Adopting a pet can be an extremely rewarding experience for you and your family. However, as with any major life decision that involves animals, there are some considerations to make before finalizing an adoption. Specifically, your new pet may have some special needs related to the way it has lived until now.
Although animal shelters and adoption agencies usually try to get volunteers to socialize with the inhabitants as much as possible, it’s important to realize that adopted pets often need their owners to show a lot of patience and compassion during the bonding process. Your new pet may not be used to snuggling and being affectionate the same way as an animal that has been in your house since birth or soon after. It can take many years before an adopted pet feels comfortable enough to be openly affectionate.
Sometimes, adopted pets need to receive treatment for fleas and ticks. However, it’s important to inquire about whether that has already been taken care of by the respective adoption group. Many organizations give dogs and cats flea and tick prevention medication, plus an initial course of wormer. Those treatments allow your new pet to have the best chance at good health until you can get an appointment with a local veterinarian.
It’s very important to watch your adopted pet carefully to see if you can pick up on any aspects of the environment that may be frightening because they are triggering memories of how life used to be for the animal. For example, some pets that end up in adoption shelters were mistreated by their first owners, but you’ll have little or no concrete knowledge of what actually happened.
If it seems your pet gets very nervous around men and brooms for no apparent reason, maybe a man abused it with a broom handle earlier in life. This scenario is a good teaching opportunity to instill good values in young people about how to behave around the new pet by showing unconditional kindness and concern.
Finally, some adopted pets have noticeable physical disabilities such as missing limbs. If you decide to bring one of those into your life, it’s crucial to get guidance from a veterinarian about how to best care for the animal immediately, and moving forward. In many cases, disabled pets can live very full and rewarding lives, similarly to people who have disabilities. To learn more about adoption and veterinary service care for pets in San Jose residents can click here.
Although animal shelters and adoption agencies usually try to get volunteers to socialize with the inhabitants as much as possible, it’s important to realize that adopted pets often need their owners to show a lot of patience and compassion during the bonding process. Your new pet may not be used to snuggling and being affectionate the same way as an animal that has been in your house since birth or soon after. It can take many years before an adopted pet feels comfortable enough to be openly affectionate.
Sometimes, adopted pets need to receive treatment for fleas and ticks. However, it’s important to inquire about whether that has already been taken care of by the respective adoption group. Many organizations give dogs and cats flea and tick prevention medication, plus an initial course of wormer. Those treatments allow your new pet to have the best chance at good health until you can get an appointment with a local veterinarian.
It’s very important to watch your adopted pet carefully to see if you can pick up on any aspects of the environment that may be frightening because they are triggering memories of how life used to be for the animal. For example, some pets that end up in adoption shelters were mistreated by their first owners, but you’ll have little or no concrete knowledge of what actually happened.
If it seems your pet gets very nervous around men and brooms for no apparent reason, maybe a man abused it with a broom handle earlier in life. This scenario is a good teaching opportunity to instill good values in young people about how to behave around the new pet by showing unconditional kindness and concern.
Finally, some adopted pets have noticeable physical disabilities such as missing limbs. If you decide to bring one of those into your life, it’s crucial to get guidance from a veterinarian about how to best care for the animal immediately, and moving forward. In many cases, disabled pets can live very full and rewarding lives, similarly to people who have disabilities. To learn more about adoption and veterinary service care for pets in San Jose residents can click here.