Exclusive: Mother explains how her feelings towards dogs have changed after having children

Madison Barbosa, a popular TikTok creator, recently faced backlash from viewers after opening up about the struggles she faces in balancing raising toddlers with caring for her three dogs. In a three-minute video posted last month, Barbosa candidly shared her feelings about the challenges of juggling parenting and pet ownership. She explained that she and her husband had adopted their two Australian shepherds and one 100-pound Alapaha blue blood bulldog before they had children, and now, with a 1-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, she finds the responsibility of caring for both her kids and her pets to be overwhelming.

In her original video, Barbosa expressed her frustrations, stating that pet ownership has become „so overstimulating“ now that she is a mother. She admitted to feeling exhausted by the demands of looking after her dogs while also tending to her young children. Despite her love for her pets, Barbosa confessed that she sometimes dreams about not having dogs in her house anymore, emphasizing that her dogs were her everything before she became a mom.

The video quickly garnered attention, with over 660,000 viewers tuning in to hear Barbosa’s honest reflections on the challenges she faces. However, not all viewers were supportive of her sentiments. Some critical viewers went as far as threatening Barbosa and accusing her of wishing harm upon her dogs. This negative backlash prompted Barbosa to disable comments on the original video and address the issue in a follow-up TikTok post.

In her response to the criticism, Barbosa stood by her original video, asserting that she found humor in her rant about her dogs and that she would not delete the content. She expressed her concern over the disturbing comments she received, including threats towards her children, and emphasized that she prioritizes her kids over her pets. Barbosa clarified that while she loves her dogs and takes good care of them, she recognizes that her daily responsibilities would be lighter without the added task of caring for pets.

Despite the backlash, Barbosa reiterated her love for her animals and emphasized that she does not condone animal abuse or violence. She explained that recognizing the challenges of pet ownership does not equate to wishing harm upon her pets, but rather acknowledges the reality of the situation. Barbosa emphasized the importance of prioritizing her children over her pets and urged critics to rewatch her original video to understand her perspective.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Barbosa reiterated her commitment to caring for her children and her pets, emphasizing that while her children are her world, her pets are also a cherished part of her family. She acknowledged the hard work that comes with pet ownership but made it clear that her children will always come first in her priorities.

Overall, Madison Barbosa’s experience sheds light on the complexities of balancing parenthood with pet ownership and the challenges that can arise in managing both responsibilities. Her candid reflections sparked a conversation about the hierarchy of care in a household and the importance of recognizing the needs of both human and animal family members.