Hi Lactnet!

My personal story for Gail and Jane is about how human breastmilk is for
human babies.  Anyone who wants to use this story is welcome to do so.

My sister acquired a new puppy when my son was about 10 weeks old.  I
was still having to pump sometimes, as he was premie and would sometimes
not really finish a feeding.  Since I had no good way to store the milk
I'd pumped on this particular day, I was going to just dump it out, but
then asked my sister if she'd mind if I gave it to her newly weaned
puppy, who was busily sniffing and trying to get at the milk.  She does
not allow her dogs to have "people" food. She pondered for a minute, and
asked if I was sure the non-species milk would not be bad for the puppy
(after all, I'm not a bitch! ;) ).  I allowed as how I was not
absolutely sure, but I did think that the 2 ounces I had just pumped
would maybe not hurt her too terribly, but I would certainly not give it
to the puppy if she didn't want me to.  My dog was also begging for it.
She decided the puppy could have it, much to Bronwyn's joy (the puppy).

For two days, Bronwyn refused to eat puppy food.  My sister tried
putting (cow) milk on her food, and even milked her mare (using MY
breastpump!!) and used mare milk to entice Bronny to eat.  No go.  Sis
called me and asked me if I'd mind donating some more milk to the cause,
and used a dropper to allow a TINY bit of my milk drip on Bronwyn's
tongue and then her food, to get her to eat.  Fortunately, it worked,
and Bronwyn never had more than 3 ounces of non-species milk in her
diet. :)  To this day, Bronwyn and Evan are best of friends.
Milk-siblings?? :)

So, the moral of the story is, DON'T let your animals have people food!!

Linda Zeiner, RN
mailto:[log in to unmask]
Mom to Evan, 10.29.94
Plano, TX, 20 miles north of Dallas

          "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord:
      the fruit of the womb is a reward." - Psalm 127:3