How to take an animal from a shelter. Izvestia's instructions

Taking a dog or cat from a shelter is a responsible step. The future owner needs to go through several stages: prepare housing for the arrival of a pet, communicate with volunteers and gain the trust of his four-legged friend. Read about how to pick up an animal from a shelter and reduce stress during its adaptation in the Izvestia article.

How to take a pet from a shelter

First of all, it is necessary to objectively assess your lifestyle, the availability of time and resources for caring for an animal. It should be understood that this is a living being that requires attention and care. Communication with the owner is important for cats, and dogs need daily walks at least twice a day. You should also consider your financial capabilities and health conditions (allergies, chronic diseases, etc.). If you have the opportunity to take a pet, you can proceed to the next step.

Step 1. Choosing a shelter

You should start by looking for an organization. It is convenient to focus on the territorial principle — this will allow you to personally visit the shelter and assess the conditions of animal husbandry. Before the visit, it is recommended to study the reviews of volunteers, publications on the Internet and the media. It is important to understand the reputation of the institution, the approach to solving the behavioral problems of pets, the quality of their nutrition and the procedure for transferring them to new owners.

Step 2. Getting to know the animal

It is best to get acquainted with a future pet in a shelter. Beginners in parenting are often advised to take puppies or kittens, as their character is easier to form from scratch. If the choice has fallen on an adult animal, it is worth asking staff and volunteers about its biography: the circumstances of its appearance at the shelter, known information about its origin, past illnesses and behavioral characteristics. This information will help you to assess your capabilities realistically.

Often, future owners choose a pet in advance based on photos on the Internet. If the animal immediately showed interest at the meeting, this is a good sign. If not, don't jump to conclusions. Many animals, especially survivors of abuse, can take a long time to look at a person before they begin to trust him.

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It is also important to clarify how a potential new family member reacts to children, and make sure that there are no allergies in the household.

Step 3. Verification by the shelter

The requirements for future owners vary in different shelters. Often, the first step is to fill out a detailed questionnaire, and only after its approval is the candidate allowed to get to know the animal. The volunteers evaluate the experience of the future owner, the living conditions of the animal, and ask what happened to the other pets, if there were any.

Shelters may refuse a potential host in the following cases:

• a person under 18 or over 65 years of age — minors cannot be fully responsible for the maintenance of an animal, and it may be difficult for the elderly to take care of it.;
• there is a baby in the family — families with young children often return animals due to allergies, bites or high stress on young parents;
• the desire to use a dog as a watchman on a chain — shelter staff strive to dramatically improve the living conditions of animals, and life on a leash does not allow a dog to become a full-fledged family member.;
• the animal is taken as a gift — the recipient of the surprise may not be ready for the obligations associated with keeping a pet.;
• housing does not meet the requirements — some shelters check the availability of their own housing and permanent registration, candidates renting an apartment may need the consent of the landlord.

Step 4. Execution of the contract

If the acquaintance was successful, the parties conclude an agreement on the transfer of the animal. This document protects the rights of the pet: it usually prescribes the obligation of the new owner to provide photo reports, to carry out sterilization at a certain age and not to leave the animal unattended on the street.

The contract specifies:

• passport details and address of the new owner;
• passport details and contacts of the shelter representative or supervising volunteer.

They usually take three days to complete the paperwork, which is the time for final decisions and preparation at home. The contract template provides shelter. The owner has the right to return the animal in case of force majeure, but this does not mean that the pet can be taken "on trial".

Step 5. Medical issues

It is necessary to clarify the vaccination schedule with the shelter staff — the animal must have a veterinary passport with the appropriate marks. Missed vaccinations will need to be done on their own. It is also important to check the absence of viruses in the pet, which may not manifest themselves clinically, but may be dangerous for other animals of the same species (for example, parvovirus, panleukopenia, viral leukemia). The joint maintenance of such an animal with another is unacceptable.

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After moving, it is necessary to show a new friend to a veterinarian for a comprehensive examination, receiving recommendations on care and, if necessary, prescribing treatment.

How to prepare a house for the arrival of a pet

Before a pet enters the house, it is necessary to prepare housing. For a comfortable life, a new family member will need a basic set:

• food, bowls for food and water, a bed, toys, an addressee with the owner's phone number;
• absorbent diapers, if the animal is not yet accustomed to the tray or walking;
• for dogs: leash, harness, collar and muzzle;
• for the cat: a carrier, a tray with filler and a scratching post.

It is also important to protect the living space by removing wires, household chemicals, fragile, sharp and small objects from the pet's reach. Cat owners should also install special screens on the windows to prevent the pet from falling out.

Adapting an animal from a shelter to a new home

Moving from a shelter is a big stress for any animal. The period of adaptation depends on the nature of the pet and the owner's help.

Cats often hide under furniture in the early days. You should not forcibly pull them out — the animal needs time to get used to it. The process can take from a few days to a month. To create a sense of security the day before moving, you can use pheromone diffusers that mimic the natural smells of cats.

If the cat sharpens its claws on furniture, the problem areas can be sealed with a rustling cloth or film. In a similar way, you can wean her off jumping on kitchen surfaces.

Dogs adapt faster, but they also need time. For the first three to four weeks, you should not leave your dog alone so that he gets used to the new environment and the owner. It is better to walk along the same route at the same time.

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Getting to know other pets is an important stage of adaptation. It is better to introduce dogs for the first time on a neutral territory (for example, in a park), so that they can be easily separated in case of conflict.

It takes patience to make friends with a cat and a dog. For the first time, it is better to put animals in different rooms so that they get used to each other's smell from a distance. In the process, you can give them a sniff of objects that another "fluffy" has been in contact with. Face-to-face meetings should be held in the presence of the host. Even if pets behave peacefully, you should not leave them alone until they finally get used to each other.

Earlier, Izvestia told how and where to walk a dog.

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