PLEASE!: REMEMBER TO SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET. IT’S THE HUMANE THING TO DO.

When looking for a new Dog or Cat, we urge you to visit your local shelter, humane society or contact a breed rescue organization.

After you adopt your new pet, the most important decision you make next will be CHOOSING A GREAT VETERINARIAN. Get a complete and thorough examination of your new pet within 24 hours of bringing it home.

Be sure to check your new pets vaccination status. Most shelters will only give 1 vaccine and depending on your pets age, breed, etc., they may need additional shots, including rabies.

Dog owners beware: Viruses such as Parvo can contaminate your property and use caution if you just “lost” a dog to one of these diseases. If your environment is not completely sanitized, your new puppy could be at risk.

Similar attention should be paid to the risks of FIP contamination in a cats surroundings.

POOCHSCHOOL.COM can direct you to a preferred veterinarian in your local area, just ask for information during you phone consultation.

ADOPTION TIPS

* Give careful consideration to the type and size of dog you are going to adopt. Is it a breed that needs lots of exercise, if so, do you have the time to commit to long walks twice a day. You don’t want a Great Dane in a small apartment in the city... right!
Alternatively, if you live in the hills or mountains a small Maltese terrier could soon end up as coyote, hawk or owl prey. Make your “size” choice carefully.

* Long hared dogs require constant upkeep of their coats. Are you prepared for both the financial and time constraints, to undertake extensive grooming on a regular basis.

* If you have small children, do not be afraid to ask the shelter personnel if the dog has shown any signs of aversion to children or other adults.

* If you have other pets, cats or dogs, sheep, goats, horses, make sure your new pet is
not aggressive toward them. If you have livestock, are they separated from your dogs
and securely fenced in?

* Remember...it takes time for your new pet to “settle in”, negative behaviors may not be
evident for 6-8 weeks, so monitor your new pet. Also watch for existing pets
showing aggressive behavior toward your new pet.

* Can the rescue organization put you in contact with the previous owner. This is a
major advantage in finding out “Why” the dog was put up for adoption. Will the shelter
let you go for daily walks with the dog for a week or so, prior to adoption?
This gives you time to observe the dog in everyday situations, and see if it has any
serious behavioral problems i.e. aggression, etc.

* Will the shelter allow you to return the animal if it is not suited to you. Do they have a
return policy , if the animal does not “work out? ”

* Be fully prepared to accept the new dog into your home. Check that your yard is
secure, fences are intact and all gates are locking properly.

* We recommend that you have a “safe place” for example a breezeway that is fenced
both ends, to begin your dog’s acclimation process. Be sure to have adequate shelter
and a fresh supply of water available at all times.

* If you do not have a yard, do you have a proper set up for your apartment /condo.
Do you have equipment like a crate, baby gate, exercise pen, etc., etc.

* It can take up to three months for your new dog to fully adjust to it’s new home, so be
patient. Even if you think the dog has adjusted just in a few weeks,... chances are, it has
not.

* In some cases the negative behaviors that prompted the previous owner to give up on
the dog, will not become truly evident until the dog has made it’s adjustment. We do
not recommend formal training lessons until the dog has had at least 6-8 weeks of
adjustment time, in it’s new surroundings.

* Thousands of quality pets are needlessly destroyed every year. A high percentage could
be rehabilitated through training and behavior modification. Chances are that the dog
you adopt from a shelter, is in the shelter because of some negative behavior. Whether it
escapes from it’s yard (related to separation anxiety) excessive house soiling, serious
aggression or a host of other behavioral problems. Most likely the dogs behavior caused
someone to “GIVE UP” on them.

* BE MENTALLY PREPARED to spend the time working with your new dog and
putting the effort into correcting the bad behavior. In certain cases this can take up to six months. When working with a “behavior specialist/trainer” pay careful attention to their track record, references (client and professional) and success rate for your particular behavioral issue. A good trainer will Guarantee certain success milestones in any given training/behavior program. You may be dealing with someone who thinks they can help, but unfortunately... can not.

* Once you have adopted your dog, we suggest you have a microchip implant
immediately. Also, the only information on your dog’s ID tag should be
YOUR PHONE NUMBER and NEEDS VITAL MEDICATION... nothing else !!!
In the event of your dog getting lost, the finder may think twice about keeping the dog,
if it needs vital medication.

We would happy to discuss “new adoptee” issues with you. Please call us for a free phone consultation. Regrettably... because of our high volume Email traffic, we do not provide Email consulting services.

If you have a particular non profit organization that is dedicated to the service of pets, pets and people, pet rescue, pet sanctuaries or any humane organization that you would like us to include on this page, please Email us your link. We will be glad to include you in our reference list..

Rescue/Adoption agencies that we love:

German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles and Orange County,
http://www.gsrescue.org