Watch all The Friskies Award Winners!

Sometimes we feel the internet was made for cat videos… after watching all the amazing videos that were The Friskies award finalists was definitely one of those moments!  On November 14 in Los Angeles, an eager world received news of just which cats would receive the first-ever major industry award for Internet cat videos, “The Friskies.” And a blind cat named Oskar led the way… running away with their $15,000 Grand Prize! Watch all “The Friskies”-winning videos here. Of course we especially love that because of all your likes, votes, comments, and shares during “The Friskies” 2012 Internet cat video contest, Friskies® donated 250,000 cans of cat food to 25 cat rescue organizations across the United States. Friskies® says THANK YOU for helping us make a difference in the lives of rescue cats across America!

For more information about The Friskies donation program, visit: http://www.thefriskies.com/giving/

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Welcoming Your Newcomer

Purina-Dog-Content-Brand Helping your new canine friend adapt to his  new home will be easier if you plan ahead. If you have all a dog’s basic needs in place you can focus on introducing him to his new surroundings and begin his training. [See all our other puppy and dog articles in our Doggie Tips section!]

Do your shopping in advance. If your choice is a puppy, you’ll need a collar and leash, a crate (a great aid in housebreaking), brush or hand mitt for grooming, toys that will be safe for the puppy, a bed for the puppy, as well as non-tippable, easy-to-clean food and water bowls. For more information, see our Puppy Necessities article.

If the puppy will be spending time outdoors when they are older, choose a well-insulated doghouse large enough to accommodate the puppy at its full-grown size. It should be located on a high, well-drained site protected from the wind. Choose a location that provides outdoor shade during the summer.

You’ll want the proper diet on hand to meet the special nutritional needs of your rapidly growing newcomer. Purina® brand Puppy Foods are formulated to provide the extra protein, calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients puppies require. Please remember: puppies have unique nutritional needs and benefit from a food formulated for those needs.

Select a veterinarian for your new puppy as soon as possible. Ask dog-owning friends and neighbors for recommendations. Choosing a veterinarian who is located nearby is a convenience and saves time if an emergency should occur.

Make arrangements with the person from whom you are getting the puppy as to the time you will pick him up. Avoid bringing home a new pet during busy times such as birthdays and holidays. Family members are generally too busy with the festivities to devote adequate time to help a puppy become comfortable in his new home. Ask that the puppy not be fed prior to pick-up time. This helps avoid the puppy’s becoming car sick on his way to its new home.

Once in his new home, remember that your puppy needs to adjust to strange new surroundings and people. Children can become especially excited. Explain to them that their new companion needs time out for naps. Show children how to pet the newcomer and the proper way to pick him up.

A puppy should be closely supervised and taken outside to relieve itself after eating, following naps and play periods.

As soon as possible after you adopt your puppy, take him to your veterinarian. At this time, a schedule can be worked out for needed vaccinations to protect your newcomer from a number of viral and infectious diseases. He should also be examined and treated, if necessary, for external and internal parasites.

Bring any immunization information you may have received when you adopted your puppy to your veterinarian to begin a case history for future reference. It’s a good idea to keep your own medical record. You may need it for reference if your pet’s veterinarian is not available.

Choose a name for your newcomer and use only that name in calling the puppy. In teaching a puppy its name, as in all training matters, 100 percent cooperation of all family members is essential. When a puppy is sent mixed signals, he can become confused and not respond to any of the contradictory signals.

Remember these key words and you’ll enjoy your new friends for years to come: Gentleness. Care. Patience. Consistency. Praise. Love.

 

Trick or Treat! Awesome Contest Alert

Halloween Contest

Do you and your pets love Halloween? Show us your furry friend’s best Halloween photo. It can be your dog howling at the moon, your Orange Tabby playing with the pumpkin, or even your pup having fun in his favorite costume! Use your imagination and you could win an Adopt-a-Pet.com swag bag and a chance to be featured!

All you have to do is follow these three steps:

1. Follow @adoptapetcom on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook

2. Upload a Halloween inspired photo of your pet to your preferred social media account (make sure your account is set to public during the contest period for your entry to count). Make sure you are not using makeup or dyes on your pet or using a costume that can harm them in any way!

