Welcoming Home a New Pet - Tips from Eastlake Pet Orphanage

Over the holidays many people were lucky enough to receive a new pet.  To help with your new pets transition to a new home we asked KIDS 'N' PETS' January Pet Partner, Eastlake Pet Orphanage, to offer some suggestions on how to make the animals new home more welcoming.

They suggest putting an old shirt you have worn into the crate or on the pet bed when the pet goes to bed at night.  This gives them something that smells like you for a comfort so they don’t feel alone.  

Another suggestion is when going to sleep at night, the pet can be crated in the room with you while you sleep to help them adjust.  They recommend crating at night particularly with dogs during the adjustment period as it gives them someplace they feel comfortable and safe they can retreat to when they are feeling insecure. 

To learn more about  Eastlake Pet Orphanage and see what pets they have available for adoption visit http://www.elpo.org/.  They are an animal adoption group located in Dallas, TX. 

House Breaking Tip from Pet Partner: Northwest International Pet Rescue

December's Pet Partner, Northwest International Pet Rescue, provided some great tips on potty training a dog in your new home.  

They say any dog, even a fully housetrained adult dog, may have house-soiling accidents when they first moves into your home. Assume your new dog is not house trained, and work from there. Virtually every dog will have an accident in the house.  The more consistent you are in following basic house training procedures, the faster your dog will learn acceptable behavior. House training calls for vigilance, patience, plenty of commitment & above all, consistency.


Here are Basic House Training Procedures: 

1. Establish a routine in feeding, potty breaks, bed time, etc 
2. Take your dog frequently to their designated bathroom spot 
3. Reward your dog with praise immediately after they eliminates in the designated spot
4. Pick up water dish 2-hrs before bedtime 
5. Supervise - eliminate opportunity, keep an eye on your dog wherever he is until fully trusted. Tether your dog to you or piece of furniture in the room. Watch for signs - barking, scratching, squatting, restlessness, sniffing, circling. When seen grab the leash & take him out - Remember to reward! 
6. Expect Accidents - CATCH HIM IN THE ACT!!! (don't punish afterwards-it's too late now - don't yell or show frustration). Interrupt with a firm, firm, deep, growl 'potty outside'. Immediately take him to the potty spot & praise for potting outside. Clean soiled area thoroughly with KIDS 'N' PETS so they will not re-soil the area. 

For more great information and to see the animals available visit Northwest International Pet Rescue. 

Georgia Canine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc - Pet Partner

Georgia Canine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc is KIDS 'N' PETS' featured Pet Partner for September. We conducted a brief interview with Jessica from GCRR to get potty training tips and learn more about their pet adoption program!

What have you used KIDS ‘N’ PETS for?

We have used KIDS ‘N’ PETS in our welcome packs for new adopters. Also we have used it around the shelter especially in our meet and greet room to get the couch smelling and looking like new.

What is the most popular canine adopted at GCRR?

We adopt out a lot of different types of dogs from our shelter, so it is really hard to pin point what is the most popular dog is.

Before adopting a pet what do you think is the most important thing to consider?

The most important thing to consider is your lifestyle, then researching different breeds to find what dog will best fit into your lifestyle. Then talk to the organization you are adopting from about the individual dog to make sure they do in fact fit. Try to adopt a dog that matches your lifestyle, not the one that looks the best.

Any suggestion on things that need to be purchased right before or after the adoption?

It might be best for the adopter to wait until after the adoption to purchase items other than a quality food. However after the adoption make sure that you have a plan for making the dog feel at home and Safe. Some dogs do fine loose in a new environment but others really need an appropriately sized kennel to help them adjust to their new environment. And of course you need to be able to walk your dog so the essentials like a leash and collar help, but I know in our goodie bags we have tones of vouchers and coupons to help our adopters save money while spoiling there new addition to the family.

If you are interested in adopting a dog from Georgia Canine Rescue and Rehabilitation feel free to contact them at Pittieprotector@yahoo.com, they are located in Cochran, GA .

et Partner of the Month - Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary

Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary is KIDS 'N' PETS' featured Pet Partner for May. We normally conduct brief interviews with our partners to gain a better understanding of their organization and have them provide pet training tips ranging from what type of pet to adopt to how to remove urine odors. After talking with Morning Starr we learned about two great programs they are working on and thought it would be great to feature programs in a blog post instead!
KIDS 'N' PETS spoke with Fran Freedman, President & Co-Founder of Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary about the programs they have available to pet owners in need.
The Food Assistance Program has helped people all over the USA in need of pet food. They just sent 30 LBS of ferret food to a retired Veteran who is on a fixed income and faced a decision between paying bills or feeding his ferrets. He lives in Washington State and Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary is located in Arizona! Fran says "We sent the ferret food right to his door. It was easy to just order the needed food online and have it sent right to peoples' doors." They also gave 60 LBS of cat food and 50 LBS of dog food to a local rescue in need. In these tough economic times they are working hard to answer the call of temporary help with food for any kind of animal. Fran explains "Some people just need a little help and we want to be there".
The SNAP program helps to assist with the spaying or neutering of dogs and cats in the Northern Arizona area. From December 2010 to today they have assisted with 88 spays and neuters. They pay an amount towards the spay or neuter to make it more affordable. If the pet owner is a senior then they tend to pay even more or most times cover almost all of the cost. They know most seniors are on a fixed income but are adopting animals as companions in their later years.
These are two great programs Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary is working on to help pet owners in need. If you would like to learn more, visit their website www.morningstarr.org or contact Fran at fran@morningstarr.org or by phone at 928-821-2420.

Talking with Shelter Hearts

Shelter HEARTs is March's KIDS 'N' PETS featured Pet Partner. We conducted a brief interview with Melodye from Shelter HEARTs.
What have you used KIDS ‘N’ PETS for in the past?
We have used it on carpet squares that we can use in the kennels for animals to sleep on.

What is the most popular adopted pet at Shelter HEARTs?
We have a few breeds that are very popular-labs and heelers. Kittens are also a popular pet.

Before adopting a pet what do you think is the most important thing to consider?
Consider how that animal is going to fit into your family and your home. If it is a puppy consider all the items on their level that they can chew on. If you adopt an older dog consider getting them a bed or blanket to cushion older bones and joints.

Any great tricks on housetraining a pet?
If you are looking for more information visit Shelter HEARTs' website or email Shelterhearts@yahoo.com