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From The Times
August 30, 2008

Kids, yes; dogs, no

A suitable carer for children, but not for a dog

Sir, I too, like Camilla Cavendish (Opinion, Aug 28), visited various animal welfare centres after the loss of my precious dog, in the hope of adopting one of theirs. But alas, as I work full-time, they were totally unconvinced that I was a responsible dog owner, never mind that I already had a suitable dog carer-in-waiting for the new responsibility.

In comparison, nine years previously, I had found marriage to my husband, a widower with two small boys aged 2 and 3 years old respectively, relatively easy. At no point did anyone question my suitability for motherhood.

Sonia Sa Bennett
Guildford, Surrey

This assumption transends to family law that the mother automatically is prime carer and therefore must do the best for children.Trouble is what if she is posing a risk to them emotionally or otherwise? there is no safeguards in place to prevent this.The social workers troop out we will learn again!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

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