[azamboni]

Hello everyone!

I have been primarily a "lurker" to this point, but we are making so much progress, and getting excited to share and to get to know all of you! We are busily gathering the paperwork for our dossier, and are getting close to being done. Our first and second HS visits were last Tues. and Thurs., and our third will be tomorrow! We are so blessed to have a wonderful, sweet, and FAST social worker!

I was curious -- our agency recommended that we not include our dog in our family picture, because of differing opinions about dogs as pets in Guatemala. I'm wondering if we should expect to see our dog mentioned when our SW brings the draft of our HS -- didn't know what others had experienced...

Looking forward to getting to know all of you as we share this exciting journey!

Karon

[bjmom]

Our cat was mentioned briefly in our home study. However, our agency told us not to include pets in any of the pictures b/c Guatemalans don't usually have pets inside their homes.

[foxl]

Ours were not included, but other people depending on state have said they were required to produce evidence of current vaccinations.

[lazycactus]

Our four horses, two dogs and one cat were all described in the HS as "good with children".

[Bexter]

I had to provide proof of vaccination for my homestudy, but the pets were not mentioned in the report.

Also be careful when you take pictures for your dossier. No pets in the pictures, and make sure all dog beds, bowls, etc. are put away.

Some foster families do have pets, but they don't want us to know either! During my pickup trip, a rep from the attorney's office let it slip that Eric's foster family had a dog in the house. I told him I was fine with that - I was glad that Eric was used to having a dog around. He seemed a little shocked and changed the subject right away.

[Smylinatya]

There was no mention of our pets in our homestudy. We included a picture of our pets in our paperwork for Guatemala though. Our agency told us not to have pets in all of our pictures but 1 picture wouldn't hurt. She must have known we are the kind of people that take a picture of ourselves with our dogs at every event...hehehe.

Our animals are a part of our lives and our son is another person who will love them. They love him to. My shepherd guards him like he is his own. At bath time he stands over my shoulder watching him and then when I take him out he starts licking him. Its very sweet. (See, I'll take any opportunity to talk about my pets :-)

Good luck on your journey :-)

Jenn

[shelbydog]

Our HS did mention that our current family was "completed by 2 friendly dogs". That was it. One of my dogs is even a Therapy Dog (visits in hospitals, nursing homes, children's rehab/hospitals, etc) and I volunteer alot with her, but it was not mentioned. We were also advised not to have our dogs in our photos for our dossier. Dogs are not revered there the way they are here. Good luck

[Yelena]

I have no idea whether or not our pets are mentioned in the homestudy report. I know that Snickers, our shihtzu, sat next to our SW during a good part of one of the interviews, but if she included the dog or our 2 cats in the report, I don't know yet.

Our agency said do NOT show pets in the photos. And Bexter, thanks for the mention about bowls, pet beds, etc. -- I hadn't thought of that!

[tookie12]

We were told to absolutely include our dogs in the pictures. We also had a note from the vet stating that they were current on their vaccinations and of good temperment.

It never ceases to amaze me what different agencies ask for!

[beachdreams]

We had to include a photo of our pets and then submit proof of updated vacs to our social worker. I did ensure that the photos did not show our pets on furniture. I admit to allowing my pets to sit on the couch but I also know some people do not like that so I took one of the sitting in the kitchen next to each other.