Paws & Pacifiers

Just as parents-to-be prepare themselves for a new life with a baby, an animal companion living in the home should also be prepared for the baby’s arrival. This preparation includes proper health care, adjustments to routines and environments, and more.

An understanding of animal behavior and signs of stress/anxiety is essential to positive animal-baby interactions.

Parents-to-be can take specific measures and precautions to promote safe interactions between pets and baby.

Who is this class for?

This class is intended for parents-to-be who already have animal companions (dogs, cats) at home or have plans to bring animals into their home when their baby is older.

What to expect?

This 1.5-hour class will provide an overview on how to prepare pets for a new baby, animal behavior and dynamics, and how to promote safe interactions into the future. There will be time for discussion, Q/A, and sharing of additional resources.

What topics will be covered?

• Preparing pets for the arrival of a new baby
• Animal behavior and dynamics
• Safety measures and precautions for families with both animals and babies/young children
• A look into how to continue to safely raise children alongside animals

What will you leave with?

• Guidance on how to prepare your pet for the baby's arrival, including veterinary care, adjustments to routine and environment, and the promotion of safe interactions.
• An understanding of animal behavior and key signals of stress and anxiety in pets, including identifying positive and negative interactions.
• Tips for planning the initial introductions and promoting positive interactions.
• Helpful resources for ongoing support

About your Teacher

Kelly DeBaene is a small animal veterinarian with over 10 years of experience working in general practice and animal shelter settings in both the United States and the Netherlands. She earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Illinois and is board-certified with the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

Kelly is the sole veterinarian behind Mokum Mobile Vet, a house-call practice based in Amsterdam. Mokum Mobile Vet was born out of a desire to provide families and their animals with personalized, gentle veterinary care in the comfort and convenience of their homes. In addition to Mokum Mobile Vet, Kelly is also a part-time vet at Dierendokters Amsterdam, a public health consultant, and a writer. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the world near and far, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband, 3-year-old daughter, and their bonkers new kitten, Ruby.