Dog Adoption Checklist

Congratulations on deciding to adopt a dog! You are embarking on a wonderful and rewarding relationship. Because adopting a new dog comes with a lot of change for both dog and dog parent, we’ve compiled a checklist to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Questions for All Adopters:

* Do you have any other dogs and how will they react to a new dog?

* Is your current residence suited to the dog you’re considering?

* How will your social life or work obligations affect your ability to care for a dog?

* Do you have a plan for your new dog during vacations and/or work travel?

* How do the people you live with feel about having a dog in the house?

* Are you (or your spouse, partner or roommate) intolerant of hair, dirt and other realities of sharing your home with a dog, such as allergies?

* Do you or any of your household/family members have health issues that may be affected by a dog?

* What breed of dog is the best fit with your current lifestyle? (You can find information on specific breeds in Petfinder's dog breed directory.)

* Is there tension in the home? Dogs quickly pick up on stress in the home, and it can exacerbate their health and behavior problems.

* Is there an adult in the family who has agreed to be ultimately responsible for the dog’s care?

Other Considerations:

* What do you expect your dog to contribute to your life? For example, do you want a running and hiking buddy, or is your idea of exercise watching it on TV?

* If you are thinking of adopting a young dog, do you have the time and patience to work with the dog through its adolescence, taking house-breaking, chewing and energy-level into account? (Find more information on raising young dogs in Petfinder's Puppy Guide.)

* Have you considered your lifestyle carefully and determined whether a younger or older dog would be a better match for you?

* Can you train and handle a dog with behavior issues or are you looking for an easy-going friend?

* Do you need a dog who will be reliable with children or one you can take with you when you travel?

* Do you want a dog who follows you all around the house or would you prefer a less clingy, more independent character?

Size Considerations:

* What size dog can your home accommodate?

* Will you have enough room if your dog grows to be bigger than expected?

* What size dog would suit the other people who live in or visit your home regularly?

* Do you have another dog to consider when choosing the size of your next dog?

* How big a dog can you travel comfortably with?

Dog Costs:

* More likely than not, the adopting agency will charge a fee to help defray the cost of taking in unwanted or lost animals. The adoption fee you pay will be a tiny fraction of the money you will spend over the life of your dog.

* You may need to pay for your adopted dog to be spayed or neutered before bringing him or her home.

* Some expenses are mandatory for all dogs, including:
~ Food
~ Routine veterinary care
~ Licensing according to local regulations
~ Collars, leashes and identification tags
~ Basic grooming equipment and supplies.

Other expenditures may not be required but are highly recommended:
~ Permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo
~ Training classes
~ Additional grooming supplies or professional grooming (depending on your new dog’s needs)
~ A spare collar or leash
~ A bed and toys
~ A crate or carrier

* Unexpected costs: Accidents and illness can result in costly emergency veterinary care. 
Recovery tools for finding a missing dog can include posters and rewards.

* A dog with special physical or behavioral challenges may require specialized professional support to overcome any obstacles these issues present.

* For more on typical dog care costs visit Annual Dog Care Costs.

Time Considerations:

* Dogs need to be fed two to three times a day, more often in the case of puppies, and need a constant supply of fresh water.

* A responsible dog parent should spend at least one hour per day giving direct attention to his or her dog. This may include training, exercising, grooming, and playing or, with cats, may just be lap time on the couch. Dogs will need to be taken out to potty several times a day.

* A dog with an abundance of energy needs more time to exercise and interactive toys to keep them entertained.

* Dogs with long coats need 20 minutes a day of grooming to prevent matting.

* Dogs with certain medical conditions may need additional attention, including specifically timed injections in the case of diabetic animals.

* Remember that adopted dogs may need additional bonding and reassurance time in the early weeks.

Shopping Checklist:

It may be a good idea to wait until you select your new dog before you begin shopping for supplies. For example, some items, such as food and water bowls or collars and harnesses, depend upon the size of the dog you will be adopting.

Also, be sure to find out which food your dog was eating in the shelter or foster home so that you can provide the same in the beginning, again to ease the transition. Many times the rescue or foster will give you enough of the current food to help you with the transition to the new food.  As your dog is settling in,  you can begin the transition to the food of your choice. We recommend Life's Abundance All Life Stage Adult Dog Food, or Puppy Food.  

