Adopting a pet can be a very socially responsible, fulfilling way to add to your family. Shelters are filled beyond capacity with dogs, cats and other small animals that patiently await their forever homes. But, while doing this can be a supreme act of love, there are some rules and guidelines that you should be aware of before visiting the first shelter. Those rules are:
Before the visit:
1. Make sure that everyone is in agreement about the kind of pet that you are looking for. This should include the breed, size and sex of the pet. Discuss this thoroughly with your children and make sure that they understand that any sign of dissent will equal an end to the trip immediately.
2. Make sure that everyone in the family is aware of proper animal safety rules. Do they know how to approach an animal correctly? Is there any chance at all that anyone will be frightened? A frightened child might equal a frightened pet-which could mean trouble.
3. Finally, make sure that everyone knows what to expect- that there will be a lot of animals, and that while it is sad that they are there, you can only take one. Also, find out the shelter’s policies on the actual adoption- will you fill out forms and wait for approval, or will you be able to take your pet home that night?
While at the shelter:
1. Remind children of the rules and make sure that they are within arm’s reach of you at all times.
2. Walk through and do a quick scan, narrowing the family’s selections down to a few and then returning for a closer inspection.
3. Ask questions of the shelter staff, including known health history, behavior, and any other key facts that they might have.
4. Visit with the selected pet if that is allowed, watching the interaction between him and the family members.
After the shelter visit you………………………………….
The last few weeks I have been writing about the apotion process and why you should look into shelter adoption and the 5 rules of adoption these are at my blog and I have some other information for the pet owners sign up for my blog or stop by and give your thoughts.
wwwmyreviews2010.wordpress.com
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Animal shelters are overcrowded with unwanted, abandoned animals. Due to lack of space, these animals are forced to live in cramped conditions and in many jurisdictions are euthanized sooner than normal. Many of these animals would have been adopted if only they were given the time. One solution to the problem of overcrowding is the animal foster care system.
If you love animals but can’t commit to a long term situation, pet foster care is perfect for you. Under this system, you take in an animal from the shelter either until there is room to keep it there, someone adopts it permanently or you can no longer keep it. Often just keeping an animal for a few weeks will be enough to give it a new lease on life.
Even if you live in an area where stray animals are not euthanized, foster care is a much better situation for the animals. In a shelter, they receive very little attention and can be neglected. With a foster keeper, the animal has more space and has the close companionship of a human.
If you are truly committed to helping animals, consider taking in an animal that been rehabilitated from abuse. Once they have been rescued, they need time with a mature, responsible owner before they can be allowed to live in other homes. These animals are just as loving as any other, but they need a little special attention to regain their trust in humans.
Fostering an animal is a commitment and you need to be sure you are ready. The worst thing you can do is to take the animal for a few days and make the situation worse by giving him right back. Fostering an animal has all the responsibility of owning one, only without a long term commitment.
Even if you can’t have animals where you live, you can help out at the local shelter. Shelter staff are busy and the animals need human companionship. Walkers are always much appreciated or you can simply visit the shelter for a few hours each week and give the animals some human company.
Amber Contant is a featured adviser and author discussing the issues that all pet owning families will experience. Amber works with Pet-Super-Store. Visit her site for a great selection of pet beds.
Article from articlesbase.com
When it comes to adopting pets, there are many options. People have different reasons for adopting a pet, and often this reason influences where they look for their new friend. For some people, whether the animal is a purebred or not is important, so they will pursue breeders. Others are interested in saving an animal from the fate of a life without a loving family. These people will typically search animal rescue organizations or animal shelters. Both purebred and mixed breed animals can be found at these organizations, as well as older animals and animals that need special care. This guide will help you explore your options when considering the adoption of a new family pet.
Choosing a Breeder
You’ve decided that it’s time for your family to have a brand new pet. Everyone is ready to play with it, feed it, clean it, and care for it every day. You know that you want a purebred, and you’ve researched the genetic and behavioral disposition of every breed, and you know the breed that’s best for your family and your lifestyle. The final step is to find a good breeder.