3. Caption the photo with hashtag #SpookyPets and tag @adoptapetcom in the pic

We want to see all of your pet’s spooky sides so feel free to enter often and with multiple pets! The contest will run October 4, 2017 through November, 4, 2017.

Submissions received will be judged based on creativity, originality, if your pet seems like they are having fun, photo quality, and adherence to the contest rules.

Please be sure to follow the photo guidelines when posting:

  1. Pets in photos should be in a safe and relaxed environment, and you should not place makeup or dye on your pets. Please do not post photos in situations that could be harmful or stressful to your pets. If they are not having fun, don’t do it!
  2. Photos must be visible to the public.
  3. Entries must adhere to the Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter guidelines.
  4. All photos must be original for entry to count.

One chosen winner will receive an Adopt-a-Pet.com goodie bag and will be featured on our blog and social media channels. Multiple stand out entries will be featured on social media throughout the contest period.

OFFICIAL RULES Continue reading “Trick or Treat! Awesome Contest Alert”

What Do You Do With An Abandoned Cat?

There are a few options of what you can do with an abandoned cat including adopting him (after speaking with animal control), finding him a new home, or surrendering him to a shelter or rescue. Before doing any of those things, you’ll want to make sure the cat is really abandoned. It could be a feral cat or it could be someone’s lost pet.

Cats On The Street: Abandoned, Feral, Or Lost? 

It would certainly make things easier if a cat you found could tell you their story. Instead, you have to piece it together using clues from the cat’s condition and behavior.

Feral Cats 

Feral cats are those who were born outside and are usually part of a colony. Most of these cats will not make suitable house pets as they have not been socialized and are afraid of people.

There are exceptions to this, but socializing them is a long process, and some cats will never be comfortable around people no matter how much time goes by. While feral cats will not make good house pets, they can be used as mousers in a barn-home-type arrangement.

Clues that you’re dealing with a feral cat include:

  • The cat runs when approached.
  • The cat will not meow or purr.
  • You may see the cat in the same place at the same time each day.

Lost Pet 

When a house cat escapes his home, it’s possible for him to become disoriented and have trouble finding his way back home. A lost cat will typically be socialized and may approach people for pets or food.

If you find a social cat, bring him to a vet or shelter to see if he has a microchip. You can also check community pages like NextDoor or local Facebook lost pet pages to see if any listed cats match the one you’ve found.

You should also notify animal control if you think the cat is a lost pet, as that’s the first place many pet owners look for a lost cat.

NOTE: In some locations, animal control will require that you hand the cat over to them. If this is the case where you live, and you worry for the cat’s safety, make it very clear that you’ll take the cat if his home isn’t found.

Abandoned Cat 

Many times, abandoned cats are identified by neighbors who know the family moved and left the cat behind. Abandoned cats will often be social, may be hungry (they don’t know how to fend for themselves), and hang around the place where they were abandoned waiting for their family to return.

Once you know that the cat is not feral and no pet owners have been located, you’ll have to decide what to do with the cat. Your options are:

  • Keep Him: Thanks for being the cat’s hero and congratulations on your new family member!
  • Surrender Him: You can leave the cat at an animal shelter and the staff will do all they can to get him adopted. However, the reality is that many shelters have high euthanasia rates—especially for cats. Be sure to do some rehome_research before surrendering a cat.
  • Rehome Him Yourself: Taking the time to find a cat a new, loving home is a true act of kindness. Visit the Rehome website for tips and tools that make the process easier. 

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Dog?

Surrendering a dog means that you are relinquishing ownership of the pet to a shelter or rescue. Some pet owners think that when they surrender their pet to a shelter that the pet will be loved and spoiled for as long as it takes to find them a home—the truth is often quite different. Depending on the facility, it can be hard to find space to properly care for the dog. When shelters run out of kennel space, sometimes even healthy adoptable dogs are put to sleep. Some shelters simply don’t have the manpower to spend time with each dog, so they spend most of their time alone in a small cage. Of course, many shelters are wonderful places that do have the resources they need to provide a loving environment, but some do not. What is true at every shelter is that when you surrender a dog, what happens to him is completely out of your hands.

