Tag: First Batch

Should You Feed A Stray Cat?

Before you feed a stray cat, you should check with your neighbors that the cat does not belong to them. Some cats are allowed to wander outside at their leisure and though they are fed, they will still beg for more. If the cat does not belong to your neighbors and does not seem scared of humans, the cat may be lost. You can feed the cats if you have the means to do so and it is legal in your area. You should also refer to our lost pet guide on the next steps.

Know The Laws In Your Area 

It is illegal to feed stray or feral cats (cats who have lived their entire life outdoors and do not tolerate human interaction) in some locations, so it’s important to know the laws in your area. It’s also important to know that many communities have groups of animal lovers advocating against such laws—and they have been successful in several places.

Talk With Members Of A Local TNR Group

If you notice a cat or multiple cats that are extremely scared of humans, it is likely a feral cat. Find a local group of feral cat advocates who will be happy to give you advice specific to your area. They will know if it is legal to feed these cats and whether or not it will be helpful for them. They’ll likely also encourage you to get the cat or cats TNR’d (trapped/neutered/released), which is another great kindness to these cats. 

Where Can I Surrender My Cat For Free?

There may be places where you can surrender your cat for free, but this depends on your location. In most areas, animal control charges a fee to accept surrendered animals, but some may not have a fee. Whether or not rescues charge anything varies by organization, but many do try to recoup a small portion of the cost of caring for the pet by charging a surrender fee. Rehoming your cat yourself is your best bet to avoid paying a rehoming fee. 

Rehoming Your Pet 

When you bring a pet into your home, it should be a lifelong commitment. Unfortunately, sometimes giving up a pet can’t be helped. Other times, the circumstances that make you want to surrender your pet could be resolved. For example, litter box issues may be a sign of an easily corrected medical issue. 

If you’ve exhausted all options and still feel that surrendering your cat is the right decision, consider rehoming him yourself. There are many reasons this is a good option including:

  • You don’t have to worry whether or not he’ll be put down at a shelter.
  • You’ll be able to choose the perfect home for your cat.
  • You won’t have to wait weeks or months for a rescue to have an open spot. 

While rehoming your cat yourself may take a little time, it’s worth it to know that you’re giving your pet the best possible chance of a happy life in a new home.

Not sure how to get started? Many resources are available to help you, and one of the best is the Rehome website. You’ll find expert advice, have the ability to create a custom profile for your pet, accept applications from potential adopters, and much more. 

If you can’t keep your pet, don’t surrender him—rehome him instead. 

How Long Does It Take an Australian Cattle Dog to Get Used to a New Home?

The amount of time that it takes for an Australian cattle dog to get used to a new home can vary based on a range of different factors. Australian cattle dogs are known to become attached to their owners, and they may have separation anxiety. As long as the dog feels safe and cared for, and they have owners who understand and accommodate their needs, they should start to acclimate within a week or so. However, it can sometimes take longer.

Understanding some of the factors that affect the adjustment period and taking steps to make the transition to a new home easier will help to speed up the process. Below, we will be looking at these factors and what you can do to make the dog feel safe and welcome.

The Age of the Dog 

The age of the dog could be a factor when determining how long it will take them to get used to a new home. Puppies and younger dogs tend to have an easier time adapting than older dogs in many cases. Older dogs might feel a bit skittish at first, but as long as they are treated well and their needs are met, they will adjust relatively quickly. With older dogs, it tends to be a good idea to continue calling them by the name their previous owner gave them. This is what they are accustomed to.

Making the Dog Feel Welcome and Part of the Family

Those who are adopting the dog should make sure that they learn as much as possible about the personality of the dog. Knowing the likes and dislikes of the dog when they come to the home for the first time helps to ensure they feel more at home. Make sure that they are on a good schedule for their walks, playtime, and bathroom time. Give them time to adjust and love and encouragement along the way.

Be Sure to Choose the Right Dog and the Right Home

If you are going to be adopting an Australian cattle dog, or if you are an owner who needs to put their dog up for adoption, considering using Rehome. This is a platform from Adopt-a-Pet that helps to make it easier to find the right homes for the dog. Owners who have pets they need to put up for adoption can add photos, videos, and information about their dog’s personality and temperament.