First, avoid pet stores. It is a known fact that most pets that are offered in pet stores come from mass breeding facilities more commonly known as “puppy farms” or “pet farms.” This is not a business practice that you want to support. It’s best to do the ethical thing and avoid them at all cost.
There are several methods you can use to evaluate breeders. Initially, obtain a list of referrals of reputable breeders from your veterinarian or local dog shows. Always visit where the breeder raises the dogs or cats, and bring the following checklist in order to determine whether the breeder is a good one.
Does the breeder:
Raise the animals in a home, as part of a family?
Have animals that appear healthy and excited when visitors arrive?
Maintains a clean area where the animals are raised?
Shows you the animals parents when you visit?
Knowledgeable about the breed?
Can produce records of veterinary visits for the animals?
Provides references?
Offers guidance for caring for your new pet and for the particular breed?
Purebred Rescue
An even better option than buying a new animal from a breeder, is to invest in saving a purebred living at a purebred rescue group. Purebred breeding groups are wonderful organizations that accept purebred animals that are typically abandoned, found as strays, or from local animal shelters. Purebred rescue organizations typically have a great deal of knowledge about the breed they work with, and usually offer a great deal of guidance for adoptive families.
When you purchase a purebred from a rescue group, you can feel good about having saved an animal from living a life without a loving family. You can find local rescue groups in your area through the newspaper classified section. A great resource for rescuing purebred dogs is to search through the contact list at the American Kennel Club. Another great resource for both cats and dogs is AllAboutDogsandCats.com, which provides a list of hundreds of national breed rescue clubs and organizations.
Animal Shelters
An animal shelter is the best source where you can find a family pet. Family shelters are home to many wonderful animals who mostly are only there because of the humans who previously owned them, not for any fault of their own. Often life changes, unrealistic expectations, or other reasons force families to give up their animals to animal shelters. Half of these animals end up euthanized because there simply isn’t enough space. This is why, obtaining your family pet from an animal shelter is the greatest thing you can do, and it is something you can feel very good about.
It is a common misconception that the animals at animal shelters are all mixed-breeds, poorly behaved, or poorly kept. While this may hold true for a minority of them, many of the animals found at shelters around the country are actually purebreds, nicely kept, and very well behaved. Many shelters even offer adoption counseling, training classes, and even discounted or free neutering. Some great resources to locate animal shelters around the country include Pets 911, 1-800-Save-A-Pet, or Petfinder. Another good resource is the classified section of your local newspaper, or the yellow pages under “Animal Shelters”.
A Pet Portrait of Your New Pet
Once you discover that special pet that will become your friend for life, there is no better way to celebrate than to commemorate the beauty and overwhelming “cuteness” of your new family friend with a painted pet portrait.
Pet portraits are sweeping the country as a very popular form of recognizing how much your animal friend means to you and your family. Pet portraits can be especially meaningful because when you see a pet portrait on the wall, it is a statement that this animal isn’t just “another animal”, but it shows that your pet is a loved and cherished member of the family.
The best pet portraits in the country are created by artist Nikky Hughes of Los Angeles. Nikky was classically trained at the Mission Renaissance art school, and she focuses on capturing not only the beauty, but the unique character of each animal. Her artwork is soft and romantic, and a portrait of your pet by Nikky will become a family heirloom for many generations.
I’m a Los Angeles based oil painter. I specialize in Pet Portraits. I currently teach art and paint for a living. I’ve enjoyed combining my love for pets, with my love for the arts. You can find my online portfolio at: Pet Portraits by Nikky
Article from articlesbase.com
Adopting a pet can be a very socially responsible, fulfilling way to add to your family. Shelters are filled beyond capacity with dogs, cats and other small animals that patiently await their forever homes. But, while doing this can be a supreme act of love, there are some rules and guidelines that you should be aware of before visiting the first shelter. Those rules are:
Before the visit:
1. Make sure that everyone is in agreement about the kind of pet that you are looking for. This should include the breed, size and sex of the pet. Discuss this thoroughly with your children and make sure that they understand that any sign of dissent will equal an end to the trip immediately.
2. Make sure that everyone in the family is aware of proper animal safety rules. Do they know how to approach an animal correctly? Is there any chance at all that anyone will be frightened? A frightened child might equal a frightened pet-which could mean trouble.
