Preparing Your Home: The Ultimate Guide to Pet Adoption 2023

The day you bring your new furry friend home will be a very memorable day for both you and your adopted four-legged companion. You want the animal to feel at home, loved and safe. And this is one of the biggest reasons why we put together The Ultimate Guide To Pet Adoption series.

• ALSO : 👉 Get all the best tips for adopting a pet 🐶🐱

To guide you through how to make your home the "right place" after you adopt a pet, here are a few simple and practical tips that we've gathered from a lot of animal shelters and rescues all over the country:

#1. Be Prepared to Put in Time and Energy

If we're being honest, adjustments for adoptions can be a little or a lot depending on which type of animal you are taking in or planning to adopt. Prepping up for the adoption of a dog is different as compared to when you foster a goldfish, right?

The ultimate goal of local shelters and rescue groups is to find loving homes for adoptable pets like dogs, cats and other animals. And being up for the challenge should be on your list if you want a successful pet adoption.

#2. Pet-Proof Your Home Way Before Adoptable Pets Arrive

No matter how docile your new furry friend may be after finalizing your pet adoption, he will still have a knack for breaking out. Believe me, the search for a "runaway" kitten or puppy can wear you out! And dogs, cats and other pets could also be prone to getting life-threatening diseases and infections like rabies in the process.

When you adopt from local shelters or rescue groups like Petfinder, ASPCA and Happy Tails, you can think of it the same way as having a toddler around the house. This is why the adoption of pets should be taken very seriously.

#3. Check Your Notes From the Meet and Greet at the Animal Shelter or Rescue

When it comes to adoption, pet-proofing your home starts at the meet and greet. Add "peculiar pet habits" to the list of questions you need to ask at the on-site meet and greet and during the adoption process to make the transition really smooth.

#4. Strive to Make a Good First Impression (Not Just at Local Shelters)

Making your new fur baby feel safe is very important when welcoming them to a new home. Make sure you take note of his favorite stuff like a blanket, some bedding or a toy. These things also have unique scents to them that give him comfort.

#5. Get the Scent Thing Right

As I emphasized earlier, the scent is a big deal when you adopt a pet, particularly among puppies and kittens. Be very careful when it comes to securing your hamper, trash can and other smelly things that he may be attracted to scent-wise. Adoptable animals will also be tempted to have a sneaky bite of food items if they're not properly stored!

#6. Get Help from Shelter Staff and Rescue Foster Family

The people who know the animal the most would be the best help you can get when preparing your home after you adopt a pet. This includes volunteers and staff of adoption events organized by ASPCA, Petfinder, PetSmart charities and similar organizations in your location or community.

#7. Know Your New Pet's Space

While the goal of adoption is to find loving homes for dogs, cats and other pets, you should also set location boundaries when taking them home. A big part of adopting is determining the areas where he will stay the most. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

• If you’re getting a dog or cat, determine if he will be allowed in all rooms or in only one area of the house.

• In the case of guinea pigs, chinchillas, hedgehogs and other pets, make sure their space is protected from other pets that could pose a danger like dogs and cats. The same also applies to puppies and kittens.

#8. Visit Your Pet Shop

Purchase pet supplies way before your new dog, kitten or some other type of pet goes home with you. Pets like dogs and cats—regardless of age—typically have an "emotional adjusting period" after adoption. Make this transition as comfortable and happy as can be for animals by having the right supplies way before you take them home.

#9. Plan the First Few Days

Whether you're adopting from a local shelter or a rescue in your community, or perhaps an organization like ASPCA, dogs, cats and other animals up for adoption typically have set routines. Make sure you take note of feeding schedules, playtimes and similar activities before your new fur baby arrives in your home.

#10. Speaking of Family, They Also Need to Be Prepared

We’re not just talking about another person here! Some of you may already have other animals at home like dogs and cats, so making sure that they would also be okay with the new pet moving in is very important.

A Quick Westin Update

We are so thankful that our fur baby Westin adjusted very well to living with us. We sure couldn’t have done it as well as we did without the help of various shelters and rescues. To Basset Rescue Across Texas, Healthy Pets of NYC, Hoofs and Woofs Animal Rescue, Midwest Animal Rescue Service, and many more, our heartfelt gratitude goes to you!

Do you have tips on preparing your home for a pet or companion animal? We're very interested to read your insight in the comments section or share your tips on our FB page. Thanks for reading this part of The Ultimate Guide To Pet Adoption Series, simply check out our previous blogs to see the parts 1 to 7.