, as an adult...I would probably take off running if I saw someone dressed like that! I think the purple panda should have immediately left the room when he saw that the children were upset. A little more thought should have been put in the designing of the costume. I understand that the characters have a whimsical look...however kids love Barney, the purple dinosaur. Take a look at how receptive the kids are in the pictures below. I only hope that these kids are not scarred for life, and become afraid of animals.
The scenario is far too common. The happy, expecting couple
stroll into the clinic with their four-legged child for her Annual Wellness
Exam. The first born of the family is healthy and has a great check-up so I
turn my attention to the parents who are expecting their first two-legged
child. “Have you starting thinking about how you will introduce your new baby?”
All of the sudden, the happy couple becomes the bewildered couple and stares at
me with the “deer in the headlights” look. I know it’s time to have “the talk”.
Bringing home baby to a pet who has ‘ruled the roost’ for years can be done. We
have a few guidelines for you.Many soon-to-be parents don’t realize that
without proper precautions and planning, their new bundle of joy will be their
pet’s worst nightmare and is even at risk to be harmed by their pet.
It is important that every pet owner who is expecting a
child follow a few easy steps to ensure the new addition to the family is a
happy addition.
1) Allow your pet to becomes used to “baby stuff” before
the big day comes. While babies themselves are terrifying enough for pets, all
their stuff can be even worse. Strollers, cribs, toys, high chairs, and car
seats are all brand new items for your pet to adjust to. Stock the nursery
early and allow your pets time to get used to all the new stuff before their is
a screaming child who is taking all your time and energy sitting in them. Even
going on walks with the empty stroller or having bonding time in the baby-less
nursery can put your pets at ease. If your pet is anxious or scared around new
noises, play recordings of baby noises in the months leading up to the
delivery. Start at low levels that your pet doesn’t react to and slowly work up
to “real life” levels. Do positive things with your pets such as eating, giving
treats, brushing, and playing during these noise desensitization sessions to
allow your pet to become comfortable with the change.
2)Teach a calm, controlled behavior. Many dogs get excited
around new people and like to jump up on them to greet them. Teach your dog to
“sit” or “lay” and make them do it before they receive anything (food, treats,
toys, affection, etc.). Think of it as teaching your dog to say “please” before they get something they
want. Pets with good manners are less likely to injure children or be scolded
by adults who are holding children. Remember, we want having a baby to be a
happy experience for the pets and constantly getting scolded because the baby
is around will lead to further fear and anxiety for your pet.
Last year, 5,767 postal carriers were bitten by dogs, up
from 5,581 in 2013, and the most attacks happened in warm and sunny Los
Angeles, Houston and San Diego, said Linda DeCarlo, manager of safety for the
U.S. Postal Service. None of the bites caused deaths.
The cities' weather draws pets and people outside and doors
and windows get left open, DeCarlo said. The slight rise in bites also stems
from the popularity of online shopping because postal workers must bring
packages to front doors instead of street-side mailboxes, DeCarlo said.
But the biggest victims are children and senior citizens,
who can be overpowered by dogs. Of the 4.5 million people bitten every year,
more than half are kids, said Dr. Jose Arce, an American Veterinary Medical
Association board member.
Bites kill about 16 people a year. Besides the
postal-worker totals, specific numbers on dog bites are lacking because few
people seek treatment. And no one tracks bites by breed.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week starts Sunday, and this
year's programs launched Thursday. Because children are the most vulnerable and
easily injured, the American Veterinary Medical Association will focus on
teaching kids how to deal with dogs.
What NOT To Do
Stare into a dog's eyes.
Tease a dog.
Approach one that's chained up or injured.
Touch a dog you don't know that's off a leash.
Run or scream if one charges.
Play with a dog while it's eating.
Touch one while it's sleeping.
Get close to one that's nursing puppies.
Leave a small child alone with a dog, even if it's the
family pet.
What TO Do
Ask an owner before petting a dog you don't know.