3. Finally, make sure that everyone knows what to expect- that there will be a lot of animals, and that while it is sad that they are there, you can only take one. Also, find out the shelter’s policies on the actual adoption- will you fill out forms and wait for approval, or will you be able to take your pet home that night?
While at the animal shelter:
1. Remind children of the rules and make sure that they are within arm’s reach of you at all times.
2. Walk through and do a quick scan, narrowing the family’s selections down to a few and then returning for a closer inspection.
3. Ask questions of the shelter staff, including known health history including vaccination shots, behavior, and any other key facts that they might have. Do not forget to ask about the type of food being fed and the feeding times.
4. Visit with the selected pet if that is allowed, watching the interaction between him and the family members.
After the visit:
1. Come home to allow everyone to discuss his or her feelings about the pet in question. Did they like him, or did they think that there might be a better pet out there somewhere?
2. Call the shelter staff and update them on your family’s decision. If you have decided to adopt, fill out necessary forms if you have not already, and pay any fees. If you have decided against adoption, then tell the shelter staff any reasons that you might have- so that they can keep your input in mind when showing the pet to the next family.
Arrival of Pet
Making preparations for the arrival of your new friend is also very important. Plan well. It will take a couple of days for your pet to get acclimated to his new surroundings. Be sure to decide on the place where he will eat and his name. Begin to make plans for his training sessions for behaviors and commands you want him to learn.
Adopting a pet should be rewarding and it will be as long as everyone knows what to expect from the very start.
If you want to learn more about cats and dogs, visit my website at www.petsstore4u.com. There will have access to other cat and dog articles, calendars, gifts, organic cat or dog food, supplies, toys, and training videos.
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Lola and friends animal rescue literally came to their rescue! Pet Adoption Event in San Diego a success! 8-23-09 Please check website provided for the most up to date current event information. *Very grateful for having Pet me, please! offering their parking lot for this event, WOW!* Visit lolaandfriendsanimalrescue.org
Video Rating: 5 / 5
If your family has experienced the loss of a pet, or if your pet is getting older, one thing that often comes to mind is whether or not you are ready for another pet. Should we wait or get a new pet right away? Should we wait until the older pet dies and first have a pet memorial for the kids? Would getting a new dog traumatize the older pet? Should we buy or adopt a pet?
The most important thing to do is to access your situation. Often times, when one pet is getting old, it’s a good idea to go ahead and introduce a new pet. It may even help the older pet live longer.
It is often easier to introduce two pets when they are young, but with a little know-how, it is possible to introduce a new pet to your old one. If you have plenty of love for both of them and a lot of patience, you can do it.
You must first be sure that your new pet is disease-free and up-to-date on its shots because you don’t want your older pet to get sick. Make sure both pets are neutered, and that you’ll be able to afford your new pet. Here’s a chart for the average first year of expenses for pets:
A small dog is 0; a large dog is ,500; a cat is 0, a rabbit is 5 and a small bird is around 5.
Adopting a pet is the best thing people can do nowadays, because there are so many. There is a viral email petition going around concerning the Obama family dog, asking Senator Obama and his family to adopt their first dog. He promised children they could get a dog no matter whether he wins the election or not.
Over four million unwanted pets are in the United States, many of which are up for adoption. Sadly, seven million dogs and cats are killed each year due to overpopulation. Did you know that 20 to 30 percent of the dogs up for adoption in shelters are purebreds? The other 70 to 75 percent are most often mixed breed animals.
In order to adopt a pet, you might want to start by visiting www.petfinder.com, a site that lists many shelters across the US. You can also search for specific breeds or breed mixes. Also just be aware that if all dogs on a particular shelter’s website are described the same way (sweet, loving, friendly, etc.) then that shelter probably doesn’t know the individual dogs’ personalities so you may want to avoid the shelter.
Be sure to contact the shelters in your area and ask about their return policy. Good shelters will accept any dog or cat they have adopted out in the past as a return during any time in his life. Check out the adoption procedures, so you can visit with your new pet outside of the shelter kennel. Good shelters also don’t promote dogs who have a prior history of bad tempers.
