Rule 9: Be aware that exotic pets are out there.

This blog post is part of a series Rules for Early Intervention Home Visiting and you can read about them here.

A Field Guide to Furry Friends

Being an early intervention provider is like embarking on a daily safari – except instead of lions and tigers, you encounter a menagerie of…unexpected pets. On one visit, you might be greeted by a sugar glider, a tiny marsupial. The next, you could be face-to-face with a hedgehog, an animal who looks like an adorable pincushion.

I confess that while I’m comfortable with alpacas and pot-belly pigs (adorable!), the thought of a pet snake gives me the creeps. Thankfully, my snake encounters have been limited to admiring them safely behind glass.

Safety First

But with all these wonderful creatures comes the question of safety, both for ourselves and the families we visit. Hedgehogs, while undeniably cute, can carry the same germs as raw chicken.

“Hedgehogs are not recommended for households with children under 5 years of age or adults over 65. They can carry Salmonella bacteria in their droppings. Even if they seem healthy, the bacteria can infect their bodies, habitat, toys, and anything they come in contact with. This makes them a risk for those vulnerable populations.”

Taken from “Can I Have a Pet Hedgehog? by WebMD written on September 05, 2023.

And let’s not forget the barnyard crew – goats, cows, horses, and even the seemingly harmless chickens and geese. While they might be fascinating to this city girl, it’s important to remember they are still animals with their own instincts, and geese can be mean. Those are stories for another day.

The key, as always, is common sense. Washing hands before and after interacting with any animal, their food bowls, or their living areas is essential to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases transmissible from animals to humans.

“Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), monkeypox, and a host of diseases can find their way into people from animals. Truth is, almost any critter can infect us. So the huge growth in the popularity of exotic pets—snakes, lizards, monkeys, birds—is cause for concern.”

Taken from “Diseases from Your Pets, Both Common and Exotic,” from Stanford Children’s Health, March 10, 2023.

This Stanford Children’s website resource lists all the terrible and scary diseases people can catch from animals, but I won’t mention them all. Just know that good handwashing is in order.

Respectful Interactions Make Happy Homes

By being aware of these basic safety protocols and approaching each furry (or feathery or scaley!) friend with respect, we can make our early intervention visits enjoyable experiences for everyone involved.

Please share any unusual pets you have encountered on your home visits in the comments. I am eager to hear how many of you have also seen a sugar glider!