This information is highly valuable to those who are considering adoption. It can help them to determine whether they are getting the right Australian cattle dog for their home. The information also lets them create an environment that will be comfortable for the dog when it arrives.

Australian cattle dogs tend to be an energetic and loving breed. Some might adjust to their new life almost immediately. Others will be nervous, and it will take more time for them to become comfortable. Don’t pressure the dog. They will adjust in their own time and become a loving member of your family. 

What Is a Reasonable Rehoming Fee for a German Shepherd?

If you’re asking, “what is a reasonable rehoming fee for a German Shepherd,” you’re probably in a situation where you need to find your dog a new home and have decided to rehome him yourself. This is a responsible decision that will give your pet the best chance of finding a happy new home. Rehoming fees vary depending on how a dog is being rehomed, but can range from about $50 up to $350 or more for a purebred dog like a German Shepherd.

Why Should I Charge a Rehoming Fee? 

If you need to rehome your dog, you may be tempted to list him as “free to a good home,” but that’s never a good idea. Unfortunately, people search ads for free pets, pretend they want to adopt them, and then use them for dog fighting, or sell them to labs. In order to eliminate this danger, charge a rehoming fee of at least $50.

Another reason is that the fee is a bit of proof that the adopters will take proper care of your dog. If they balk at a rehoming fee, they may also hesitate when it comes to a vet bill or providing quality food and other care.

Is Help Available for the Rehoming Process? 

Many pet owners aren’t sure where to start when it comes to rehoming their pet. The good news is that help is available! Online resources like Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com provide expert advice and tools, such as the ability to create a pet profile and connect with potential adopters. These tools and easy to follow guidelines make it easier to find the perfect home for your German Shepherd.

Charging a reasonable rehoming fee is an important part of the rehoming process, and it is one way to ensure you find your German Shepherd a home where he will be safe and loved. 

Does PetSmart Take Cats?

PetSmart does not take cats, though you are allowed to bring your cat into the store if you are shopping. If you attempt to surrender a cat at a PetSmart location, you will be turned away and given other options.

What About All the Cats I See For Adoption In Store?

The adoptable cats you see in some PetSmart locations are available through a specific organization that has a partnership with PetSmart. These cats are brought in daily so that they can gain more exposure and hopefully more potential to be adopted. Each of these cats undergoes a health and behavior evaluation with the organization they are available through to make sure that they are good with other cats and ready to be adopted to a new home. Adding a new cat to the mix can potentially cause extra stress for the cats and therefore, the cat you would like to surrender would not be allowed to stay with these cats.

What Options Do I Have For a Cat I Can’t Keep?  

There are some great options to help you find a new home for a cat you can’t keep. It’s best to try to find the cat a new family to live with rather than bringing them to a shelter. Shelters can be very stressful for any animal, so finding a new home for your cat yourself will help make the transition easier on him. Here are the steps you can take to find your cat a new, loving home:

Start With Friends and Family  

Talk to the people that you are closest with and see if they can adopt your cat. You can post pictures and a description of your cat on your social media channels to cast a wider net as well. If your cat can live with someone you already know, it will give you peace of mind and allow you to remain in contact with the owner.

Create An Account On Rehome  

If your friends and family are unable to help give your cat a new home, you can turn to another online resource called Rehome. This no-cost program is easy to use and gets your pet posted on Adopt-a-Pet.com. Once your pet is posted, millions of potential adopters will be able to view him, giving you the best chance of finding a great new family!  

All you need to get started is a clear, bright photo or two of your cat and some basic information about their behavior and medical history. Then you’ll be able to create your account and craft a bio about your cat to give potential adopters more details.  

What is the Fastest Way to Rehome a Beagle?

The fastest way to rehome a beagle is to take them to a shelter. However, this is not typically the best way to rehome your pet. There are alternatives that you can try, which will often be a better solution. Animal shelters do their best to take care of the pets that are under their care, but they may not have space or the resources available. This means that sometimes, they need to euthanize the pets that are at their facility. Not all of the pets will be adopted from a shelter.

If you need to rehome your beagle, you’ll want to think about some of the other available options.