Always avoid any preconceptions about what kind of pet including its age, breed, color, sex or size – and be prepared to have an open mind.
Once you have chosen your new pet, the best way to introduce new pets in your family is to put the new pet in his or her own room for a week before allowing the younger pet to be around it. Spend plenty of time with each pet. Let the new pet out of its room, and let the older pet goes in the room where the new pet was staying, so it can get used to the new pet’s smell without being intimidated.
Be very loving to both pets and always respect them. Then let them see one another but do not allow any physical contact. Or you could separate the animals with a child gate. If you hear some hissing or growling, know that this is normal. Once they seem to be used to seeing one another, let them get together, but make sure that someone supervises them. Provide treats to each animal and feed them in separate bowls at opposite sides of the room so they won’t fight for the food. This should be done at the same time every day until the animals become used to the routine. Over time, move the dishes closer together – slowly. If either animal shows signs of aggression, move their dishes back to the original starting point. Wait a few more days and move the pans closer once again.
Never let your animals be together unsupervised until they are completely comfortable with one another, to avoid fights. This process may take anywhere from one to six weeks. However if done right, in the end, you will have a calm family and happy pets.
And as sad as it may be, when an older pet dies, make sure that you have planned for a pet memorial. Let your children help choose a pet urn for cremation, or a pet casket for their pet’s burial, along with a memorial keepsake box for photos. This along with adopting another pet, can help children through sad times.
Kristin Gabriel is a Los Angeles social media consultant based in Los Angeles, CA who works with Peternity.com, a place where people honor their pets for eternity. Peternity provides custom products including pet memorial stones and grave markers, pet urns, garden statue pet memorials, pet memorial headstones, pet keepsake memorials, pet portraits, burial boxes, custom engraved glasswork, and other pet memorials. Call 877-PET-PEACE or go to http://www.peternity.com
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Adopting a pet from a shelter prevents animals from being euthanized. Save lives by adopting from a shelter with tips from an animal rescue manager in this free pet adoption video. Expert: Nancy Parker-Simons Contact: www.utopiarescue.com Bio: Nancy Parker-Simons has co-managed the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch in the Texas Hill Country in 1998 along with Kinky Friedman and her husband Tony Simons. Filmmaker: Drew Noah
Adopting a pet can be a very socially responsible, fulfilling way to add to your family. Shelters are filled beyond capacity with dogs, cats and other small animals that patiently await their forever homes. But, while doing this can be a supreme act of love, there are some rules and guidelines that you should be aware of before visiting the first shelter. Those rules are:
Before the visit:
1. Make sure that everyone is in agreement about the kind of pet that you are looking for. This should include the breed, size and sex of the pet. Discuss this thoroughly with your children and make sure that they understand that any sign of dissent will equal an end to the trip immediately.
2. Make sure that everyone in the family is aware of proper animal safety rules. Do they know how to approach an animal correctly? Is there any chance at all that anyone will be frightened? A frightened child might equal a frightened pet-which could mean trouble.
3. Finally, make sure that everyone knows what to expect- that there will be a lot of animals, and that while it is sad that they are there, you can only take one. Also, find out the shelter’s policies on the actual adoption- will you fill out forms and wait for approval, or will you be able to take your pet home that night?
While at the shelter:
1. Remind children of the rules and make sure that they are within arm’s reach of you at all times.
2. Walk through and do a quick scan, narrowing the family’s selections down to a few and then returning for a closer inspection.
3. Ask questions of the shelter staff, including known health history, behavior, and any other key facts that they might have.
4. Visit with the selected pet if that is allowed, watching the interaction between him and the family members.
After the visit:
1. Come home to allow everyone to discuss his or her feelings about the pet in question. Did they like him, or did they think that there might be a better pet out there somewhere?
2. Call the shelter staff and update them on your family’s decision. If you have decided to adopt, fill out necessary forms if you have not already, and pay any fees. If you have decided against adoption, then tell the shelter staff any reasons that you might have- so that they can keep your input in mind when showing the pet to the next family.
Adopting a pet should be rewarding, and it will be as long as everyone knows what to expect from the very start.