The Shelter Environment

After you pay the fee for surrendering your pet, you relinquish all rights. Even in the best shelters, some pets suffer from separation anxiety, fear, and confusion. Ideally, your pet will be placed in a loving home but, sadly, this is not always the case. Your pet was part of the family, so when you surrender them, it can be hard to know you have no control of what happens to him. Consider these alternatives: 

Keeping the Pet 

This should always be the first choice. Whatever is causing you to consider not keeping the pet, including behavior issues or financial problems, you may be able to find help. Shelters are a great place to find such resources as the shelter staff’s goal is always to help the pet owners keep their pets. You can also view our Keep Your Pet guide here. It may not be possible, but responsible pet owners will try. 

Finding a Rescue

When a rescue takes your pet, you are still surrendering him, but you are surrendering him to a private group that will give the dog as much time as he needs to find a new home. It can be difficult to find a rescue with space, but this is certainly an avenue worth exploring. If your dog is purebred, look for a breed-specific organization as this may increase your chances of finding a quality rescue that will take your pet.

Rehoming the Dog Yourself 

If you’re willing to put in a little time and work, you can find a loving home for your dog yourself. This is a great option because you remain in control of where your dog ends up, you’re able to choose the family, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your dog is in a safe and loving home. Our program called Rehome can assist with the process by allowing you to create an online profile that will be seen by people looking for a pet. If keeping your pet isn’t an option, this is the next best solution. 

What does it mean to surrender your dog? Uncertainty. Instead, consider one of the other options above so your loving dog can go on being loved.  

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Golden Retriever?

When you surrender your golden retriever, it means that you have given up your legal rights to him. Typically, you’ll surrender your dog to a shelter or a rescue. If you’re finding a home for your dog on your own, it’s called rehoming rather than surrendering. Let’s take a closer look at what surrendering means and what you’ll need to do.

Contacting the Facility

You can’t show up at the doors of a shelter or rescue with your dog and just hand over the leash. These organizations have protocols that need to be followed, and this means you’ll need to make an appointment first. Check out websites of local shelters and rescues. Sometimes, you might even have a rescue in your area that specializes in golden retrievers.

It’s important to note that many times, rescues will be full whether they specialize in a certain breed or not. These are no-kill facilities, and this means that people typically want to place their dogs here rather than putting them into a shelter. Be prepared to find out that the rescue is full.

When you call the shelter or rescue, they’ll need to have some information about your dog. They’ll want to know the breed, the age, and the temperament, for example. They’ll also want to know why you need to surrender him. They aren’t trying to pry, but they may have some solutions that would let you keep your dog.

Keeping Your Dog

For example, if your golden retriever has some behavior problems, it doesn’t always mean you need to surrender him. The shelter or rescue might recommend some trainers that could help with the problem. If you aren’t able to walk your dog during the day because of work, they might have contact information for local dog walkers. There could be ways that you can keep your dog rather than surrendering him, but we understand that this is not always possible.

Consider Rehoming Your Golden Retriever

You could choose to rehome instead of surrender, too. With this option, you’ll put in some time to look for the perfect home for your golden retriever. You can put him up for adoption on pet adoption sites, such as Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. This is an easy-to-use platform that will make it possible to put your pet up for adoption and get him in front of the many potential adopters that visit Adopt-a-Pet.com every month.

When you set up a profile, you can add photos and videos. You’ll also create a bio for him that will let the potential adopters know more about him. It’s important that you’re honest in the profile and that you mention all of the good things about your dog, as well as any problems that he might have. Does he have a great time chasing cats? You probably don’t want to let someone with cats adopt him. It wouldn’t be fun for those cats, and the new owner might have to give him up.

Once you have some adoption applications rolling in, you can go through them to find the perfect new home for your dog. Many prefer this option to surrendering him to a shelter.

What Does It Mean to Rehome a Pomeranian?

To rehome a Pomeranian means that you take the time to find your dog a wonderful new home where he’ll be happy and safe. You can do this using several methods both online and offline. Naturally, you want to be sure that you can find a great new home for your dog, so it’s time to learn more about the options that are available to you.

How Do You Choose a New Owner? 