How Can You Rehome Your Beagle?

The act of giving up your dog is always difficult. In a perfect world, you would not need to give up your furry friend. However, there are many potential reasons that you might not be able to keep your pet any longer.

One of the first things you should do is think about why you need to give up your dog. Is she barking all day and bothering the neighbors? Is she tearing up the house while you’re away? Are you unable to spend as much time with your pet as you would like? Often, there are means to rectify behavior situations. You could hire pet sitters or take her to doggy daycare, as well. In some cases, a little rehome_research will allow you to find ways that you can keep your dog with you.

Of course, there are also times when keeping your beagle is just not possible for one reason or another. In those cases, one of the first things you should consider is rehoming with someone you know. Maybe you have a family member or a friend who mentioned wanting to get a dog, and who already loves your beagle. Ask them if they would like to adopt her. This way, you’ll know that she’s going to a good home where she will be loved and cared for.

If you don’t know anyone, you could check local rescues. Rescues will keep your dog indefinitely, but there is no guarantee that she will be adopted. Rescues are often full, as well, which means they won’t have room for your dog.

You may also want to choose to use the Rehome platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com. This is a peer-to-peer site that makes it easier to find people who are looking to adopt a beagle just like yours. You can add a bio for your dog, as well as pictures and videos. You can review the applications from potential adopters and then choose the home that you feel is the best.

When you rehome your beagle like this, it provides you with a better overall feeling about the process of rehoming. It is not as fast as bringing your beagle to the shelter, but you can be sure she’s going to have a great life going forward.

Can an Apartment Complex Deny an Emotional Support Animal?

An apartment complex cannot deny an emotional support animal (ESA) that provides support directly relating to a mental or emotional disability of the owner. While emotional support animals are not afforded the same widespread protections as service dogs, housing is an area in which there is legal protections in place. Even if a complex has a no-pet policy, a waiver must be granted in most cases once documentation is provided.

Providing Documentation 

Getting the needed document is pretty straightforward. You’ll just need a letter from a licensed therapist or other mental health professional. If the landlord still refuses, you can file a discrimination complaint with HUD or get a lawyer involved.

Some landlords think they are not required to provide accommodations for an ESA in the same way they are for a service dog, so sometimes it only takes educating them on the laws to get them to comply.

Note that while the landlord should not charge you a pet deposit, you will be responsible for any damage caused by the ESA.

Service Animal vs. ESA 

It’s also important for those with an ESA or those planning to get one to understand that protections for an ESA only pertain to housing and air travel. Unlike a service dog, an ESA may not be welcome in restaurants and other rehome_legacy places while a service dog must be allowed anywhere open to the rehome_legacy.

Exceptions to the Rule 

Most rental properties must allow your emotional support animal, but there are some exceptions:

  • Single-family homes rented without the help of a broker
  • Buildings with four or fewer units and in which the landlord occupies one 

The laws change from time to time, so it’s important to know your rights before you begin your search for the perfect rental.  

What is a Reasonable Rehoming Fee for a Catahoula Leopard Dog?

A reasonable rehoming fee for a Catahoula Leopard Dog will vary based on several factors, but the minimum is usually $50. Depending on the location, the rehoming fee could be up to $250 or more. The age of your dog, along with whether it’s a purebred dog can be a factor, too.

If you’re an owner who has to give up their Catahoula Leopard Dog, you’ll want to look at some of the local fees to get a better sense of what you should charge. If you’re someone looking to adopt, you’ll want to do the same, so you know what you should be paying. Keep in mind that if the price gets too high, it’s not really a rehoming fee, it’s more akin to buying the dog.

Why Do People Charge Rehoming Fees? 

You might be wondering why any rehoming fees are charged at all. After all, if someone needs to give up their dog, shouldn’t they be happy that someone else wants him? Shouldn’t they give the dog away? Unfortunately, the world can be a cruel place. The rehoming fees are in place to help provide some protection for your dog.

Unscrupulous people often look for pets online that are being given away or that are cheap. They get these dogs and other pets and then sell them to labs for a profit. Other times, they use dogs for fighting. This could be the fate of a large and powerful dog like your Catahoula Leopard Dog, and that’s the last thing you want.