Is your best friend getting older and having problems with pain or arthritis? Take a look at Pet Bounce. Have a wonderful day!
Article from articlesbase.com
www.theshelterpetproject.org Of the eight million pets that enter animal shelters and rescue groups every year, approximately three million of these healthy and treatable pets are euthanized due to a lack of adoption. While there has been steady progress on the issue, the continued euthanasia of our best friends and family members is a national tragedy. Adopting a pet is a life-changing and enriching experience. It not only saves an animal’s life, but adopted pets also provide unconditional love, affection and attention. Research has even shown that owning a pet has many positive psychological and physical health benefits. Presently, most people do not obtain their pets from shelters, but rather from pet stores, the Internet, friends, breeders or other sources. In an effort to change this trend, The Shelter Pet Project is designed to encourage pet lovers throughout the country to make shelters and rescue groups the first place they turn to when acquiring companion animals. Campaign ads use humor to give shelter pets a voice and break down negative stereotypes; contrary to popular beliefs, animals most frequently find themselves in shelters due to owner-related issues. At the http users will find information about how to adopt from a shelter, as well as a fun matching tool designed to help potential pet owners identify traits to look for in an animal. Based on results, it will even supply a list of suitable pets avilable in local shelters. Other fun and interactive tools …
Adopting a pet should be one of the happiest moments in a family’s life, but there are sometimes unforeseen events that can bring tears, disappointment and even heartbreak. Knowing a few key safety tips can lessen any problems or danger and make finding your new best friend fun, exciting and unendingly rewarding.
1. Adopting a pet should not be a spur of the moment decision. A pet is not just an accessory that you pick up because you considered him a “bargain” or because he just struck your heart chords just the right way. This is a commitment to a living being, one that will need love, food and shelter for many years to come. Make sure you and your entire family is fully committed to that concept before bringing a pet home.
2. Shelter pets are not always lost doggies that cannot find their way home. Sometimes pets have severe behavioral or emotional problems that their owners cannot handle. While not every pet at the shelter is a reject, there are bound to be a few, so make sure that you ask questions.
3. Sometimes shelter staff can miss serious health or behavior problems. Before you bring your adopted pet home, make sure that he gets a thorough vet exam, including all immunizations. This is especially important if there are small children or other pets in your home.
4. Do not just bring an adopted pet into your home and give him free reign of the place. Allow your new pet to explore from room to room, while on a leash. Consider crate training while you are not directly at hand, and only allow interaction between the new pet and children and other pets while you are there. Eventually, your adopted pet will settle in and blend into the family, but it will take some time and patience.
5. Do not hesitate to bring any pet that develops signs of aggression back to the shelter. Saving an animal’s life is not worth risking your family’s safety for. And, if that does become the case, make sure that shelter staff is aware of the exact problem. Perhaps the dog does not like children, but is fine with adults. Maybe the new pet was snappy with other animals, or one gender. Allow staff to know so that they can help match the pet with the right family on his next try.
Is your best friend getting older and having problems with pain or arthritis? Take a look at Pet Bounce. Have a wonderful day!
Article from articlesbase.com
For so many reasons, there are a lot of animals especially dogs which are abandoned and eventually found their ways on some animal shelters. Lucky are those which are currently on the shelters because they have this great chance of having their second family in the future if someone will adopt them.
Pet adoption is now considered as one of the common ways of acquiring pets. I bet some would agree if I say that pet adoption is better than buying a pet in the pet stores. This is because you don’t just have the opportunity to have a pet; you are also giving an animal a chance to live a descent life. As we all know, animals also have feelings, they are also like us.
If you are planning to adopt a pet, then here are some things that you must remember. Here are some simple things to keep in mind on how to adopt a pet:
Make a final decision. Pet adoption is not a very simple thing to do that is why you need to be very sure about your decision. You must think first if you are really capable of adopting a pet. You must consult the members of your family if it is alright with them to have a new pet at home. You must never forget to get their opinions. Research. It is important that you make some research first about different animal shelters. This will make your task easier because once you already find the right animal shelter then you will be able to save a lot of time because you already know where to go. Go to the shelter of your choice and inquire. It is very important for you to talk to the head of the shelter to inquire. Bring some cash. Just like when you are buying some pet, bringing some cash is also a necessity here because you also need to pay on some things and one of these is the processing of the papers.
