Porky and Buddy Pet Health – Keep the Year of Kindness Going

Dear Readers,
Continuing on about making 2018 the Year of Kindness, part of the point of this column is to provide guidance and advice to pet owners about their own pets and their responsibilities toward them.

We know, because we see it every day, that sometimes, no matter how much you love your pets, you may have to make the hard choice to give them up.

Maybe you lost your job, or your house, or you have a sudden illness in the family, or someone in the family develops a serious allergy.

Maybe the behavior of your pet is just too difficult or even dangerous for you to cope with.

The reasons are many – and while it’s easy to get all judgmental and say, “I would never give up my pets, no matter what!” that is no help to someone in that situation who thinks they have no choice.

So here is our advice:

The first thing to consider is whether you have explored all of your options to solve the problem and keep your pet with you. Have you looked for programs that may provide assistance with vet costs if that is the problem? Have you consulted with your physician about strategies to deal with allergies and keep your pets? Have you explored options to deal with problematic behavior with either training or sometimes veterinary care? Have you looked at directories of pet friendly housing?

All of these solutions take time of course, and some of them can be expensive, and we will explore them further in future columns.

But they are part of what your job is as a pet owner.

But if worse comes to worst and you decide that rehoming your pet is you only option, your home is usually the best place for your pet while you search for an adopter.

So that means you need to start that process long before the situation is critical.

Here are some tips about how to do it.

Make your pet more attractive to potential adopters. Have your pet vaccinated and checked by a veterinarian. Making sure your pet is spayed or neutered may also make them more likely to be chosen by a new owner.

Advertise through friends, neighbors and local veterinarians.

Your personal network is the best pool of adopters for your pet.

Many of them probably already know your pet.

Ask your veterinarian if you can place a poster advertising your pet’s need for a new home.

Place flyers promoting your pet at work, school, church and other public places you frequent.

Use a high quality photo and a description of your pet that emphasizes his or her good points.

Use your social network.

Post your pet’s photo and story and ask your friends to share it on their social streams.

Be honest with potential adopters.

Be ready to describe your pet’s personality and how they get along with other pets and people.

What do they like and what annoys them?

And share any medical or behavior issues your pet is experiencing so that potential new owners will have the information they need to determine if your pet would be a good fit for their family.

You don’t want your pet at risk of becoming homeless.

If you are considering an adopter whom you don’t already know, ask to speak to their veterinarian about their care of other pets, and go visit their house to make sure it is suitable.

Get help from the Oswego County Humane Society.

They are happy post your pet’s picture and profile on their website as a courtesy listing, while your pet stays in your home.

Only as a last resort, should you try to surrender your pet to a local shelter or rescue organization.

Not because they don’t do a good job, but because they are all already overcrowded and overwhelmed.

We hope this never happens to you, but, as with all other difficult situations in life, preparation and persistence are key to finding a solution.

Thanks to all of our readers for all you do!

The Oswego County Humane Society provides spay/neuter services and assistance, fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need, humane education programs, and information and referrals to animal lovers throughout Oswego County.

Located at 29 W. Seneca St., Oswego, NY.

Phone: 315-207-1070.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.oswegohumane.org

Because People and Pets Are Good for Each Other.

Print this entry