Let the dog sniff your closed fist before touching it.
Freeze if a dog runs toward you.
Socialize puppies so they are comfortable around people and
other animals.
Use a leash in public.
How Parents Can Help
When the mail arrives, place your pet in a closed room so
it can't go through a window or screen door to possibly attack the carrier.
Tell children not to take mail from the carrier in front of the dog because the
animal could see it as threatening.
Also, teach children to treat dogs with respect and avoid
rough or aggressive play.
What Kids Can Watch
The veterinary group made YouTube videos describing
miscommunication between dogs and kids. A new short will be released each day
through the week. One gap is that most pooches don't like to be hugged. That
helps explain why two-thirds of young victims get bites on the head or neck,
according to the American Humane Association.
Where Bites Happened
Last year, 74 postal-carrier bites were reported in Los
Angeles, followed by Houston with 62 and San Diego with 47, DeCarlo said.
The LA tally rose from 61 bites in 2013, when Houston was
No. 1 with 63. San Diego moved up a notch from two years ago, when 53 postal
workers were bitten.
The Postal Service didn't break down the severity of
injuries, but 1,540 bites kept employees from work for at least a day after the
attack, DeCarlo said.
Insurance Payouts
Bites and other dog-related injuries cost insurers $530
million last year, about a third of their paid claims, the Insurance
Information Institute said.
The number of dog-bite claims decreased 4.7 percent from
2013, but the average cost per claim rose by 15 percent because of higher
medical costs and settlements. The average claim in 2014 was $32,072, up from
$27,862.
Sapphyre Johnson was born a healthy child in Greenville, South Carolina, except for missing some essential features, her feet, fingers and toes. Since she was 3-months-old, Sapphyre, now 3, has been a patient at Shriner's Hospital for Children, where her mother, Ashley Johnson, said she's had multiple surgeries to be fitted for prosthetic feet. But for her last visit, Johnson told ABC News, Sapphyre got to leave the hospital with much more than new prosthetics. "It was two weeks ago when were told that an owner had contacted the hospital about a puppy who was missing one front paw," said Johnson. "She wanted him to grow up with a child who had similar circumstances." After showing Sapphyre a photo of the puppy, Johnson said her toddler fell in love. "Sapphyre immediately noticed that he was missing a paw," she said. "She said, 'He has a foot like mine.'" The dog's breeder, Karen Riddle, said that the 9-week-old White German Shepherd was born in a litter of nine puppies and was the only one missing a paw. For that very reason, Riddle said she decided to name him Lt. Dan, after the character from the popular film "Forrest Gump" who lost both his legs. "The movie is a heartwarming, loving story, so I said, 'You're just like Lt. Dan. It just suited his personality." Because of Lt. Dan's calm demeanor, Riddle coordinated with Shriner's to hand him off to Sapphyre as a therapy dog. Sapphyre and Lt. Dan went home together Monday. "It was awesome yesterday," Riddle said. "We said, 'Sapphyre show him your feet' and, oh boy, she threw off her prosthetics and her socks and said, 'Look!' Then Lt. Dan put his paw up at the exact same time." Although they've only been pals for 24 hours, Johnson said Sapphyre and Lt. Dan make the perfect pair. "He follows her every step she takes, everywhere she goes," said Johnson. "It's like they’ve known each other forever. "We always want Sapphyre to know that being different is not bad," she added. "People, even pets, no one is exactly the same. That would be boring. I think it’s good for her to see that."
Alberta, Canada - It can be hard to say goodbye to your best friend – especially when you have to flush him down the toilet.
In a scene that is probably familiar to those of us who owned pet fish when we were young, a little Alberta boy’s heartbreaking goodbye to his goldfish has become a viral video hit.
Spirit River, Alberta’s Brooke Geherman originally posted the video to her Facebook and YouTube channels this past March showing her young son, Kowen, saying goodbye to his dearly departed goldfish.
