Adopting A Rescue Pet? 5 Helpful Tips From Experts

Have your kids been bugging you to get a family pet? Maybe you finally have more time in your life to give to a rescue dog, cat, or other rescue pet. Veterinary experts offer five helpful tips to get your home and your heart ready for adopting a rescue pet. Of course, you and your family may want to go a different route. But adopting a rescue pet from a shelter not only saves a life, but it also costs a lot less than purchasing a pet. With that in mind, the good folks at TrustedHousesitters gathered information from experienced veterinarians to offer helpful tips to get your home and your heart ready to adopt a rescue pet. Pet-Proof Your Home You’re going to want your new pet to cause the least amount of disturbance to your home. For example, if you’re adopting a rescue dog, be sure hazards and escape routes are blocked off. If you have priceless mementos or expensive decorations, you’ll want to make sure they are placed where a dog’s wagging tail won't knock them over. On the other hand, if you’re adopting a rescue cat, be sure to prepare a cozy bed, some litter trays in quiet locations, some cat toys, and a scratching post of some sort. Smaller animals such as hamsters, rabbits, and the like should not be able to access any electric cables. For all pets, be sure to remove toxic vegetation from areas that can be reached by your new family member. Give Your Rescue Pet Space And Time To Get Accustomed To Their New Home There’s absolutely no guarantee that you and your rescue pet will form an instant bond. In fact, there’s no guarantee you’ll ever be able to form a bond with your pet. However, veterinary experts contacted by TrustedHousesitters advise new pet owners to give their new houseguest lots of space and time. It’s a good idea to sit near your rescue pet and let them come to you on their own terms. In addition, that high-pitched, excited, pet-talk is not advised. Instead, speak in soft, low, reassuring tones to receive the best response from your rescue pet. Establish A Daily Routine As Soon As Possible With Your Rescue Pet Routines are very important for pets, and rescue pets are no different. Establish regularly timed meals, walks, playtimes, and rest times. Additionally, avoid bringing over lots of house guests to see your new family member during the first few months. Instead, let your new rescue pet get used to you and your immediate family first. Create A Safe Environment For Your Rescue Pet It’s always a good idea to create a warm, cozy, safe environment for your new furry family member. Cats love cozy beds and quiet places to retreat to when they need it. Smaller rodents, rabbits and mammals would love to have some old bedding to make them feel more comfy in their transportation box. Furthermore, it’s advisable to feed them the same brand of food the shelter was giving them for a good while after adoption. Offer Your New Rescue Pet Lots Of Praise Veterinarians advise you to offer your new rescue pet a good deal of regular praise. Make sure they know you’re happy with them when they follow your training methods. In addition, regularly groom your pet if they are comfortable with human touch. If they are, regular human touch will help build trust between you and the new addition to your family. Find out which games your rescue dog or cat enjoys the most and set regular play times with them. This also helps build a strong bond with your rescue pet. Now, feel free to scroll down for more content which may interest you.