Therefore, you should always make sure that a rehoming fee is being charged whether you’re rehoming on your own or you’re going through a site.

Do Shelters and Rescues Charge Fees?

When someone adopts a dog through one of these types of facilities, they’ll typically have to pay adoption fees. Although they might not be called rehoming fees, they do the same thing. They make sure that the wrong people aren’t getting their hands on the animals. The money also goes into the facility to ensure that it can continue operating and providing care for the pets.

Use Rehome to Make Rehoming Simple

Trying to find a good new home for your dog is not always easy, especially if you don’t know anyone who might want to adopt him. Going online and using Rehome, which is a platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com could be a great solution. It’s an easy to use site that lets you create a profile for your dog complete with a bio, photos, and videos. The bio allows you to detail everything potential adopters will need to know about your Catahoula Leopard Dog.

The site is free for owners to use, and adopters only pay a small rehoming fee to the site. You won’t have to worry about charging a rehoming fee at all. This money is used to help more animals get adopted. It’s a simple and safe way to find a home for your dog.

Photo credit: Olgierd

How Long Can I Crate My Dog?

Most dogs should not be crated for more than 8 hours at a time, and the length of time is shorter for older dogs and puppies. Also, you shouldn’t have your dog spend most of the time in a crate, even if you give him frequent breaks. Dogs are social and need to be around their people, so it’s not ideal to have them crated all the time.

Proper Crate Training Is A Must 

Crates are a great tool when house-training a dog as it draws on their natural instinct to spend time in a den. When proper crate training is implemented, the dog will view the crate a safe and comfortable space. That’s definitely what you want if you plan to crate your dog while you’re away. 

How Much Time is Too Much Time in a Crate? 

If you’re crating your dog while you’re at work all day and then crating him again all night, it’s too much. If you feel you must crate the dog while you’re at work, allow him out once you get home and overnight. Another solution is to bring your dog to doggy daycare during the day so he is supervised, but not confined to a crate or to hire a dog walker or have a friend or family come over to take your dog out for a mid-day potty break.

Crating too much is a quality of life issue for your dog, and his physical well-being and emotional well-being must be considered when deciding how often to crate.

How Long Can Dogs Hold It? 

If you’re wondering how long dogs can go between potty breaks, the average is 4 to 6 hours, but older dogs and puppies may need more frequent breaks. If you’re gone longer than that during the day, consider installing a doggy door and not crating while you’re away, hiring a dog walker, or signing up for doggy daycare.

While there is no hard and fast rule about how long you can crate your dog, one answer is: no more than is necessary. Let your dog be part of the family as much as possible.  

Do I Need a Tetanus Shot After a Dog Bite?

In most cases, your doctor will recommend a tetanus shot after a dog bite if you haven’t had a tetanus shot within the past five years. While there are no statistics on how many cases of tetanus have passed from dogs to humans, and tetanus is rare in dogs, there is still a chance that a dog bite can transmit tetanus to humans. A dirty wound presents a higher risk, but your doctor is likely to order a tetanus shot for any bite that has broken the skin.

When To Get A Tetanus Shot 

Even if you’re able to clean up the wound yourself, you should still visit a doctor immediately after being bitten. Tetanus shots may need to be administered within 48 hours to be most effective. The doctor may discuss whether you need other treatment which may include antibiotics and, in some cases, rabies shots.

Why Do I Need A Tetanus Shot If The Disease Is Rare In Dogs? 

It’s rare—not unheard of. The mortality rate for tetanus is 30% and it’s more than 50% in patients over 60. That’s why administering the shot following a dog bite is standard procedure.

Symptoms of Tetanus 

If you did not get the shot and are worried you may have contracted tetanus from a dog bite, here are some symptoms to look out for:

  • Jaw Cramping
  • Involuntary Muscle Spasms
  • Painful Stiffness
  • Headache
  • Seizures
  • Fever
  • Elevated Heart Rate 

The chances of contracting tetanus from a dog bite are slim, but out of an abundance of caution it is best to follow the advice of your doctor if he/she recommends getting a tetanus shot following a bite.