Pets of The Week

Coco gets the zoomies and will run around a bit, but does calm down quickly. She enjoys meeting people, but sadly another dog attacked her, so she tends to be a bit leery around them now - and for good reason. She is only 43 pounds and full grown, so no surprises as to how big she will be. Can Coco be part of your life?

Pretty little Tina (ID 645475) is 13 weeks old and looks like a miniature black panther. She has a sleek, shiny coat and sculptured features – she could be a supermodel and would love to strut the runway at your house. Do you have room in your heart and home for her?

Preparing to Adopt:
If you lease your home, check with your landlord before adopting to be sure you are allowed to have a pet and can afford all required pet deposits. Pets are sometimes returned because of lease restrictions and/or the landlord’s disapproval of the pet chosen. This can be an expensive lesson, since the adoption fees are non-refundable and being returned to the shelter can be a stressful experience for the animal, as well, other members of your household should be aware you want to add a pet and should meet the pet before you decide to adopt. Every member of the family needs to consider, does anyone have allergies, are other members of the household, including children, afraid of animals, are you expecting other members of the household to share in the care of the pet? These are all concerns when caring for a pet in your home.

Consider the initial and on-going costs of a new pet. These costs include: adoption fees, food, grooming, obedience training, pet supplies, licensing, additional veterinary care such as diagnostic testing and preventative medication and these costs, can easily be $200-400 or more, within the first few weeks of adoption.

The adoption representatives at the Humane Society of Broward County recommend that you do not immediately expose your existing pets to a new pet. Consider how you will manage an isolation period, be sure that all existing pets are up to date on vaccinations and other routine health care before bringing a new pet, home. Facilitating positive pet-to-pet introductions will require some management on your part too. Not all pets are instant friends and may require temporary or intermittent separation to ensure a smooth transition. Some pets are happy to share their home within a week or two, others may take a month or longer, to adjust. The adoption staff will be happy to review the steps to properly introduce your new pet to your resident pets.

All dogs and cats making the transition to a new home, will need time to adjust to a new family and may require house training and behavior training to correct problem behaviors. If you aren’t prepared to invest your time to teach your new pet, appropriate behavior and help the animal adjust, you should not consider adopting a pet at this time. Positive reinforcement-based training is recommended, for all newly adopted dogs and puppies. Before bringing your dog, cat, or critter home, make sure you have all of the supplies required to properly care for the newest member of your household. From toys and leashes to treats and litter pans, the adoption centers have a wide variety of merchandise available for purchase and the knowledgeable staff, can help you find the right products for your pet during the adoption interview process.

Please make a lifetime commitment to your pet, remember that the animal you choose has already been abandoned or unwanted at least once in its life. Dogs and cats may live 12 to 15 years or more, your thoughtful consideration, preparation and commitment will help insure a lifelong placement.

If you’re ready to add a furry friend to your family, visit the Humane Society of Broward County located at 2070 Griffin Road, a block west of I95. The shelter opens daily at 11:00 a.m. If you have any questions, call: (954) 989-3977 Extension: 6. To see who needs a home, visit: https://humanebroward.com