Adopt, Foster, Volunteer
The 3-3-3 Rule For New Pets
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3 DAYS - to decompress in a new environment Your new pet may be very overwhelmed, scared, and unsure. They may not feel comfortable enough to eat or drink. You may notice them shutting down or trying to hide. Don't worry they just need time. Give them space and don't force any interactions. Don't introduce new them to new people and places right away. Stay calm and start a daily routine. |
3 WEEKS - to learn a new owners routine You should notice that they are starting to settle in and feel more comfortable. They are adjusting to the environment and learning their routine. You may notice some behavior issues starting to occur. Make sure you set clear boundaries. Work on basic skills. Set up their space to encourage good behavior. Use positive reinforcement and praise success. |
3 MONTHS - to start to feel at home Your pet should be completely comfortable at this point. They have built a trust and gained a sense of security. They are set in their routine and are responding well to training. Continue training. Seek additional help for unique behavior issues if needed. Start introducing them to new people and place slowly. |
The Animal Humane Society has some excellent tips on how to deal with common behaviors of new pets like stress and hiding, destructive actions, and house soiling. They also discuss how to introduce new animals to existing house pets.
If you aren't ready to make the long term adoption commitment, why not try fostering? Some animals just need a quiet place to recover from surgery, finish weaning their babies, or wait until their rescue transport arrives. Fostering is usually for just a few weeks and most shelters provide you with everything you will need. ManyPets has a great article on 10 things a first time foster needs to know.
If adopting or fostering are not possible, but you still want to help, please volunteer at Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter or your local shelter. They are always in need of people to help clean, organize, walk dogs, and more. Many shelters have programs such and Doggie's Day Out where you can take a dog out of the shelter for a few hours. Taking a dog for a walk at the park and maybe stopping for a Puppachino at Starbucks will mean the world to them. You can go play with the cats in the habitat so they can get more comfortable being around different people. Helping animals get socialized and exercised will help them get adopted.
And that is the main goal!!
If you aren't ready to make the long term adoption commitment, why not try fostering? Some animals just need a quiet place to recover from surgery, finish weaning their babies, or wait until their rescue transport arrives. Fostering is usually for just a few weeks and most shelters provide you with everything you will need. ManyPets has a great article on 10 things a first time foster needs to know.
If adopting or fostering are not possible, but you still want to help, please volunteer at Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter or your local shelter. They are always in need of people to help clean, organize, walk dogs, and more. Many shelters have programs such and Doggie's Day Out where you can take a dog out of the shelter for a few hours. Taking a dog for a walk at the park and maybe stopping for a Puppachino at Starbucks will mean the world to them. You can go play with the cats in the habitat so they can get more comfortable being around different people. Helping animals get socialized and exercised will help them get adopted.
And that is the main goal!!
