For those of you who have adopted, congratulations! You’ve just joined the millions worldwide who have found the special loving family bond that only their pets can provide.

For Cats 

Here are nine ways to Welcome Your New Cat to Its New Forever Family!  

!.  Go slowly at first. A new cat may need seven to fourteen days to relax into his/her new environment.  Save meet-and-greets with friends, neighbors, and relatives until the cat is eating and eliminating on a normal schedule.

2.  Offer him/her a safe place to hide while they get their bearings. They’ll appreciate the chance to observe their new family’s routine from a small, dark space or one high above the action.

3.  Bring your new feline to a caring veterinarian for a wellness exam within one week after adoption.

4.  Provide the same diet he/she had at our shelter for at least for the first week or two.  If you wish to switch to a different flavor or brand, slowly make the switch over one to two weeks, starting with a quarter ration of the new food mixed into the old favorite.  From there, up the ratio of the new to old about 10% each day.

5.  Set up a litter box in a quiet, low-traffic area.  Unsure of litter to use? The majority of cats prefer fine grain to clumpy litter. Try that first unless the new adoptee is so young that she is in the litter-eating stage.  Non-clumping litter is recommended for kittens under ten weeks of age.

6.  Cats must scratch, so make sure to provide yours with a sturdy, rough textured scratching post to save wear and tear on furniture.  Cat manicures every ten to fourteen days also help reduce this possibility.

7.  Cat-proof your home before giving your new feline the run of the house. Put away harsh cleaning products, human medications, and household poisons. Re-home any poisonous houseplants. And if the newcomer is a kitten, lock away any breakables and remember to keep the toilet lid down.

8.  Once settled in, a young cat or kitten will be eager to play.  Stock up on interactive toys (available at our shelter).  Inactive toys include feather wands and kitty fishing poles to engage attention and direct energies toward a positive pursuit.

9.  Ready a comfortable cat perch on a sunny window sill and if it overlooks a birdfeeder, all the better! Observing live birds and squirrels beats out kitty videos any day.

And last, but not leasst, spend time with and ENJOY your new best friend!

For Dogs 

Here are some things that you will need to welcome your new dog to its forever home!

Food and water bowls.

Lots of chew toys such as NYLA BONES and KONG TOYS.

A dog-bed or designated spot for sleeping that is cozy.

A leash and CHECK COLLAR- available at our shelter at our online store!

A brush and dog-shampoo for bathing.

Some other things to consider:

Food - There are many excellent commercial dog foods on the market today. We recommend that you keep feeding your new puppy the food that he/she was given at our shelter. This high quality food has a high nutritional content and balance for excellent health. If you choose to use a different brand, please note that it is very important for you to slowly mix in the new food with the current food, little by little increasing the amount of the new food. Making this change slowly can avoid the onset of diarrhea, stomach upset, and other ails.

Puppies under six months are fed three times per day. After six months we recommend feeding twice per day - once in the morning, and once in the evening.

We have several recommendations for training your new dog. For local resources on obedience classes and training, please refer to our resources link. We recommend using the crate training method for house-breaking your dog. Please look forward to more detailed information to be posted here about crate training. Meanwhile, call us at 209-984-5489 and ask to speak with a knowledgeable kennel caretaker staff member regarding this wonderful and successful technique. If you adopted your dog at our shelter, you also received a DVD that has very specific training techniques, including crate-training so please take the time to watch it.

Thank you for your support