a pet forum?

[anothermama]

It seems like there are enough fur parents here to maybe have a pet forum? I feel like a nerd sharing my geeky pet stories with EVERYONE because I know some people aren't pet people.

And, I've seen a reasonable ammount of pet questions that kind of get buried in TAO because they don't get as many views soon enough.

Maybe? Maybe not? Maybe it's been suggested and I"m just crazy???

[PuppyFluffer]

With 20+ years in the pet care field, I think I would have someting to contribute! I think it's a good idea!

[dharmama]

I would love it if we had a pet forum!! :D

~Erin
:love

[dharmama]

Bump.

(just curious)

:D

[Cynthia Mosher]

I'm sorry but we won't be offering a Pet forum. We are trying to restrict new forums to those topics that are Mothering advocacy focused. While we certainly don't say no to discussion of pets, and I think it can be discussed wherever it is appropriate for the particular topic, we won't be opening a devoted board for it.

Sorry to disappoint. :innocent

[Gemini]

Oh darn. Woulda been neat to have PuppyFluffer be the mod for that forum. :p

[dharmama]

Gotcha. Thanks.

[PuppyFluffer]

CM, I can see your point......sort of......

To many families, a pet is a full fledged member of the family and there are certainly natural ways to care for them like herbal means to deal with fleas (which would impact the children as they wouldn't be exposed to toxic pesticides if people knew alternatives). There are certainly gentle ways to train and shape behavior of our pets that are important for children to see because they model so much of what we do. I know my friends who have kids AND pets all have had some sort of concern/trouble integrating the two together.

I think many a child's first big responsibility is pet ownership or caretaking and that it presents a wonderful lesson to them on how to care for another living creature and is really a precursor to caring for other people.

I see so many parallels between pet care and child care that I do see it as a Mothering advocacy issue.

Maybe you were thinking of pet care in terms of what to feed the dog, how to potty train the dog.......etc.....and not how the dog plays into the family dynamic of caring and loving and teaching children how to respect others and have responsibilities.

[Cynthia Mosher]

No. I understand the depth of discussion regarding pets. I just think it can be had in our existing forums without the need for a separate devoted forum.

Natural-based care for them can go in Natural Home and Body or Health and Healing since pets are just as much a part of the home and family as the individual members and structure.

Discussions of pet ownership can go in the Childhood Years board, Parenting Issues or TAO. We do have subjects that inter and overlap through the boards. Where they are best hosted depends on the specific topic of discussion.

[PuppyFluffer]

:D No problem! You're the boss!:LOL

[Cynthia Mosher]

Woof woof!! :dog: