Let us look today at some other actions that will help you to make an intelligent choice of pet from the GSPCA’s Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, Georgetown.
You will recall that last week’s TPC dealt with your visit to the GSPCA’s Animal Shelter. Now let us go a few steps further:
I would suggest that you not make a rash and immediate decision. You may put your choice on hold and come back on another day. It’s helpful to see a dog on more than one occasion. Of course, you have to worry that someone else comes in and is prepared to take away the pet immediately. I would propose that you negotiate (with the administratrix) a ‘24-hour hold.’- The second time you visit, bring a close friend or your spouse. If you have children who haven’t yet met the potential new family member, bring them along as well. I would strongly encourage everyone who’s going to live with your choice of pet to come and meet him. You may even ask your vet to accompany you.
- Use your head as well as your heart. Although your initial emotions and reactions to a dog are a good starting place in your selection process, please don’t let them be your only guide. The point being made is that your new dog will be a part of your family for years to come; so, base your decision on your objective observations of the dog’s physical and behavioral exhibitions, as well as whether the pet you are carrying home will not provoke allergic reactions in yourself or family members. This is especially (but not only) true of cats.
- Actually, your vet can indeed be of assistance, especially if this is your first dog, or if you’ve had bad experiences with selecting the right dog in the past. Don’t hesitate to ask any friend (your vet included), who has had some experience with dogs, for guidance.
- Have patience and visit our shelter often. The GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter takes in new dogs all the time. If you
didn’t strike gold on your first visit to the Shelter, don’t give up! Several repeat visits may be necessary to find the pet of your dreams, one which is compatible with you and your family.
- A quick thought directed at young people looking for a pet. Consider volunteering at our GSPCA Shelter, if you’re not sure what kind of dog you want. Dedicating some time to our shelter (especially during holidays) is a wonderful way to help our city’s homeless animals. Once you’ve handled a wide variety of dogs, you’ll have a much better idea of which kind best suits your needs. Sooner or later, one will steal your heart and fit perfectly into your household.
08All of the above is important to comprehend, if you want the trip from the Shelter to your home to be one-way. It is terrible for the pet and for your family, if for whatever viable reason the animal has to be returned.
From our (the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter) side, we will assess your reactions to the potential adoptee. We may even request that you allow adequately trained members of our staff to visit and assess the condition of the new home that will be accommodating our ward. Of course, no money (payment) is involved. You may make a donation to the shelter, but it is not compulsory, nor is it prerequisite to ensure that you will receive the pet of your choice. Finally, and in a nutshell, the central issue in adoption is whether a new owner can provide a safe, secure permanent home for the pet. The GSPCA obviously prefers to give an animal to households which will give the pet the necessary tender loving care. We call the new home a forever home. Inherent in that name is the tacit agreement by the recipient that the animal taken from the shelter will be responsibility of the new owner for the animal’s entire life.
If, perchance, the adopter can no longer keep the animal (for whatever reason – see recent TPC articles), the pet should be returned to the GSPCA.
It would, of course, be of greater benefit to all concerned, if the adopter could find a healthy and happy home for the pet, making sure that the people of the new home will take good care of the pet for the rest of its life.
Just before we close off this ‘Adoption’ theme, we would like to mention a few matters that shelters in other countries have experienced, attitudes which might migrate down to Guyana. One such issue has to do with superstitions – beliefs that black cats, say, are harbingers of bad luck. Well, such myths are just that – nonsensical legends, with no truth to the stories. Actually, in the USofA, it has been reported that some shelters have introduced policies halting or limiting the adoption of black cats immediately prior to Halloween for fear that the animals could be used in some evil exercise involving torture of the black cat.
Equally unacceptable is the adoption of cute fluffy female dogs which are then turned into “puppy factories” by uncaring owners who breed them relentlessly over and over without adequate care, until the mother dog literally dies of exhaustion.
You can see why it is incumbent on the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter to assess the adopter and monitor the well-being of the adoptee in its new home.
Next week, we’ll return to the pre-Christmas topic of Canine Geriatrics.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-Heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
