Tag Archives: pet adoption

Cat Care, Dog Care, General Care

Adopting A Homeless Animal

Homeless Animal Day is coming up on August 20th. This was started by the International Society of Animal Rights back in 1992, as a way to raise awareness about the plight of homeless pets and the struggles and hardships they face. Of course, quite a few of our patients were once homeless themselves. And while not all stray animals are well-suited for a pet’s life, there are definitely some happy endings out there. A Georgetown, IN vet offers some tips on adopting homeless animals below.

Finding Your Furry Pal

The internet is overflowing with stray rescue stories. It’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming to see pets journey from frightened, scared, and often sick and/or malnourished strays to thriving pets. That said, adopting a stray will require patience, time, and lots of love. If you aren’t ready to commit, contact a rescue society or consider fostering the animal instead.

Age

Age often has a lot to do with how well homeless animals adapt to being pets. The odds of puppies and kittens making the transition successfully is usually quite high, especially when they’re young enough to still be socialized as babies. Older animals that are wary or aggressive may always be a bit timid or wary, but can thrive with proper TLC. Ultimately, it just depends on the pet.

Feral Or Stray

There are no physical differences between feral and stray animals, but there are mental ones. Feral animals are completely wild, and are often quite aggressive. Feral cats also may not use litterboxes, which is a dealbreaker for many. However, don’t assume that you can’t give a feral kitty a better life. Many of them make great barn cats! Strays, on the other hand, are used to being around humans. Many are former pets that were lost or abandoned. Others may have been neglected or abused, and will need time to learn to trust. Love takes time!

Settling In

If you find a hurt pet, your first move should be to seek veterinary care for it. Your furry pal is likely going to need to be dewormed, vaccinated, caught up on parasite control, and possibly fixed. Aside from that, give them time to adjust and settle in. You may find this to be a very rewarding and beautiful experience!

Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Contact us, your Georgetown, IN animal clinic!

Cat Care, Dog Care, General Care

Adopt A Shelter Pet Day

April 30th is Adopt A Shelter Pet Day! We’re delighted to help raise awareness about this important cause. There are far too many lovable animals in shelters, desperately hoping someone will take them home, love them, and care for them. A Georgetown, IN vet discusses shelter pets in this article.

The Numbers

The data on this issue is very sad and sobering. Every year, over 6 million pets enter America’s animal shelters. Those numbers are roughly split between dogs and cats. Unfortunately, many of those animals never leave. About 920,000 pets are euthanized each year.

There is some good news here, though: the number of euthanizations has dropped significantly, and is down from 2.6 million in 2011. There has also been a marked decline in the number of pets entering shelters. That figure was 7.2 million in 2011. And there are happy endings to celebrate. About 4.1 million shelter pets are adopted annually, while another 810,000 are reunited with their owners.

Benefits Of Going To A Shelter

If you’re considering adopting a new pet, please consider going through a shelter. It’s cheaper and more convenient than going through a breeder, and is a great way to pick out your perfect pet. You’ll also be helping other homeless animals, both by freeing up space and resources at the shelter and by supporting them financially through adoption fees.

Bringing Your Shelter Pet Home

As one can imagine, being in a shelter can be pretty traumatic for Fido and Fluffy. Your furry pal will probably need some time to decompress and settle in to their new digs. Don’t be surprised if they sleep a lot at first! That’s perfectly normal. Don’t force attention on your new pet. Focus on winning their trust instead. That requires great TLC, time, love, and patience.

Celebrating

Is your four-legged friend a former shelter pet? Do something special to celebrate! A yummy snack or a new plaything would not be inappropriate. Fido may also enjoy an adventure, such as a trip to the park, while Fluffy may like some catnip or a piece of kitty furniture. (Then again, your feline pal may be purrfectly delighted with an empty box. There’s no accounting for taste!)

Please reach out with questions or concerns about your pet’s health or care. As your local Georgetown, IN animal clinic, we’re here to help!

Cat Care, Dog Care, General Health

Tips for Saving on Pet Care

Wouldn’t we all like to save a little money now and again when it comes to pet care? The trick is doing this without slighting your animal companion’s health and wellness! Here, your Georgetown, IN veterinarian offers a few tips.

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Saving money when it comes to pets can happen before you even own one—instead of purchasing a pet from a pet store or breeder, consider adopting one from a shelter. The cost of adopting a pet is almost always far less than a breeder’s rate, and you’ll be saving a life!

Preventative Care

Preventing a problem before it begins isn’t just smart—it’s cost effective. Have your pet stay up-do-date on pest preventatives to ward off fleas, ticks, and dangerous worms. Also make sure Fido or Fluffy has received their essential vaccinations to protect against disease. By taking these preventative steps, you’re saving yourself the cost and hassle of treating a problem after the fact. Remember: prevention is almost always far cheaper than treatment!

Portion Control

Make sure to feed your pet in proper portion sizes. By overfeeding your four-legged friend, you’re wasting food, meaning that you’ll have to purchase more kibble more frequently. You’re also contributing to obesity, which will be costly and difficult to correct down the road! Take a look at your pet’s food packaging, or ask your veterinarian for advice on the perfect portion size for your animal companion.

Spay and Neuter

Spaying and neutering is one of the best things you’ll ever do for your pet’s health. It’s also a great way to save money. That’s because the spaying and neutering procedure eliminates the risk of genital cancers from developing, and it greatly reduces the chance of other cancers like breast and prostate cancer from occurring. Even common ailments like UTIs aren’t as likely to occur in pets who have had the procedure done. By avoiding these problems, you’re avoiding the expensive bills that come with treatment.

Skip the Extras

Let’s face it—your pet doesn’t really know, much less care, if she’s wearing a name-brand clothing item or a designer collar. Indulgences like these are fun every once in a while, but overdoing it is only wasting your hard-earned cash. Stick to the basics; your pet won’t mind!

Does your pet need vaccinations or pest-control medicines? Would you like to set up a veterinary exam? Call your Georgetown, IN vet.