Abused dogs can make great pets
April 3rd, 2008 Posted in Pet GamesLife can be hard for pooches with a past.And things can get even tougher for their new owners.Dogs and other animals from shelters could have a hard time acclimating to a new home, depending on what their previous lives were like.But pets with a history of neglect or abuse, such as the 80 dogs recently rescued from an unkempt Jackson County shelter, can end up being loyal pets, animal-care employees say.Most of the dogs that were rescued in March from the Animal Assist shelter in Sand Springs have already found new owners. The dogs had suffered from starvation, untreated disease and wounds inflicted by other dogs, said Imandra Johnson, a receptionist at Gray Hawk Veterinary Clinic, where the dogs have stayed since they were rescued.The process for placing an abused or neglected pet begins with screening the owners. The Lexington Humane Society, like many other shelters, require potential adopters to fill out a form with questions about themselves and their homes in order to find a good placement, said Madison H. Carey, director of development at the Lexington Humane Society.Shelter employees also evaluate each animal to have a better idea of where it should be placed, said Karie Shrader, adoptions manager for the Lexington Humane Society. For example, some pets might not work well in homes with young children or other animals.%26rdquo;We’ll steer them in the direction of the animal that best fits their home,%26ldquo; Shrader said.The screening process helps to encourage a %26rdquo;finders keepers%26ldquo; policy of retaining an animal for life, Carey said.Potential owners should be aware that animals that have been neglected or abused need a lot more attention than other pets.%26rdquo;I often think that the best medicine for any dog coming out of trauma is extra TLC,%26ldquo; Carey said.Owners will have to take more time to train these pets because the animals aren’t used to receiving so much attention from their humans, said Keith Crawford, director of the Madison County Animal Shelter. These animals also will take longer than other pets to acclimate to their new environment, Crawford said. Owners should slowly introduce their new pets into their lives, Shrader said.Initially put the pets in a separate room, %26rdquo;so they feel like they have a safe zone to work with,%26ldquo; Shrader said. Then, let them gradually explore the rest of their new world.%26rdquo;Just throwing them into the mix, throwing them right into your routine, that’s going to be real detrimental,%26ldquo; Shrader said. %26rdquo;You’re taking 50 steps backward instead of one step forward each time.%26ldquo;People should also allow their new animals to eat in peace. Animals that have not had access to enough food in the past could get aggressive if they think their food could be taken, so keep small children and other animals away, Crawford said.After the animal has adjusted to a better life, it can be one of the best pets an owner will have.%26rdquo;They appreciate it more. They’re more willing to please a lot of time. They’re more pleasing to the other animals,%26ldquo; Crawford said. %26rdquo;It just takes a longer period of time.%26ldquo;
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Tags: adoption, amp, animal shelter, animals, bet, dogs, humane society, Pet, pets, vet, veterinary clinic
