Why and how to… train your cat to come when called

did-you-say-treatsOne of the first things I start doing the first day I have a new foster cat is to teach him or her to come when called. This isn’t just a party trick! Just like for dogs, teaching your cat “recall” or to come to you when you make a particular sound or say a particular word can save your kitty’s life one day. While we very strongly recommend that all cats be kept safely as indoor-only pets, accidents can happen. Visitors, a door or window that doesn’t close properly, or even natural disasters can cause your cat to get lost from your home. If your cat gets out unintentionally, having a recall word or sound will help your cat come out of hiding and come back to you. I’ve seen it work for a newly adopted and newly escaped cat who dashed out of his new home’s front door just a few days after going to her new home! Here’s how to train your cat using positive reinforcement to come to you when you call or make your special cat-come-to-me sound.

1. What’s your cat’s reward? Each cat is different, so first you have to find something that your cat really really really likes. Not just *eh* likes, but the likes the most of all. For most cats, a special food treat does the trick. Try wet food in a can or crunchy treats in a bag, and you may have to try a lot of different flavors till you find the one that your cat goes absolutely bananas for when you take it out. If you can’t find a food reward that your cat over-the-top loves, your cat’s reward may be playing with a special toy. You know, the one you have to hide in the closet so they won’t rip it to shreds? Yes, that one! Or maybe your cat loves getting brushed with their favorite comb by their favorite person. Whatever it is, reserve that reward only for recall. That helps make it very special and valued, to motivate your cat.

2. What’s your cat’s recall sound? Cats have extraordinary hearing, but humans aren’t the best at making very unique sounds. Think about how a foreign language sounds when you don’t understand it, the words all sound very similar. That one reason why we’ve found a unique sound works better than a word (like “come” that’s often used with dogs) for training cats. Also, if you designate a unique sound over a regular word, you’re not going accidentally say it frequently in conversation which might confuse or desensitize your cat.

A sound you can make with your mouth is great because in a real emergency, you’re not going to be running around trying to locate that bag of treats to shake, or can of food and a fork to clink, or a clicker to click. Some unique non word sounds we’ve heard people use to train their cat to recall are a high-pitched “ki-ki-ki” sound, a “pssssst” sound, a clicking sound made with the tongue on the roof of their mouth, or a whistle if you’re good at whistling the same tone reliably even if you’re in a disaster panic. If not everyone in your home is comfortable using a unique sound, the treat bag shake or clinking can is a good fallback as long as you always have extra somewhere you’ll be, like in the glovebox of your car.

3. Repetition for association. For the first month, every day, ideally at the same time of day, you will walk up to your cat, and make your sound while you are rewarding your cat. So if your sound is “ki-ki-ki” you might feed your cat 5 treats and say “ki-ki-ki” ten times as she is eating them. Not before, not after — during the feeding. Repeat that once a day every day for the first month. Yes every day, try not to skip any days! If you feed your cat two or three times a day and your cat comes running when you feed her, you can make the sound a few times while you’re feeding her and while she is eating too. (Don’t forget to add some additional exercise to your cat’s day to work off those treat calories!)

4. Distance gradually. After a month, instead of walking up to your cat with the reward in your hand, walk towards your cat, but stop a few feet away, and then make your recall sound. (While the cat is awake, please, not while she’s sleeping!) She should at least look at you, and she may move toward you. Lots of rewards while making the sound again! Gradually a foot or two a day you can increase the distance away from your cat that you make your sound. Soon you will have a cat that will come to you when you make your sound even from far away!

We hope this article helps you and your cat learn to come when called and will help your cat return to you safely if she ever accidentally escapes.