Kowen bids goodbye to the fish in question, named “Top”, with a few kisses before committing his body to the water.
But it’s his reaction once the fish has been flushed that’s truly heartbreaking, as the tearful boy shares a hug with his mom.
Children are naturally drawn to animals. In order to help make "man's best friend" your child's best friend, it is important to take into account the guidelines for the safety of your child around animals. Having a pet can be a very positive and rewarding experience for a child. Children learn responsibility and compassion through caring for a pet, and gain a wonderful companion as well. As a parent, you must be the one to decide the appropriate time to introduce a pet to the family based on your child's age, behavior, maturity, and interest. In making such a decision you will need to determine how much of the animal's care you expect the child to be responsible for and/or how much you intend to be responsible for. Recognizing your pets moods. The most important lesson to teach your children is to always treat animals gently and with kindness. Animals that are in pain, are afraid, or feel threatened are most likely to bite or scratch to protect themselves. Animals, like humans, have times they just want to be left alone. Help your child learn how to recognize your pets mood, and to give him/her some space when they would rather be left alone. To ensure animal safety for kids teach your child never to pull an animal's ear, tail, or feet when playing and to not wrestle roughly with animals. Children should never restrain animals against their will. Your pet is a family member! Family pets adjust to children best when they are treated as part of the family. Dogs should never be left outdoors chained up - dogs that are permanently chained up are more aggressive and more likely to bite. Spay or neuter your pets; pets that have been spayed or neutered are less likely to bite than pets that have not been "fixed." Consider enrolling your dog in basic obedience classes - even a well-behaved dog can benefit from such instruction and it is a great bonding experience between pet and owner. Keep your pet's immunizations, preventative meds (heartworm), flea and tick treatment and check-ups current. It's to the benefit of animal safety for kids to guard against disease. Use a microchip and/or tag with up to date contact information so if your pet is ever lost, the odds of being found and returned home safely are greatly increased. Animal safety tips for kids
Avoid the face and head area when petting dogs and cats. Stroke along the neck, back, and sides. Cats, unlike dogs, may bite or scratch when rubbed on the belly.
Leave animals alone when eating, sleeping, chewing on a toy, or caring for its babies.
Pay attention to warning signs - an animal that is growling or hissing wants to be left alone!
Explain to your child that animals may be startled by loud, high-pitched screams or noises and sudden movements.
Never approach an animal you do not know. Animals in vehicles and yards may behave aggressive and territorial and are likely to bite. Always ask permission from an animal's owner before approaching a friend, neighbor, or acquaintance's animal - even if you have played with the animal in the past.
Never approach an animal that appears injured or sick.
Never approach stray animals.
Teach your child not to run when approached by a strange dog. Running may provoke the dog to chase and attack. Teach your child to act like a "tree" by standing still and staring straight ahead until the dog leaves or acting like a "rock" if sitting or knocked to the ground by curling up in a ball keeping his/her hands over his/her ears. If a dog attacks teach your child to throw something like a backpack or coat for the dog to bite.
If your child is responsible for cleaning animal cages, litter boxes, or cleaning up the yard after a dog have him/her wear rubber gloves and always wash his/her hands when done.
Keep food dishes and litter boxes out of reach of babies and toddlers.
Introducing your new baby to pets. On the other hand, if in your particular situation you already have a dog or cat and are planning to introduce your new baby to the household, the following are some helpful tips to ensure animal safety for kids as well as a smooth transition period.
Even before the baby arrives it is a good idea to let your pet smell blankets or clothing with baby powder or oil on them so that the pet becomes accustomed to the new smells. Likewise it is a good idea to play recordings of a baby crying several times and to run baby equipment, such as the swing, so that that pet becomes accustomed to the new sounds that the baby will bring to the home.
It is a good idea to put a baby gate in the doorway to the baby's room to keep dogs out of the room, rather than closing the door. That way the dog can still keep family members in sight and will not feel as isolated.
