Preparation & Patience Are Key

There’s often a transition period for you, your new pet, and other animals living in your home. It can take anywhere from 3 days to 3  months for you and your pet to adapt to each other. Here are some tips  to ensure a smooth transition and a happy homecoming:

Gather the necessities your dog will need

• Collar
• ID tag
• Food and water bowls
• Dog bed
• Toys

Try to arrange the arrival of your new pet for a weekend or when you  can be home for a few days. This will allow the pet to adjust to their new surroundings much faster. Get to know each other and spends some quality time together. Don’t forget your other pets and people in your home, too! It’s often best to keep the new pet in a quiet room the first  several days and away from other pets in the home. Let them get used to  each other’s smell through a door. 

For the trip home, confine your pet in a sturdy carrier. Don’t leave them loose in your car, where they may panic and cause an accident, or escape when you open the car door. They are much safer in the carrier until they have reached their new home.

After the ride home, your dog, may be tired from the ordeal and might not be in the mood for fun. To ease the transition, select a quiet room where they can relax and de compress. If necessary, sit on the floor next to them, offer them treats and some light conversation. Let them sniff all your belongings and investigate their new home

Please be patient as your new pet eases into a new home. Life with you will be a different experience for your new companion, so give them time to adjust and you will soon have a new best friend! Remember, you can always call us for advice. We are here to help ensure the  transition is smooth for you both!

Please contact Fosters & Paws by email adoptions@fostersandpaws.org. Our animals must be returned to us, our adoption  contract requires that an adopter must return an unwanted animal in  order to protect our animals from agencies or facilities where an animal  may be euthanized.