Book Review: Catification by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin

Catification-big-eyesCan you see the excitement on my foster cat’s face? He has been listening to me oooh and ahh over the ideas in Jackson Galaxy’s newest book Catification – Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!) and he can’t wait for me to get started on some of the projects I bookmarked! You may be wondering, what is catification? Jackson says, “The Catification process starts by understanding how your cat sees the world.” It ends with you making your home into a well-designed environment for both you and your cat! This book starts out by helping you understand where Catification ideas come from, as well as the terms Jackson and his co-author Kate use when talking about cats and the designing process. If you start out by skipping ahead like me you may miss out on the full meaning of what’s a Beach Dweller or The Cat Superhighway, and part of the fun of this book! Speaking of fun,  I counted thirty-four “Catification in Action” projects in this advance copy, wow. Even if you are DIY challenged and on very tight budget, there’s such a range of ideas for all types of people, cats, and homes.  The projects are a mix of photos and stories from Jackson’s TV show My Cat from Hell, along with user submitted projects and photos. Even if you’ve seen every episode from all five seasons, the TV episode ones are behind-the-scenes looks at the cats, the issues, and the Certification part of the behavior solutions. The user submitted projects are from around the world, and include the projects described in their creator’s own words, along with comments by Jackson and Kate highlighting what’s so great about them and sometimes how they could go even a step further. So which projects will I be taking on? Read on to find out…

Since I recently moved, the timing of this book to help me Catify my new place is purrfect.  Even though I built a catio in my previous home, I’d relied on a contractor to execute my designs. A lot of the projects hang things like shelves from the walls, to make more cat traffic routes and take advantage of vertical space. I have to admit, I’m too insecure about my abilities to make those secure to try any of the wall-mounted ideas — yet! So I started with the Planter Cat Bed. This really is a “project” than anyone can take on, it’s about using “any old planter pot” and adding a comfy cushion to make an instant cat bed. I know how much cat’s like sinks and tubs, and it simply hadn’t occurred to me that a ceramic planter pot is rather like a sink, just portable and much more stylish to have sitting on your floor! I just so happened to have a perfectly sized and shaped clay pot that was empty after yet another failed houseplant attempt. My current batch of foster cats seem to prefer towels to cushions, so I modified the project and now have three cats all vying for the new spot, I mean pot!

Next on my project list… the Kitty Box Hammock! It uses a fleece blanket and a cardboard box. Speaking of fleece blankets, there’s a diagram for how to cut an Easy No-Sew Fleece Blanket I’m going to try too, and… well, I’ve got enough bookmarked to keep me and my supervisors (aka foster cats) busy for a while already!

Jackson Galaxy comes from the animal shelter world. His projects and advice help cats and their people live happy lives together, so fewer cats are abandoned at shelters. Thank you Jackson, for all that you’re doing helping so many cats and their families!

Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin’s fantastic new Catification book comes out this month. You can preorder it now from various online retailers. For every copy pre-ordered, $1 will be donated to organizations dedicated to helping homeless cats! Check out the links to order on Jackson Galaxy’s website at http://jacksongalaxy.com/2014/05/21/pre-order-catification-by-jackson-galaxy-kate-benjamin-and-help-support-cat-rescue/

CatificationBook1

Do dogs like to be pat on the head? (With videos!)

dog-being-pet-on-headThere’s just something so appealing about the smooth or shaggy top of a dog’s head. Cats too, but humans haven’t passed down the tradition of patting a strange cat on the head! The truth is, most dogs don’t like be patted – as in a tap tap tap motion with our hand – on the top of their head. Look at Gizmo in the photo, a classic closing of the eyes and moving his head away from being pat. So why do we humans continue this tradition? Well, dogs heads are often the closest part of the dog to our hand that isn’t a part that we obviously don’t want to pet, like say their nose or their eyes. Then there’s what we learned as children, since humans often show each other affection in this way. Think of a mother comforting her child, stroking their hair soothingly – essentially petting them on the head. Humans learn from other humans and that’s why we continue the dog pat on the head routine.

How can you tell if a dog or your dog likes to be pat on the head? If you really watch a dog’s body language as you pet him, you can often see subtle (to the untrained human eye) signs of nervousness or discomfort. For example, watch the video of me petting my anxious dog Max. He does love to be pet and massaged on his body usually, but near his face/head makes him nervous:

You can see him licking his lips which is a nervous sign, and then he’s a little conflicted, he wants to be a good dog so at the end he puts his head down, but he’s actually turning away and looking away as he does it, as he really doesn’t want to be pet.