Never force interaction between your pet and the baby which could lead to anxiety or injury - you want your pet to view the interaction positively.
Introduce the new baby slowly to dogs or cats.
Consider taking your dog to obedience classes
Do not allow pets to sleep with the baby
Cats don't usually display jealousy towards a new baby, but may be attracted to the warmth of the baby's bed or bassinette.
Life can be hectic with a newborn, but don't forget your pet. They will still need your time and attention to.
Your childs health and pets Children under the age of five are more likely to contract diseases from animals than most other people. This is largely due to that fact that young children are less likely to wash hands well and are more likely to put their hands or other potentially dirty objects in their mouths. Children under the age of five should never be unsupervised when interacting with animals, their hands should be washed after contact with animals, and they should not be allowed to kiss pets. Due to the increased risk of disease from certain animals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically recommend that infants and children under the age of five should avoid contact with the following animals: reptiles, amphibians, baby chicks, ducklings, and petting zoo animals.
Could today's children experience "sibling rivalry" -- with the family dog?
As an increasing number of Americans consider their pets to be like children -- and themselves to be "pet parents" -- the concept of sibling rivalry is taking on a whole new dimension.
According to a 2011 survey by Harris Interactive, over 9 in 10 pet owners (91 percent) say they consider their pet to be a member of their families. It turns out the tendency to perceive pets as family members may even have a biological basis -- a recent study by the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital found mothers' brains showed similar responses to their babies and their dogs.
Five-year-old Iris Grace Halmshaw of Market Harborough, Leicestershire was diagnosed with autism in December 2011. Since that time, her parents, Arabella Carter-Johnson and Peter-Jon Halmshaw, have been navigating the process of helping their daughter flourish and live her life to the fullest. One of the more remarkable discoveries in this journey has been the blossoming friendship between Iris and her cat, Thula.
Please check-out my new e-book "Oodles & Noodles" on Amazon:
Oodles & Noodles is a heartwarming story about a cat, named Oodles and a dog, named Noodles, who were both lost, but quickly became friends. Follow them as they overcome obstacles living in the street as homeless animals and finally return home to their families. Oodles & Noodles will make you laugh and cry happy tears!
This story is great for all ages from children to adults. If you love animals...you will love Oodles & Noodles!
Click on the link to be taken to Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Oodles-Noodles-ebook/dp/B00E3LZTQM/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&qid=1374682760&sr=8-34&keywords=oodles+%26+Noodles
I wasn't sure if we should laugh or just feel bad for these kids, but this video is definitely worth watching.
The staff at Pennsylvania’s Center in the Woods preschool thought they would surprise their toddlers with a visit from Mr. McFeely, the delivery man character from the PBS Kids show
“Mr. Rogers’.”
The youngsters eagerly listened to Mr. McFeely as he sat in front of the classroom and introduced another special guest, Purple Panda, one of the costumed characters also on the PBS show.
Mr. McFeely stood up to welcome his friend, and as he entered the classroom, Mr. McFeely held Purple Panda’s hand. The kids however, were not so welcoming.
Chaos immediately ensued. Screaming and crying children scattered to a far corner of a classroom, seemingly petrified by the sight of the Purple Panda, which was actually a person wearing a panda suit.
Confused, Mr. McFeely just told the kids to “stand right here” and as he waved at them. He then tried to calm them down by admitting that it’s not actually Purple Panda but “somebody pretending” to be the panda. His words did not soothe the children.
The Youtube clip has received over 770,000 hits and thousands of ‘Likes’ since it was first uploaded on April 9.
I must admit, as an adult...I would probably take off running if I saw someone dressed like that!
I think the purple panda should have immediately left the room when he saw that the children were upset. A little more thought should have been put in the designing of the costume. I understand that the characters have a whimsical look...however kids love Barney, the purple dinosaur.
Take a look at how receptive the kids are in the pictures below. I only hope that these kids are not scarred for life, and become afraid of animals.
