Baby and 7 dogs

[Mumof2beauties7]

Hi I’m looking for any advise on if there’s any guidelines as to a baby being around w large number of dogs, my daughter is 5 months old she has a court order where she goes to her dads for 2 hours a week, he has 7 adult dogs, 6 puppies and 4 rats. I feel very uncomfortable with it as I feel it’s a safeguarding issue but can’t find anything online backing this up. Thanks in advance.

I'm not aware on there being any type of limit on the number of animals that a baby can be around.

Is it just the number of dogs that concerns you; or do you have concerns about the dogs behaviour?

It’s more the fact that he couldn’t stop them if they attacked her, not that they’ve showed any aggression that I’m aware of but some being young are very boisterous and I don’t think dad has the common sense to keep them away from baby. And the rats carrying disease i was also worried about. Thank you I’m probably over reacting.

Pet rats do not carry disease.

Dogs love children - children + food = fallout = doggy treat.

To be honest if they're pet rats they are probably cleaner and healthier than your daughter - it's feral rats that are the issue. The conditions of the house and behaviour of the animals are more of a concern than the animals themselves. It may be that they don't even come into contact with your daughter.

Thank you, good to know domesticated rats are clean, I’m probably being over the top, thank you for your comment.

I had six dogs when DS was born, and a litter of puppies born a few days later. He's nearly seven and we now have 7 dogs (and usually a litter each year), fish, chickens, finches, a cat (soon to be 2), a turtle, 2 rabbits, and hermit crabs. We're getting a ferret soon, and when we move house will be adding cows, sheep and pigs. DS has never been hurt by any of the animals. Animals are not a problem, irresponsible owners are.

I agree with Midnite, the animals aren't the problem, irresponsible owners are. Is he a responsible owner? Are his dogs properly fed, exercised and trained? Are they fully supervised at all times when your daughter is with them?
I wouldn't worry about the rat, surely with so many dogs and puppies around they aren't free roaming and as PPs have said they are usually clean and disease free.
Are the puppies from a litter? Is he a breeder?

To be honest I’m not quite sure what he’s capable of anymore or how responsible, there was domestic abuse issues when I was pregnant Hense the seperation, but living in a small terrace house andtge dogs not used to children it worries me that he doesn’t have the common sense to keep the separated or to be there with them, she’s already come home with flea bites, I have a dog also do it’s not so much the fact she’s around pets but just the large number and his lack of common sense, she’s never left Alone with my dog and I take the relevant precautions to make sure she’s safe, he’s moved a 18 year partner in who’s he’s kniwn 2 weeks and there’s been ambulances called where she’s been self harming and gone a bit too far, I’ve just got a massive gut feeling something isn’t right. My daughter is settled at Crèche and anywhere else but she’s so distressed when she’s there and even when she comes home she’s realky clingy and I can’t put her down for a couple of hours, i can’t pin point what exactly is wrong but with a better insight to the dogs and rats maybe I’ll have something to go off, thank you again.