A real easy way to “read” if a dog you don’t know likes being pat on the head or pet anywhere else: Try a pat or two, then stop and see if the dog asks you for more!  Here’s a video of Gizmo doing that, asking for more petting by walking/leaning into me each time I stop:

While dogs don’t show each other affection using their paws on each other, many dogs certainly enjoy having humans pet them. Neck rubs, base of tail scratches, back massages, even belly rubs are asked for and enjoyed with boundless enthusiasm by many dogs!There are so many great places to pet a dog that he or she will enjoy. Just remember to restrain yourself from that pat on the head.

Dogs Rescued Together Reveal The True Meaning Of Friendship

MonicaChandlerSafe

This amazing video’s title really sums it up perfectly, “A Dog Rescue Video That Will Make You Laugh, Smile & Believe In True Love!” Rescue From The Heart is a nonprofit animal rescue in Los Angeles. Their founder, Annie Hart, has a wonderful talent for capturing stray dogs that have often eluded capture by other kind-hearted folks. She works with other rescue organizations and volunteers to help save so many dogs, including this pair of scruffy white little dogs, Monica and Chandler. Annie says…

“Monica and Chandler were abandoned by their past owners and left to fend for themselves on the streets of Los Angeles, but their love for each other helped them survive. It also bonded them for life.

Once these two lovebirds were safely in our care, they made the fastest transition from frightened of humans, to affectionate and outgoing we’ve ever seen! It never ceases to amaze me how resilient dogs are and their capacity to let go of the past, forgive humans and embrace a second chance.

MonicaChandlerAfter

Both pups were found un-neutered, had horrible flea and tick infestations, and suffered from giardia. Rescue From The Hart covered all of their medical care and both dogs are now happy, healthy and looking for a forever home, where they can be together forever!”

You can find out more about adopting this adorable pair on their Adopt-a-Pet.com pages at http://www.adoptapet.com/pet/11615466 and http://www.adoptapet.com/pet/11615453.

 

Photos and video by: Annie Hart

Moving with your pets

cat-in-box-packing Last month I moved with my pets. It had been over a decade since I last moved, even though I consider myself a “pro” at moving with pets, there were still some surprises! My moving experience has been mostly long-distance moves, the kind that took me and my dogs and cats around the world or across the country. This time I was “only” moving about a half an hour away, but as anyone who’s done a local move with or without their pets before can tell you, you still have to pack everything and plan ahead to make sure everyone arrives safely! Here are some planning and safety tip checklists for locally moving with your pets.

Packing and moving can really stress out your pets. Even if you can’t see any signs, your pet may be quietly getting freaked out, and may do something totally out of character – like bolt out the front door. Better to be prepared than surprised!

One week before you move:

__ Verify pet has current ID tag and microchip registration with multiple phone numbers.

__ Locate one crate/seatbelt harness per pet.

__ Pet crate inspection: Check for any cracks, loose fasteners, bent bars etc and repair/replace.

__ If your pet is used to staying at a friend or relative’s home, ask if they can spend moving day.

__ If you can, setup a “safe room” for your pets at your new home. This could be a large bathroom or bedroom with a door that you can lock. Keep the windows locked too, even if there are screens.

__ If you have dogs that will be out in a new yard, thoroughly inspect fencing (both top and bottom and strength) and make any needed repairs to make it extra secure.

Night before moving day:

__ Lock any cats in bedroom with you.

__ Make a “week one” box of supplies you’ll need for your pet(s) during the first week. Food, bowls, litter, litterboxes, etc. Pack this in your car or somewhere you’ll have easy access to it right away.

Day of move:

___ Before any doors are opened to start moving out your belongings, secure all pets in crates or on leash that you or a trusted family/friend holds during the packing and moving.

___ Unpack pets first! Put them in the safe room and lock the door. If you can’t lock the door, put a large X of tape on it and tape across the door handle.

First week:

Know that cats may hide for days or weeks, even cats that are not usually shy.

Keep a leash on your dogs for the first week in your new yard even if fencing seems secure.

