3 Must-Knows Before Adopting Your Furry Friend
Adopting from a shelter, like the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (ARLGP), gives animals a second chance of finding a loving forever home.
Animal shelters provide an important safety net for their communities where surrendered, lost and rescued pets can be cared for in a safe place until they find their new homes. Shelters provide resources to prepare pets for adoption, including administering vaccines and preventatives, providing medical care, and addressing challenging behaviors.
Sarah Ahearn, Mortgage Servicing Specialist at Evergreen Credit Union, tells her story of adopting Kiwi, her Valentine’s Day orange kitten.
Adopting Kiwi
When Sarah and her boyfriend, Nate, found a photo of Kiwi on ARLGP’s Adoptable Cats list, they wanted to make sure they met her. “I knew we needed to meet Kiwi, even if she didn’t end up coming home with us. She just had the absolute sweetest face,” said Sarah. “From the moment we were let in the doors, we were absolutely smitten with her.”
Even if you want to adopt an animal, it’s a great sign when it connects with you upon meeting. Sometimes, that first impression is the biggest reason an animal gets brought home. “Kiwi crawled right up on Nate’s shoulder and started purring, and continued purring the entire time we held her,” Sarah said.
Bringing Kiwi Home
When introducing an adopted animal to your home, it’s important to give them time to adjust to their new surroundings. Every animal is different; sometimes it can take several days to introduce them to your home one room at a time, while others may feel comfortable instantly.
As a rule of thumb, remember the 3-3-3 rule
- 3 days for your new pet to decompress from the transition
- 3 weeks to establish a routine
- 3 months to feel at home
The ARLGP’s adoption counselors can discuss expectations for your new pet. “It's great when pets feel comfortable right away, but letting them move through the different stages at their own pace is key to them settling in at home,” said Matt Blanchard, ARLGP’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
Kiwi’s relief was felt by Sarah’s whole family when they arrived home with their newest furry family member. “She curled up in the crook of Nate’s knees and fell asleep shortly after we brought her home,” Sarah said.
Introducing adopted animals to other pets at home can be crucial to how they adjust post-adoption. This can be a slow process that takes days or weeks. “We waited a little over a week before introducing her to our resident cat, Coco,” said Sarah.
The ARLGP was a key resource when they introduced Kiwi to her new home. “The ARLGP gave us a lot of really helpful information on the best ways to introduce them, which really came in handy to make sure we didn’t rush through things,” Sarah explained.
Living with and Loving Kiwi
Sarah and Nate made sure Kiwi had a loving home, and their newest furry companion is thriving more than ever. “Kiwi is probably the most snuggly cat I have ever known,” Sarah said. “She will curl right up against me to sleep every night.”
Kiwi is vocal, purring, and happy with her new family. All it took was a leap of faith from Kiwi and Sarah to make their friendship last a lifetime.
Prepping to Adopt
Tip #1 Make sure valuables and dangerous or destructive items (like human food, books, cash, etc.) are out of reach from your new animal. They may chew as a nervous habit!
Tip #2 Be prepared to spend money when they first arrive. You may be paying for toys, vaccines, medicine, grooming, maintenance, and creating a safe space for them in your home on top of the animal’s adoption fee.
Tip #3 If you have other animals, make sure they get along. Take your time introducing them; remember, you’re new to them, too! (Ask your local shelter for a facilitated first meeting to ensure everything goes smoothly!)
Adopt A Shelter Pet Day brings awareness the importance of adopting pets. A shelter pet can become your best friend in no time. “My two kitties have absolutely polar opposite personalities, and (as cheesy as it sounds) they’ve both taught me a lot about myself,” Sarah said. “I am so grateful to have the opportunity to love them both and provide them a safe, stable home where they will always be taken care of.”
To learn more about the ARLGP and view their list of currently adoptable animals, visit https://www.arlgp.org/. View Evergreen Credit Union's full list of Community Partners at egcu.org/community.
