Prepare for a new family member before taking the leap to adopt

The Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter welcomes anyone willing to adopt a new furry family member, but does ask that families and homes are prepared for the responsibility of owning a pet. 

Pets make great Christmas gifts as long as everyone involved understands the commitment to care and training is the lifetime of the animal. 

Emi Whiting, from the Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter, has seen many animals get adopted to only be returned within a few months. Some animals have even been returned to the shelter by Sheridan Police Department Community Service Officers as strays.  

  E. Whiting

Choosing the right animal for your home has more to do with the right fit rather than the right time. 

Shelter staff recommend giving the financials of the home a quick overview to ensure the cost of the animal will not be a burden. 

Ensure your home is ready for an animal, much like baby-proofing a home. Prior to training and learning the routine of a family, pets will be curious and may attempt to eat, drink or chew on items that could cause them to become sick or worse.  

Ensure the family has time to train and care for the animal. In the busy modern lifestyles, many members of the family have after school activities and other events. Many dog breeds were intentionally bred to work or hunt, requiring daily walks and play time in the more modern day.  

The Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter has a fostering program that can act as a test for some potential pet owners. Fostering pets offers an array of advantages for the foster care provider while enriching the animals life and removing them from the shelter environment, but is temporary.  

When the decision has been made to adopt, the shelter holds “meet and greets” with all family members and other pets that may already be in the home. This is done to ensure the new animal will receive and be received positively by all family members.  

The Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter understands that sometimes adoptions do not work out and returning the animal is not only acceptable but preferred by staff and leadership. By preparing for a new animal in the home, new pet owners and their new furry family members will have a long, happy and fulfilling relationship. 

To learn more about the Sheridan Dog and Shelter, click here.