Once you’ve selected your dog, here’s a checklist of supplies you may need:

* Necessary Items for Dogs:
* Food and water bowls
* Food (canned and/or dry)
* Collar
* Six-foot or retractable leash
* ID tag with your phone number
* Hard plastic carrier or foldable metal crate
* Dog bed
* Doggy shampoo and conditioner
* Nail clippers
* Canine toothbrush, toothpaste, or doggy dental wipes
* Brush or comb (depends on your dog’s coat length and type)
* Super-absorbent paper towels
* Sponge and scrub brush
* Non-toxic cleanser
* Enzymatic odor neutralizer
* Plastic poop baggies (biodegradable ones are best) or pooper scooper
* Absorbent house-training pads
* Variety of toys (a ball, rope, chew toy and puzzle toy are good starts)
* Variety of treats (such as small cookies, larger rawhides, etc.)
* First-aid supplies
* Baby gate(s) or crate, if preferred

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutique (http://www.TheGiftedPet.com), and premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftedPet), or email her at Raven@TheGiftedPet.com

Guinea Pigs as Pets ~ Things You Should Know

Guinea Pigs can be lovely pets, but there are a few things you should know before getting a pet Guinea Pig. From expected life span to the social nature of Guinea Pigs, here are some things to consider before choosing a Guinea Pig as a pet.

1. Guinea Pigs Are a Long Term Commitment ~ Guinea Pigs live on average around 5-7 years, sometimes longer, so be prepared to provide care over the long term.

2. Guinea Pigs are Social - Plan on Keeping More than One ~ Guinea Pigs are very social animals, and will be happiest living with other Guinea Pigs (and don't worry, they will still bond with their owners, too). Keep a same sex pair; females can be kept together as can males, though sometimes individual differences will mean certain Guinea Pigs won't get along. Introducing them as babies is the best way to get a pair to bond, though even adults can usually be introduced with care.

3. Guinea Pigs Need a Large Cage ~ Guinea Pigs need a lot of floor space, and most cages marketed as Guinea Pig cages are much too small, especially for a pair. Making a homemade cage is very easy, though, and since Guinea Pigs are a good size and not escape artists, making homemade cages is a great option.

4. Guinea Pigs are Generally Quiet, But Can Wheek Loudly ~ Guinea Pigs make a distinctive wheeking or whistling type sound, often in anticipation of getting a favorite treat or when in need of some attention. Though generally not loud enough to annoy the neighbors, a wheeking Guinea Pig can be surprisingly loud.

5. Guinea Pigs are Generally Easy to Tame ~ While Guinea Pigs may be nervous or skittish at first, with consistent gentle handling, they usually become tame very easily. Careful handling is a must, and children should be supervised with them, but they are unlikely to bite even when stressed.

6. Guinea Pigs Require Vitamin C ~ Guinea Pigs are one of the few animals (humans are another) that cannot manufacture their own vitamin C, so they will need to get adequate vitamin C from their diet. Choosing a good quality diet and providing a variety of fresh foods is important, but most owners choose to also give a vitamin C supplement ~ and tablets are generally a better way to supplement than adding vitamin C to the water.

7. Guinea Pigs are Often Available at Shelters ~ Before heading out to buy a Guinea Pig, please check with your local shelters or rescues for Guinea Pigs in need of a new home (or check on Petfinder.com). Many Guinea Pigs end up at shelters, and are in need of a second chance at a forever home ~ and Guinea Pigs are generally so social and easy going, it should still be easy to bond with even an older piggie! ♥

Adopting vs. Shopping . . . .

People are often unaware that a local shelter has guinea pigs, or that a cavy rescue is located nearby. In many parts of the country, hundreds of rescued guinea pigs need homes-primarily as a result of caretaker surrenders. Doug Duke, director of the Nevada SPCA in Las Vegas, finds that half are turned in by owners and the other half are rescued from the county. He notes, “We try to keep the county shelter, which shares the complex with us, from euthanizing any who are healthy.”

A prospective guinea pig guardian typically visits a pet store first. But many pet stores house both males and females together and occasionally sell incorrectly sexed cavies. This increases the odds that a breeding pair has been sold or that a young undeveloped sow is already pregnant when purchased (sows can become pregnant as early as four weeks of age). Other pet caretakers intentionally breed their guinea pigs “to see what it’s like”; add in the many non show-quality cavies produced by breeders and the number of guinea pigs needing homes continues to grow.

A pet store guinea pig purchase is often unplanned and unresearched. Getting information on proper care into the hands of prospective new guardians helps them make better-informed decisions. Since January 1, 2003, California pet stores have been required by law to provide care sheets with the purchase of each animal. Several dedicated guinea pig people were instrumental in getting this legislation passed. Be proactive: encourage your state representatives to address this important issue for all pet-store animals in your state.

Julie Morris, ASPCA senior vice president for National Shelter Outreach, designated March as Adopt-a-Rescued-Guinea Pig celebration month. “The idea behind the celebration month is to encourage future adopters to think of shelters and rescue groups first.” Her promotional team has assembled an online page hosted on www.petfinder.com with fun and educational materials contributed from various sources. Internet sites like Petfinder.com, are an invaluable resource for people who wish to adopt homeless guinea pigs from shelters and rescue groups. Last year Petfinder alone listed over 10,000 guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs are not for everyone. They’re definitely not just for kids! But an informed, committed guardian who is willing to care for them day after day and seek health care when needed will find them charming companions.

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutique (http://www.TheGiftedPet.com), and premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftedPet), or email her at Raven@TheGiftedPet.com