Temma Martin from Salt Lake County Animal Shelter joins us on Studio 5 to share some tips on how to make a successful transition when adding a new pet to your family.
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*Choosing the right pet is the first essential step, especially when it comes to dogs. Do your homework before deciding which breed or mix is the best match for your family. Some breeds generally don’t do well with children, so know the pet’s personality before bringing it into the home.
*Shelters are a great source for pets because the employees are knowledgeable and committed to finding loving, lifelong homes for pets. We want to create the most successful pairing, unlike pet stores or breeders who often just want to get the pets sold to make a profit.
*Once your family has selected the best type of dog or cat for your home and chosen a potential pet, make sure both parents and all children have interacted with the animal before bringing it home. Some pets love women but are fearful of men, or are just unfriendly or impatient with kids.
* Limit the amount of stress in the home when the new pet arrives. Bring him home during a quiet time, and encourage everyone to be calm. Don’t introduce him to people outside the family right away. Let him adjust and bond to his own people first.
* Once the pet is home, parental supervision is absolutely necessary. Parents should be present when young children are handling animals until they are confident of the child’s abilities to hold and play with a pet in a reasonable and responsible way.
*Allow cats time to warm up before trying to handle them. A new cat or kitten may want to hide until it feels safe and secure in its new home. Encourage children to respect this need, and assure them that the cat will come to them when she is ready.
* Involve children in the feeding, walking, grooming and training of the animal. Do these activities together at first, and gradually assign the child to be responsible for some of the daily duties. This gives the child a chance to develop a caring, gentle relationship with the pet. Responsibilities for the welfare of the animal should be shared, and children should NEVER be held completely responsible for a pet.
* Teach a child that fast movements, loud noises and yelling scare an animal. Don’t allow this kind of behavior in your household. Further, children should never be allowed to push, pull or poke a pet. Discourage “rough house” play and any aggressive behavior. This rule applies to activities with any living creature.
* Instruct children to leave animals alone when they are eating or sleeping. Confine the pet to his or her sleeping area–a crate, corner, bed or box–so the children understand when not to bother or play with the animal.
* Have the pet spayed or neutered as early as possible. Unsterilized dogs are three times more likely to bite, so this step is important in protecting your children from harm. Cats can also be more aggressive when not neutered.
* Enroll dogs in an obedience class, and involve the kids in their training. A well- socialized and obedience-trained pet fits in much better in a family than a rough, out-of-control one.
By carefully considering which pet to adopt into your home, and then following these simple suggestions when introducing the pet and helping him to adjust, your new dog or cat should become a loving, lifelong member of your family.
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