Animals and Day Care Centres

Tanya Musgrave BScBTech, CPHI (C)

Generally, pets in childcare centres are not recommended because they can expose children and staff to possible infections, injuries or allergens. Families must be informed at time of enrolment if there is a pet present in the facility. Besides issues of cleanliness, risk of infection and allergies, there are basic safety factors to consider:

• Confine animals to pens or cages.
• Do not allow pets to run free in the facility.
• Constant supervision is required when a child can come into contact with an animal.
• Make staff responsible for cleaning cages and feeding animals.
• Dogs and cats must have immunization for rabies and must be visibly healthy.
• Teach children to be gentle around and with animals. They should not disturb an animal that is sleeping, eating or caring for its young.
• Animals that are never appropriate include reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards), amphibious or aquarium animals (frogs,toads,newts) and wild or exotic animals(parrots,monkeys,ferrets) as animals such as these often carry diseases which   can be transmitted to people.

Take precautions around animals in the playground, parks or petting zoos. Teach children to:

• not to touch or hand-feed wild animals (e.g., squirrels or chipmunks).
• keep away from any animal that looks sick, hurt, or scared.
• never try to stop an animal fight.
• not to approach an unknown dog or cat.

Animals at farms and petting zoos present the same risks as pets in day nurseries. There are added hazards because the animals are unknown to you and washroom facilities are not close by. Remember after touching and handling animals, their enclosures or toys, to properly and thoroughly wash hands. Remind children to wash their hands after touching pets or animals. Animals are known carriers of disease that can be passed to humans.