If your cats go outdoors, wait 30 DAYS (yes, a full 30 days) before letting them outside. One theory is that cats (and dogs too) have an internal compass that takes that long to be reset. No, really! Just like homing pigeons. That’s possibly how pets manage to travel hundreds of miles and find their way home. Here’s a research article about how that and how pets detect the earth’s magnetic field. One more reason to be extra careful about keeping your pets safely contained both during and after a move.

We hope these tips help your move be a success. Welcome to your new home!

See our other articles about Traveling With Pets for more tips.

Rehome My Pet: How To Find A Home For My Pet

Seeking a loving home for your pet? Explore our guide on effective rehoming strategies to ensure your furry friend finds a safe home.

Adopt-a-Pet.com has a program available for individuals in the U.S. who need help with cat or dog rehoming. See more info at rehome.adoptapet.com and read our tips below!

cat-dog-wanted-a-new-homeWhether you rescued a pet from a shelter, one you found abandoned in the street, or from a home that could not or no longer wanted to keep him or her — you are a pet hero! Thank you for helping a pet in need and trying to find him or her a new loving home. (If you are trying to find a new home for your own pet, please click that link for an article that is written just for your situation.) Adopt-a-Pet.com is a service that lets shelters and rescue groups list their animals for adoption.  We also have a peer-to-peer service called Rehome that allows individuals in the U.S. to post pets they cannot keep or stray/rescue dogs and cats to our website. If you have a stray or found pet that you would like to Rehome, please read our tips if you find a stray pet before doing so. The information below is not intended as a complete guide to rehoming a pet, but is a great way to get started. Thank you again for helping a homeless pet!

Find your pet a new home yourself

More than likely, you will need to do the work yourself to find the pet a good home. Don’t worry – Rehome is here to help! If you choose to post your pet on Rehome, you will be guided through the entire process- from creating your pet’s profile to transferring vet records to the new owner. There is no fee to list a pet on Rehome and once your pet’s profile is live, millions of potential adopters will be able to view her or him. If you cannot keep the pet in your home, ask friends and family to help, or look for a boarding facility or veterinary office where you can pay to house the pet. Don’t house the pet too far away or it will be hard to show him/her to potential adopters. Here are a couple other tips that can help you with the rehoming process:

  • Friends, family, coworkers and neighbors are valuable adoption resources. Not only are they potential adopters, but they can help spread the word to others as well.
  • Have the pet spayed or neutered-you’ll have better luck adopting him or her out!

Screen any potential new home

If you are considering giving the pet to someone you don’t know, you will want to screen them to ensure the match is a good one. Let your pet’s personality be a guide for what questions to ask. Is your pet good with cats, dogs, and kids? Does she have any characteristics that warrant a more experienced pet owner? If you are using Rehome, you’ll get suggestions on how to screen applicants to find the best home for your rescue dog or cat.

Once you’ve chosen a few top applicants, you should meet with the potential adopter in person to make sure it is a good fit. Through Rehome, we offer tips on how to set up a safe and successful in-person meeting. Trust your intuition—you want to be sure that the adopter has your pet’s interests at heart. You may want to check identification and ask for references. Let the new adopter know they can call you for questions or advice.When you pick the perfect new home for your pet and transfer ownership, you may want to give the new owner a call after about a week to find out how things are going.

Do NOT give away a pet for free

Free pets are much more likely to be abandoned, and in some cases, someone might be seeking to obtain a pet for free to use for an illegal purpose such as dog fighting. When using Rehome, there will always be an adoption fee applied that will be donated to help more pets find their forever homes. Having someone pay money for a pet is one of the most important ways to be assured that the person who is taking the pet is serious about wanting them, and can afford to pay for the food and veterinary care the pet will need throughout his/her life.

rescue-cat-new-home

Surrender to a rescue or no-kill shelter?

There are privately-run shelters and rescue organizations that do not kill pets. But because they keep the pets for as long as it takes to find a new home, they are usually filled to capacity, so it can take weeks to get an appointment. If you do find a “no-kill” organization than might take the pet you rescued, offering as big a tax-deductible donation as possible will help. Remember, in the case of private shelters and rescue groups, they are just people who are doing their best because they care about pets, most are volunteers spending significant amounts of their own money to cover vet bills, and they all get far more legitimate hard luck cases than they can possibly handle each day. For a list of shelters and rescues in your area, click here.