When you’re rehoming your Pomeranian, you have to be choosy about who gets him. After all, you aren’t rehoming an inanimate object. This is your dog, a wonderful, fluffy little guy that needs to be cared for properly. Always take the time to think about what your dog requires and compare that to what the prospective owner can provide. Does he need to have special medication or a special diet? Does he not do well around cats?

Think about all of the quirks your dog has, good and bad, and make sure that anyone who might become the new owner is aware of them. You need to make sure the owner’s right for your dog before rehoming.

Methods of Rehoming to Consider

One of the fastest and easiest means of rehoming your Pomeranian is to find someone that you already know who wants to adopt. This could be a relative that has been talking about getting a little dog, for example. Let friends and family know that you need to give up your dog, and they or someone they know might be willing to adopt. Of course, you still need to be sure that they can meet your dog’s needs rather than just handing them over.

If you don’t know anyone who might be willing to adopt, other options remain. You could use the Internet to find people in your area or further afield to adopt. Rather than going on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, though, you should make it a point to use a pet adoption service like Rehome. This platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com is a good option that’s easy to use, safe, and can quickly put you in touch with potential adopters.

The site is free for owners to use, and you’ll find that the cost of adopting through Rehome is similar to what would be paid as an adoption fee to a shelter or rescue. Owners can set up a profile on the site for their Pomeranian and add videos and pictures. You can also create a bio that includes all of the most important things new potential owners will need to know about your dog.

You’ll also appreciate that you have full control over who adopts your dog when you’re using Rehome. View the applications that have been submitted by people interested in adopting and then determine which of those will be the best choice to be your Pomeranian’s new owner. Having this amount of choice is sure to help you rest easy at night, knowing that he’s going to a wonderful, loving home.

What Does It Mean to Rehome an Australian Shepherd?

Rehoming an Australian Shepherd means that you will find a new home for your dog where he will be safe, loved, and given the care and attention he needs. There are several ways to rehome your pet. Always take the time and care needed to ensure that you find the best possible home for your dog.

Rehoming with Those You Know

Naturally, one of your first inclinations, when you need to rehome your dog, is to give him to someone that you know. You should ask your friends and family if they or anyone they know is looking to adopt a pet.

If they are, you will still want to make sure that they will be a good fit for your dog. For example, if you have an Australian Shepherd that likes to “herd” other animals, it might not be a good idea to have them in a houseful of skittish cats. Screen the prospective new owners and make sure it’s a good fit.

Using the Rehome Site

Another option that many people today are considering is Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. The site helps to make things faster, easier, and safer for owners who want to find a great new home for their dog. You’ll also find that it doesn’t cost anything for owners to use the site.

You will create a profile for your Australian Shepherd complete with a bio, photos, and videos. The bio should be detailed and provide the prospective owners with information about the animal to ensure it’ll be a good fit for their home. Note any medical problems that might exist, the dog’s personality, things they like to do, etc. The more information the better, as it helps you to find the perfect fit for your pet.

Are Shelters the Same as Rehoming?

It’s important to understand that surrendering your dog to a shelter is not the same thing as rehoming. When you give up your Australian Shepherd to a shelter, it means that you’re giving up your legal rights to the animal and you have no control over who adopts them.

In many cases, the animal may never be adopted out of the shelter. Although shelters do their best to care for the animals, some can spend a long time there. With some shelters, animals could be euthanized after they have been there past a certain period. A shelter should always be the last resort when you have to give up your Australian Shepherd for these reasons.

Rescues are another option to consider. Rescues tend to have no-kill policies in place. However, there is still no guarantee that anyone will adopt your pet, and you can’t control who adopts them. Another issue with rescues is that they often don’t have any room available for new pets.

Although there are many options available for giving up your Australian Shepherd, think about what’s best for them. Choosing Rehome or having someone you know adopt your dog is often best for you and your beloved Australian Shepherd.

What Does It Mean to Rehome a Jack Russell Terrier?

Rehoming a Jack Russell Terrier means that you’ll take the time to find a new home for your dog instead of surrendering him. There are many benefits to rehoming, including the peace of mind that you’ll have in knowing he’s going to a great new home. However, there’s also some work that you’ll need to put into the process.

