Things To Consider When Adopting A Pet

Guest Article

If you’re considering getting a new pet, adoption is an excellent option. By adopting a pet, you’re helping to reduce the number of unwanted animals that end up destroyed in shelters each and every day, and making a difference in the life of an innocent.

JB and Mimi are looking for a together forever home. JB’s alcoholic owner left him in a basement but JB was happy when he went into his second home and met Mimi. Then the rabbits’ teenage owner lost interest and both bunnies suffered neglect. Now they are on Petfinder.com hoping to find someone who will love the two of them.

It’s important to remember, however, that adopted pets come with a host of issues due to their often rough and rocky past relationships with humans. Animals who were removed from a home due to animal hoarding, or who were left to their own devices with little to no human interaction, may be very skittish and afraid. Animals who have been abused will also be frightened, and may present signs of aggression as well. These behaviors are not an indicator that your animal is mean or unfriendly. Health issues can also be a concern, so careful observation is required to pick up on any illnesses.

Even if you’re one of the lucky ones who gets a pet that has been fairly treated in the past, your newly adopted pet will still go through a period of adjustment. Understanding that it takes time to get used to these changes, and being patient and kind to your new pet is imperative in order to make the animal feel safe and build a lasting, trusting relationship.

The most common reason that adopted animals are returned to shelters is because of a lack of understanding on the part of the new owner. When they see their animal constantly running away from them, or displaying aggressive behaviors such as snarling and snapping, they tend to become afraid or react in a negative way that causes further distress to the animal. There’s no reason to be scared of your pet! He’s not mean, he’s not unfriendly, and he’s not “beyond hope”.

All of the issues that come along with a newly adopted pet can be taken care of, it just takes time and proper training. Contrary to popular belief, no animal is too old to be trained. Every pet is capable of learning which behaviors are undesirable, and which get a positive reaction from you, the owner. Using positive reinforcement, keeping a low and soothing tone of voice, and being gentle and patient are key in the training process.

Another important thing to consider when adopting a new pet is the type of care that pet requires, and the type of lifestyle that you lead. If you’re a busy executive working overtime every week, for example, don’t choose a pet that requires constant attention and interaction. A more suitable pet for you might be a snake or reptile. If you have other pets, be sure to take their feelings into consideration as well. Will this new pet get along with your other pets? Remember that this new living arrangement will not only be stressful to your new pet, but to your current pets as well.

Unrealistic expectations only cause added stress for both you an the animal. Choose a compatible pet, and make sure that you are willing and able to do everything necessary to provide your pet with a happy home. Be responsible when adopting a pet, and enrich your life in the process.

“Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” ~ George Eliot

What You Should Know About Adopting a Rabbit

Guest article by Ashley.

Rabbits make wonderful pets. They’re soft, cuddly, and absolutely adorable. Around Easter time each year, you’ll notice a huge jump in rabbit sales. Bunnies are a symbol of the holiday, and breeders use this to their advantage, marketing rabbits toward parents of small children. Unfortunately, many of these rabbits end up in shelters or rescue centers because the owners didn’t know how to handle them, or the novelty wore off for their children.

Before you’re drawn in by those big beautiful eyes and large floppy ears, make sure that you are prepared. Pets are for life, not something to be picked up on impulse and later tossed away. Caring for rabbits, especially those that have been neglected or abused, is more difficult than you may think.

First of all, even if you’ve been told that the rabbit that you adopt has been allowed to have free roam of its home and is litter box trained, this does not mean that your new bunny buddy will use a litter box immediately upon arriving in your home. Rabbits can be litter trained, certainly, but it’s a fairly involved process that centers around careful placement of the litter box. You will likely have to start the training process again from square one.

A lot of people consider rabbits to be good first pets for children. They seem tame and calm, incapable of causing harm. It’s important to note, however, that rabbits can display aggressive territorial behaviors when not properly trained. When frightened, rabbits will also kick out with their powerful hind legs, and the scratches resulting from those kicks can be very painful.

Aggressive shows of behavior don’t mean that your bunny is “bad” or “mean”. It’s likely that your new friend has not been properly trained, and hasn’t been shown affection and love. Be patient. You’ll have to prove to your new friend that you can be trusted.

Even if you plan on allowing your rabbit to roam free in your house, it’s important that you begin with a cage. Keep your bunny in its cage until it is comfortable with its new surroundings, and with each member of your family. This helps prevent aggression related to territorial issues.