Joanne Delos Reyes writes for www.petitude.com.au , Australia’s premiere online pet store and 2008 eBay Australia Top Store awardee. Petitude offers quality, yet affordable dog clothes, dog shoes, dog accessories, pet furniture and more.
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SLUG: PET ADOPTION WRITER: ARIANA GUERRERO SHOW: OC NEWS THE ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES PUTS ON SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGH OUT THE YEAR TO PROMOTE PET ADOPTION.
The idea of having a pet is something that many people consider but they rarely take the various needs of their new pet into account when they decide to adopt a pet. For these people the pets that they see in pet stores and at the pet shelters are ones to take home. Sometimes this pet adoption idea is based on the cute looks of a pet.
It is only when the pet adoption is completed and they take their new pet home do they begin to see the reality and the responsibilities of having a pet at home with them.
Therefore when you decide on a pet adoption you should decide what sort of pet you will have the ability to take of. There are many different types of animals that can be considered as being good to have as pets. These pets can include dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, love birds, parrots and fish.
In a pet adoption you will need to take into account the various needs of your new pet. These needs can be seen as the animal’s emotional, mental and the physical state. When you are looking into a pet adoption these are very real facts that you will have to address.
As these various animals have different requirements to ensure their health you will have to talk with an animal veterinarian, staff at animal shelters or even animal to find the various facts that are needed in the care of your new pet. You will need information about their daily likes and dislikes.
The dietary needs and health requirements of your pet will need to be discussed with a vet. This way you will know what types of food that you should be giving your pet to ensure its health. In a pet adoption process you will be able to find out the best ways to keep your pet healthy by giving the pet the best types of food that you can.
To keep your pet’s health and happiness at the optimum point you should ensure that you have the appropriate surroundings and accessories for your new pet. These and many other facts will need to be discussed by your entire family before the pet adoption is completed.
When you are looking into adopting a pet you should consider seeing the various animals that are waiting to be adopted into a good home. Pet adoptions are the best way to give these animals a second chance at finding good families.
Author’s Sites: Cat Food Recipes , Dog Food Recipes and Natural Pet Care
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There are many types of pets that people like to have. Some of these pets we are all familiar with. These are dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits and even tortoises. These pets are in many cases bought by their owners from pet stores where the staff have no real idea about the care and requirements that many of these animals need for a healthy life. When you go to pet adoption centers on the other hand you will be sure that the staff at these places will be able to help you.
Many of these pet adoption centers don’t make a lot of money to help run the centers but all of the staff at these places is dedicated in making sure that the various pets that come through their doors will eventually go home with loving families.
To this end the various adoptive families are screened for their suitability and these people are informed of the many requirements that having a pet entails. When such families are able to accept the many changes and requirements that these gentle animals will need an adoption document is produced by the pet adoption centers.
This legal document states that the animal has been legally adopted by a willing family. It also states that the family is ready and able to care financially, emotionally for their pet. They will also agree to pay for any medical treatment that is required for the health of their new family member.
In generally these pets will be allowed to be adopted only once they have been cleaned and well groomed. In addition the pet adoption centers will have their veterinarian staff make sure that these previously unwanted pets are healthy. Some of these pets may require different surgical procedures to cure or treat a medical condition.
This medical and surgical treatment is carried out before the various pets are given up for adoption. Other than curing these pets and placing them with loving families the pet adoption centers will also give these pets time to get used to good humans.
This adjustment period is necessary as the animals may feel hostile when they are in the presence of people. The pets will only be allowed for adoption once their physical health, emotional and mental states have been stabilized and the animals show signs of being ready to be placed with a family.
The various pet adoption centers that can be found are wonderful places to find the perfect pet for your family. So when you feel that you would like a pet for companionship the pet adoption centers may have the animal friend that you are looking for.
Author’s Sites: Cat Food Recipes , Dog Food Recipes and Natural Pet Care
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