What Should You Consider When Looking for a New Owner?

As you’re looking for a new owner for your dog, you need to be sure that you’re choosing someone worthy of your dog, naturally. You want to find a home and family that will be a good fit for your dog’s personality and needs. If he’s not fond of cats, you wouldn’t want to put him into a home with cats. It wouldn’t be fair to him or the cats, and you can be sure his new owner won’t be too happy.

If your dog has any medical issues, you’ll need to be forthcoming with the new owner about them, as well. This will help to ensure that your dog is going to a home that can handle those medical issues, and that can afford your dog.

Speaking of affording the dog, you’ll also need to be sure you charge a rehoming fee. When going through a site like Rehome, the fee will be charged to the adopter, so you don’t have to worry about it. These fees help to reduce risk to your dog. It ensures that the adopters are not just looking for free dogs they can then sell to a lab or use for bait dogs.

You could opt to find someone that you know personally to adopt your dog. This can often be a good fit if you know someone who wants to get a dog. However, you may also want to check online pet adoption sites like Rehome. These sites can make the process easier on you, so you can be sure you’re finding the perfect home for your dog.

Are Shelters and Rescues Options for Rehoming?

You must understand the distinction between rehoming and surrendering your pet to facilities like shelters and rescues. When you surrender your dog, you’re giving up your legal rights to him to a facility. These organizations will do their best to ensure that your dog is safe, but there’s never a guarantee that he’ll be adopted.

Rescues will keep your dog for the remainder of his life and will continue trying to find him a forever home. Of course, rescues are often full because these are no-kill facilities. You might not be able to get your Jack Russell Terrier into one of these rescues.

Shelters do their best to care for the animals in their facility. However, they can only keep animals for a limited period in most cases. Shelters may have to euthanize pets that have been there for a long time, although they hate doing it.

Whenever you have the option, it’s better to rehome your Jack Russell Terrier. It will help to ensure that he has the best possible life.

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Doberman Pinscher?

When you surrender a Doberman Pinscher, it means that you’re giving up your legal rights to them to a shelter or a rescue. Those who are considering surrendering their dog will want to know what’s entailed, along with other options they have for giving up their pet. Surrendering is a relatively easy process, but it’s not the only choice.

What Do Owners Need to Do? 

When surrendering your dog, the first thing you have to do is learn more about the facility where you plan to surrender him.

Rescues can be a good option, but because they have no-kill policies, they’re popular. This means that they’re often full. There may not be room for your dog at the rescue, so it’s not something you can count on at the last minute. Talk to them first. Shelters can take dogs, but they don’t typically have no-kill policies. They can only hold the dogs for a certain number of days, which can vary from one shelter to the next.

Whether you surrender your Doberman Pinscher to a shelter or rescue, those facilities will do their best to find them a new home. However, adoption doesn’t always happen for the animals located there.

Additionally, you’ll have to pay a surrender fee when you drop off your dog in these locations. When you call to set up your appointment—you can’t just walk in with a dog to surrender—they’ll let you know the fees and anything else you may need to bring. When you talk with the staff, you’ll be asked questions about your Doberman Pinscher. What’s her temperament? Does she have health issues? Is there an option to keep her?

They want to know why you have to give her up because they may have some resources, such as contact information for trainers or low-cost vets, that could make it possible to keep her. While it’s not possible for everyone to keep their dog, they’ll present potential resources that could help.

Rehoming Your Doberman Pinscher 

If you have to give up your dog, it doesn’t always mean that you have to surrender her to a shelter or rescue. Instead, you might want to think about some of the other options, such as rehoming her with someone you know. This is a fast and easy way to find her a new home, and it can give you some peace of mind since you know the person.

Of course, you may not know someone who can adopt a Doberman Pinscher right now. In those cases, you can use online pet adoption services like Rehome from Adopt-a-Pet.com. The site is free for owners and adopters only pay a small rehoming fee.

Through Rehome, you’ll create a profile for your dog complete with photos, videos, and a bio. The bio should be honest and detailed, so potential adopters know everything they need about your dog. After all, you want to be sure that she’s going to a home that’s perfect for her.