It’s also essential to “rabbit-proof” your home. Bunnies are natural chewers, and will chew on most anything, including furniture, curtains, clothing, and carpeting. Keep your rabbit distracted with toys that it can chew on and give it lots of love and attention. Rabbits will also chew on exposed wires. This is very dangerous, both for your bunny and your house, as it poses a fire hazard. Wrapping loose cords in a cord saver or electrical tape will help keep everyone safe.

If you catch your bunny chewing, never hit or yell at him. The only thing this teaches your rabbit is to fear you. Instead, offer alternatives to the bad behavior, and use positive reinforcement in the form of treats or praise.

If you’re looking for a cuddly, loving, and cute new pet, rabbits are just the ticket. If you care for your rabbit properly, have realistic expectations, are are patient and kind, your new bunny buddy will bring joy into your life for many years.

“A great many people now reading and writing would be better employed in keeping rabbits”. ~ Dame Edith Sitwell

Forget Rabbits For Sale, Rescue a Rabbit Instead

“Attack Rabbit: Do Not Touch.”

A simple sign was plastered across the tiny wire cage, discouraging any visitors to the animal shelter to move on to the next rabbit. Inside the tiny cage staring wistfully outside the plastic window was a small Silver Marten who would grunt and lunge at anyone brave enough to reach inside her cage. Rotten food sat in her dish and there was nothing to keep her busy during the long, solitary days.

Her adopted name was Stormie.

Vet visits revealed her reason for lunging and grunting, aside from the fact that she was confined to a tiny space 24/7,  needed to be spayed and had severe arthritis. Little did anyone realize Stormie was an old girl who was in a lot of pain, pain that could be helped with medication and extra love.

Licorice, and her brother, Bruiser, are silver martens who are currently available for adoption along with lots of other rabbits at petfinder.com.

There are thousands of house rabbits just like Stormie, forgotten by those who bought them on a whim, living in outdoor hutches or cages that are too small, suffering until, if they are lucky, someone comes along and rescues them. Those who are not that lucky die never having known the love of a real family.

Adopting and caring for an abused bunny can be extremely rewarding, but it also requires love, plenty of patience, and in some cases expensive veterinary care. There are some things you can do to make the experience better for both you and for your new family member.

Before you adopt a rabbit, abused or otherwise, be absolutely certain you are ready for the responsibility. Rabbits can live as many as 12 years or more and required specialized veterinarian care that is often more costly than vet care for a dog or a cat. Rabbits are also very sociable animals who need attention and interaction.

Once you’ve decided to adopt an abused rabbit, find out anything you can about her past, which can help you identify what triggers her behavior. For example, perhaps she lived in a home with a young child and was hit on the nose. That could be the reason she grunts and doesn’t like to be touched. Chances are, though, that you won’t know your rabbit’s past, making patience and understanding even more important.

While many people allow their rabbits to have free run of the house, once it’s been bunny-proofed, you don’t want to give your rabbit that much freedom at first. Start small, giving her access to a small area of a room and slowly allow her more freedom. Whether she will have free run or live in a pen or cage, make sure you give her a box or something she can hide in when she needs time to be alone or when she becomes frightened. (Rabbits who live in a cage or a pen should have at least four hours of play time out every day.)

Unlike their cartoon portrayal, rabbits are generally not cuddly animals and rabbits who have been abused or neglected may be even more wary of human attention, especially if they’re only used to negative attention. Don’t force yourself on your bunny; rather, allow her to come to you in her own time. A good tactic is to sit on the floor and do something, like clipping coupons or reading a book, and allow your bunny to come over and explore you when she’s comfortable. Just be sure you ignore her while she’s checking you out.

If your new house rabbit hasn’t been spayed or neutered prior to adoption, be sure that you schedule the surgery. Female rabbits are prone to ovarian cancer, and hormones can make both male and female rabbits grouchy. Altering can help calm your rabbit down and help with the bonding process between you and her.

In addition to being altered, your rabbit should get a thorough check-up by an experienced rabbit veterinarian after you bring her home to check for such problems as arthritis, malocclusion, and other common health problems in rabbits. Prey animals, rabbits hide their illnesses, in many cases until it is too late, so you must keep a careful eye on your rabbit for any sign that something may be wrong.

If you’re not sure how to care for your rabbit or how to make her more comfortable, talk with your vet or contact your local chapter of the House Rabbit Society. There are plenty of experienced bunny owners who are willing to offer advice and support, or take a look at the Humane Society’s website, which has lots of good information on caring for your rabbit.

“Say; thems fightin’ woids.” ~ Bugs Bunny