What to expect when you Rescue a Dog or Cat
Rescuing a dog or cat can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only are you giving a homeless pet a second chance at life, but you’re also helping to reduce the number of homeless animals in your area.
However, it’s important to know what to expect when bringing home a newly adopted pet.
Choosing Your Pet:
When choosing a pet, consider the age, size and temperament of the animal that best suits your lifestyle and family. A younger animal will have more energy and require more training, while senior animals may already be house-trained and need less exercise time. It can take several visits to the shelter or rescue organization before finding the perfect match for you and your family.
Acclimation:
Once you have chosen your new pet, it is important to give them plenty of time to become acclimated with their new home and family. This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During this period, keep the environment calm and provide lots of love and reassurance. Allow your pet some alone time in a quiet area away from loud noises or other distractions.
Health & Care:
It’s essential that all adopted pets receive regular checkups with the vet for vaccinations, de-worming, flea/tick treatments and spaying/neutering if needed. Also be sure to feed them a nutritious diet of high-quality food and provide them with plenty of exercise.
Training & Bonding:
Rescued animals may have had a difficult past, so it’s important to provide them with consistent and positive reinforcement when training. Spend quality time bonding with your pet by playing together, taking walks, or cuddling up for some snuggle time.
When you rescue a dog or cat, you can expect to bring home an animal that has been through a lot. The most important thing to remember is that it may take time for your rescued pet to become comfortable and settled into their new home. With patience, understanding and love, you will be able to provide them with the environment they need to thrive.
Health:
Rescue animals are often not in the best of health when first adopted. They may have medical problems such as parasites, skin conditions, dental disease, heartworm or other more serious issues. Your rescue may require regular vet visits and ongoing treatment in order to get healthy again. It’s also important to note that some rescues may have genetic or behavior issues that will require additional attention.
Behavior:
Rescues may also have some behavioral issues due to their past experiences. They may be scared or skittish, and act out in ways they don’t understand. It’s important to provide them with a safe environment where they can feel secure and loved. A regular routine of exercise, playtime and training will help your pet learn how to interact with people, animals, and their new home.
Socialization:
It’s also important for rescued pets to socialize with other animals as well as humans in order to become comfortable in their new home. This can include attending dog daycare, agility classes or taking walks around the neighborhood. This will help them become more confident and trusting of people, as well as their environment.
Love and Affection:
Above all else, your rescued pet needs love and affection from you in order to feel safe and secure. Provide them with plenty of cuddles, playtime, treats, and even some training if necessary. They may not understand at first why you’re treating them so kindly after the hardships they’ve faced, but eventually they will come to see you as their forever family.
With patience, understanding and lots of love, you can provide a rescue pet with the home they need to thrive!
Conclusion:
Rescuing a dog or cat can be an incredibly rewarding experience. With patience and understanding, you can provide your pet with the environment they need to settle into their new home and become an important part of your family. A regular routine of exercise, training, socialization, and plenty of love and affection will help them come out of their shell and start to trust again. You never know what kind of unique personality may be hiding beneath all that fur! So don’t forget – when you rescue a pet, you are also rescuing yourself. Good luck!