Surrender to a public shelter?

It is greatly preferable to find the pet a home yourself rather than taking him/her to a shelter. Even the best shelter is stressful for the animal, and you have only one animal to focus on while a shelter may have hundreds. Publicly run animal shelters are already overcrowded and, in many cities, a majority of the pets are not adopted, but instead are euthanized. Even purebred and friendly pets are routinely destroyed at public shelters to make space for new pets coming in. The extent of the overpopulation problem varies from area to area. For a list of shelters and rescues in your area, click here.

Remember, this pet has NO ONE but YOU—The loyalty you show and effort you put forth to find this pet a new loving home, even if it causes inconvenience for you now, will be well worth it when you know that this pet is living out a healthy and happy life!

Thanks again for helping to find a rescued pet a new loving home!

If you have any further questions about cat or dog rehoming, please visit our FAQs page.

How can I find a new home for my pet?

Adopt-a-Pet.com has a program available for individuals in the U.S. who need help with cat or dog rehoming. See more info at rehome.adoptapet.com and read our tips below!

adopt-dog-cat-posterThank you for caring enough to try to find a good home for your pet! (If you are looking to find a new home for a pet that you found or rescued, please click that link for an article tailored for that scenario instead.) Adopt-a-Pet.com is a non-profit resource that allows animal shelters and rescue groups to list their animals for adoption. In coordination with the Petco Foundation, we now offer a feature for individuals in the United States called Rehome where you can post your cat or dog to Adopt-a-Pet.com for free! Once your pet’s profile is approved, your cat or dog will appear in search results on Adopt-a-Pet.com for millions of potential adopters to see.

However, before you give up your pet, we encourage you to take advantage of the many resources available for solving problems and keeping pets in their homes. Read on…

Behavior problems

For pet behavior problems such as barking, digging, scratching, problem urination, etc., first talk to your veterinarian—some behaviors can be caused by health problems, and for others there may be medications available.

  • For dog behavior issues, consult with a trainer or dog behaviorist in your area. You can also find dog behavior help articles in our Dog Behavior and Training guide.  Keep in mind that if your dog has a behavior problem, it will need to be addressed at some point, and generally in his home with the people he loves and trusts is the best place.
  • For cat behavior issues, we have many articles here that can help – and also visit the Cats International website at www.catsinternational.org or call (262) 375-8852 after you have spoken with your veterinarian. Most cat behavior problems are solvable!
  • If you are concerned about your pet being home alone, consider enrolling your dog in a doggy daycare, hiring a dog walker, or getting another animal to keep him/her company.

Moving

If you are moving or having trouble with your landlord, see Renting With Pets for tips on finding or keeping a pet-friendly rental.

 

Allergies

If you or a family member have allergies: There are products available at pet stores that you can spray on your pet to reduce allergens. Quality air filters can also make a big difference. And today’s allergy medications can alleviate most symptoms. Your doctor can give you more information. You can also find helpful tips to reduce or eliminate pet allergies in our Reduce Allergies to Pets article.

If you absolutely must find your pet another home, remember that your animal has only you to depend on to make sure that he/she lives in a safe and healthy environment. Your loyalty to your pet and willingness to put forth some effort will make it possible for your animal to live a happy and healthy life.

Surrender to a public shelter?

It is greatly preferable to find your pet a home yourself rather than taking him/her to a shelter. Even the best shelter is stressful for the animal, and you have only one animal to focus on while a shelter may have hundreds. Publicly run animal shelters may already be overcrowded and, in many cities,  pets that are not adopted may be euthanized. Even purebred and friendly pets are not an exception. The extent of the overpopulation problem varies from area to area. For a list of shelters and rescues in your area, click here.

Surrender to a rescue or no-kill shelter?

There are privately-run shelters and rescue organizations that do not kill pets. But because they keep the pets for as long as it takes to find a new home, they are usually filled to capacity, so it can take weeks or even months to get an intake appointment. If you do find a “no-kill” organization that might take your animal, offering a big tax-deductible donation may help. Remember, in the case of private shelters and rescue groups, they are just people who are doing their best because they care about pets, most are volunteers spending significant amounts of their own money to cover vet bills, and they all get far more legitimate hard luck cases than they can possibly handle each day. For a list of shelters and rescues in your area, click here.

