Preparing To Bring Home A New Pet

Before you bring your new friend home, it's best to be prepared to prevent unnecessary confusion and stress. Keep other pets away at first. Your new pet may be nervous ... help him or her feel more comfortable by keeping your other pets confined until you are ready to slowly introduce them.

1. Establish the rules. Decide who's responsible for what: grooming, feeding, exercising, cleaning, play-time, and so on. Also establish whether or not there will be areas that are "off-limits" for your new pet. For example, you may not want your pet to sleep on the bed.
   
2. Have all the necessary supplies ready. Examples are food, food and water bowls, leash or harness, collar and identification, brush, and so on. Take a look at the cat budget or the dog budget for more information.
   
3. When your dog first enters your home, let him or her get to know the new surroundings for a little while. Remember, this is all new for your pet. How would you feel if someone just picked you up and told you that you had to live somewhere else.
   
4. Lock away household chemicals, such as cleansers, insecticide, antifreeze, and others. Animals are especially attracted to antifreeze; be sure to clean up spills immediately and keep the rest out of reach as even a small amount can be fatal.
   
5. Place houseplants out of reach. Many houseplants are poisonous.
   
6. Have separate areas for your new pet and any existing pets. Pets need to be introduced to one another slowly; be sure you have an extra room or a kennel so that your pets can be separated until they have grown accustomed to each other.
   
7. Tie electrical cords out of the way, if you can. Dogs and cats can chew on electrical cords - or even catch them while walking (or running!) around, causing lamps, TVs, radios, etc. to fall.
   
8. Keep doors closed - this includes the doors to your washer and dryer, your closets, the cupboards ... inquisitive little animals can sneak in just about anywhere!
   
9. Keep household trinkets out of your pet's reach. Stuff like garbage, medicine, pins, elastics, thread, needles, and so on should be placed out of the way.
   
10. Make sure everyone knows how to properly handle your pet. Everyone should know how to safely pick up your pet. Also emphasize certain rules such as your pet should never be disturbed while eating.

Think about what supplies you will need to make your new pet feel at home. Dogs and cats both need bedding, food and water, bowls, and collars. Your dog will need a leash. Adding a cat means adding a litter box and litter. Veterinarians recommend at least one box for every cat in the house (and often say one additional box is a good idea.) Think about toys for both cats and dogs. Having activities will help distract and entertain them while they are assimilating to their new environments.

Crating your new pet is the best way to get him home safely. Once in the home, leave the crate in an accessible area. It serves as an animals "private space" where he can get away from other pets and people. If you are adopting a puppy you'll want to baby proof the home-much like you would for a toddler. Curiosity can kill a pup or severely injure him, so look for anything that he might be able to chew on, pull off, or knock over.

Initial Health Checks
The Humane Society recommends that after adopting an animal from the shelter you set up a veterinary visit within three business days. This is important! At that visit your pet will need a general health check, rabies vaccinations, heartworm preventative and other inoculations. Your veterinarian can explain all shots and medications required by law, and also treatments that can help prevent health problems. He or she will advise you on care and feeding and answer any specific questions you may have about your new pet. Many area veterinarians offer to waive their office fee on the first visit of a newly adopted animal. When making your appointment, ask if the vet participates in the waiver program.

Introducing Your New Pet to Other Family Members
Not all dogs like other dogs and some can be downright predatory with cats! If you have a resident dog we ask you to bring him or her to the shelter to meet potential adoption candidates before your final adoption papers are signed. But even when the first meeting goes well, it can take time for a new pet to fit in. Click on the articles to the left for specifics on introducing your new pet to resident family members.