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How Do I Adopt a Pet
The Friends of the Animal are extremely pleased that you have decide to
look into adopting one of your animals. To adopt a pet from the Redwood Area Animal
Shelter all you need to do is give Ken or Christine Harmon
an email at
ken@friendsoftheanimalshelter.com and arrange for either of them to meet you there.
The Redwood Area Animal Shelter does charge a small fee for each dog and
cat adopted. The money paid for the pet is used to pay for food, cleaning supplies, and
some shots.
Congratulations!
So you've taken the plunge and adopted a pet of your own. Congratulations! But what do you
do now? No doubt you're excited and looking forward to forging a lifelong friendship with
your new buddy. But try to keep in mind the confusion he is feeling right now. Whatever
his past history, coming home with you is a new experience. He is likely to be a little
disoriented, wondering where he is and who all these new people are.
The key to helping your new pet make a successful adjustment to your home is being prepared
and being patient. It can take anywhere from two days to two months for you and
your pet to adjust to each other.
Supplies
Prepare the things your pet will need in advance. You'll need a collar and leash ( dog),
food and water bowls, food, and, of course, some toys. And don't forget to order an
identification tag right away.
Welcome Home
Try to arrange the arrival of your new pet for a weekend or when you can be home for a few
days. Get to know each other and spend some quality time together. Don't forget the
jealousy factor—make sure you don't neglect other pets and people in your household!
Health Care
Take your new dog to the veterinarian within a week after adoption,with
every pet adopted the Redwood Veterinarian provides free of charge
- Free wellness examinations for each animal
- Free new pet start up kit, which contains free merchandise and coupons.
House Rules (Dog)
Work out your dog-care regimen in advance among the human members of your household. Who
will walk the dog first thing in the morning? Who will feed him at night? Will Fido be
allowed on the couch, or won't he? Where will he rest at night? Are there any rooms in the
house that are off-limits?
Training and Discipline (Dog)
Dogs need order. Remember, they are pack animals, so make yourself the "pack
leader." Let your pet know from the start who is the boss. When you catch him doing
something he shouldn't, don't lose your cool. Stay calm, and let him know immediately, in
a loud and disapproving voice, that he has misbehaved. Reward him with praise when he does
well, too! Sign up for a local dog obedience class, and you'll learn what a joy it is to
have a well-trained dog.
Housetraining (Dog)
Assume your new dog is not housetrained, and work from there. Read over the housetraining
information given to you at the time of adoption. Be consistent, and maintain a routine. A
little extra effort on your part to come home straight from work each day will pay off in
easier, faster housetraining.
Crating (Dog)
A crate may look to you like the canine equivalent of a jail cell, but to your dog, who
instinctively likes to den, it's a room of his own. It makes housetraining and
obedience-training easier and saves your dog from the headache of being yelled at
unnecessarily for problem behavior. Of course, you won't want to crate your dog all day or
all night, or he will consider it a jail cell. Just a few, regular hours a day (but
no more than four hours at a time) should be sufficient. The crate should not contain wire
where his collar or paws can get caught, and should be roomy enough to allow your dog to
stand up, turn around, and sit comfortably in normal posture.
If you still can't face the idea of a crate, at the very least
consider some sort of confinement to a dog-proofed part of your home. A portion of the
kitchen or family room can serve the purpose very well. (A baby gate works perfectly.)
Let the Games Begin
Dogs need an active life. That means you should plan plenty of exercise and game time for
your pet. Enjoy jogging or Frisbee? You can bet your dog will, too. If running around the
park is too energetic for your taste, try throwing a ball or a stick, or just going for a
long walk together. When you take a drive in the country or visit family and friends,
bring your dog and a leash along.
A Friend for Life
Finally, be reasonable in your expectations. Life with you is a different
experience for your new companion, so give him time to adjust. You'll soon find out that
you've made a friend for life. No one will ever greet you with as much enthusiasm or
provide you with as much unqualified love and loyalty as your dog will. Be patient, and
you will be amply rewarded.
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