Find your pet a new home yourselfcat-dog-rehoming

More than likely, you will need to do the work yourself to find your pet a good home. If you cannot keep the pet in your home, ask friends and family to help, or look for a boarding facility or veterinary office where you can pay to house the pet. Don’t house the pet too far away or it will be hard to show him/her to potential adopters.

  • Friends, family, coworkers and neighbors are valuable adoption resources. Not only are they potential adopters, but they can help spread the word to others as well.
  • Have you pet spayed or neutered-you’ll have better luck adopting him or her out!
  • Post your pet on Rehome. Our Rehome team understands how difficult the decision can be to rehome your pet, and they are here to guide you through the process from start to finish to help you find the best new home for your cat or dog. All you have to do is start here and fill out health and behavioral questions, write a story to describe your pet, and add photos and videos so potential adopters can see your pet. It’s that easy!

Screen any potential new home

If you are considering giving your pet to someone you don’t know, you will want to screen them to ensure the match is a good one. Let your pet’s personality be a guide for what questions to ask. Is your pet good with cats, dogs, and kids? Does she have any characteristics that warrant a more experienced pet owner?

Other questions you should ask are: Will the pet be allowed inside the house? Have they had pets before? Did their pets die of natural causes or for reasons that make you suspect they were not properly cared for? Our Rehome Team will also give you tips and tricks for spotting red flags and filtering through applications so you can be confident that you are choosing the right new family.

After you’ve done some initial screening and have a good candidate, bring the pet and person together to meet. The Rehome team will also offer advice on how to set up safe in-person meetings between you and the potential new adopter. Some of our best advice is to trust your intuition—you want to be sure that the adopter has your pet’s interests at heart. You may want to check identification and ask for references. Let the new adopter know they can call you for questions or advice. If you decide to that this person is the right new family for your pet, Rehome will help you sign a contract of new ownership and help you to transfer all medical records. Even if you do not find the new pet owner through Rehome, you can still post your pet on our platform to utilize our contract signing and records transfer to ensure a safe hand off. After a week or so, give them a call to find out how things are going.

Do NOT give away a pet for free

Free pets are much more likely to be abandoned, and in some cases, someone might be seeking to obtain a pet for free to use for an illegal purpose such as dog fighting. You should charge an adoption fee that is equal to or greater than the adoption fee charged by your local animal shelter for that type of pet. Don’t be shy to charge money for your pet! Having someone pay money for a pet is one of the most important ways to be assured that the person who is taking the pet is serious about wanting them, and can afford to pay for the food and veterinary care the pet will need throughout his/her life. If you do not want to keep the money you receive for the pet, you can donate it to your local shelter or rescue. You can also offer to hold it as a veterinary fund for the pet. That is a great way to ensure that the adopter is serious about wanting the pet, the pet has a small fund for veterinary care, and you will continue to be able to monitor the health of your pet. If you find your pet a new family through Rehome, the adoption fee will be donated to help get even more pets adopted.

Remember, your pet has NO ONE but YOU—The loyalty you show and effort you put forth to find your pet a new loving home, even if it causes inconvenience for you now, will be well worth it when you know that your pet is living out a healthy and happy life!

 

If you have any further questions about cat or dog rehoming, please visit our FAQs page.

Do all pet adoption agencies have strict restrictions?

breeder-vs-rescueHere at Adopt-a-Pet.com we receive all types of email from potential adopters. Below is one email we received recently that struck a chord with us. Nothing saddens us more than a wonderful potential home who gets frustrated trying to adopt a pet, to the point where they are considering turning to a breeder or pet store. That means instead of a homeless pet being saved, that home might be funding one of the causes of pet overpopulation — and as a result, pets being killed in shelters. That’s tragic! Especially because we KNOW that no matter what the type of pet a home wants to adopt, that pet can almost always be found in a shelter or rescue, hoping to be one of the lucky ones that gets adopted. It is true that if the potential adopter is very specific and set in what they want (say, a rare breed purebred puppy) it may take more time or driving farther. But isn’t a little patience and extra effort worth saving a pet’s life? Here’s our recent email exchange… and find out which puppy in the photo is from a breeder and which is from a rescue!

 

Dear Jennifer,

I’m hoping you can provide me with some guidance in my search for a Golden Retriever.  I am almost at a point were I am going to just buy one.  However, I want to try one more time to try to adopt.  I do want a purebred.  My pets have always been well kept. They sleep in my home and have a big yard with an invisible fence.  They always see a vet for check ups or health issues. I have a mixed breed that I adopted a long time ago.  I want him to have a friend, but it seems I never qualify.  Are there shelters or pet adoption agencies that do not put so many restrictions on potential adopters?

Sincerely,
Tom

 

Dear Tom,

We so appreciate you emailing us and asking for guidance!

Yes, there are thousands of shelters in the US and Canada that do not have any restrictions on potential adopters. Many city and county shelters only require you show up, show an ID, and pay the fee to walk out with your new dog.

However, because there are other people like yourself who are big fans of Golden Retrievers and other pets, many of those people volunteer to help those dogs so they aren’t killed in the shelters. That’s why you see so many of them in rescue organizations. Each rescue is different.  While some may have restrictions say against an invisible fence, others may not. I see today you’ve signed up for Search Saver for within 100 miles of your zip — that’s great! For each dog you see that interests you, I encourage you to email each rescue as you did me today.

I know with patience and perseverance, you can find the dog you want to adopt.

Good luck and thank you again for looking to adopt a pet!

Sincerely,
Jennifer

Did you guess which puppy in the photo is from a rescue and which is from a breeder? Answer: As of the writing of this article, BOTH puppies are for adoption from the same rescue organization! 

Find your perfect pet to adopt at www.adoptapet.com

Who is Your Favorite Pet?

Favorite-petsIf you said trick question, we’d have to agree with you! Choosing one pet might be impossible – as they are each so special and wonderful.  But choosing a bunch of your favorite pets? Well that could get a lot easier.  Now, when browsing Adopt-a-Pet.com you can login with Facebook and select your favorite pets from the site to be included in your Favorite Pets List, the newest feature we’ve rolled out. You are going to love this cool new tool. Here’s why:

  1. If you’re looking to adopt a pet, your Favorite Pets List is a great place to keep track of pets you’re interested in.  Search today, save to your Favorite Pets List, and come back anytime to see those pets again. We’ll fetch your favorite pets for you!
  2. You needn’t be looking to adopt a pet to get a lot of use from this tool. Think of your Favorite Pets List as your newest tool in advocacy – a virtual shelter of pets you want to help.  Save locally adoptable pets to your list and help them get adopted sooner by blasting their profiles out on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest – right from your Favorite Pets list.

If you haven’t yet, please visit Adopt-a-Pet.com and check out this new feature for yourselves. Then hop on our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe This Summer

hot-dog-tipsWe love Summer! With warm temperatures, sunshine on our faces, and social events galore this season has a lot of great things to offer, but there are also some potential dangers lurking for pets in warmer months. Do you know how to keep your pets safe? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Our mini Summer-Safety roundup guide has the basics you need for a fun and safe season with your best friend!

Click the links below to read more about how to keep your pets safe this summer with tips about heat, paws, pavement, fireworks, and more!

Summer Heat Safety for Pets: Check out some tips on how to keep your pet cool during walks, preventing heatstroke, and some guidelines about pets in cars.

Protecting Paws from Hot Pavement: Did you know when the air temperature is outside is measured at 77 degrees, asphalt in the sun has been measured at 125 degrees. Read more about pavement temperature and how to keep your dogs feet safe.

Summertime Pet Safety: Make sure you pet is safe from danger during all your summer fun.

Keep your Pets Safe this Summer:  Read up on some of the most important tips on proper summer pet care

Fireworks and Fourth of July Safety: You may live for the Fourth of July light shows, but your pet is likely dreading them. Here you’ll find some tips on how to keep him safe and ease the anxiety.

 

This story was updated from it original version, published on July 16, 2014.