#2 Miley, Who Came To Me As A Hospice Foster Dog Since She Wasn’t Expected To Live And We Just Wanted To Make Her Comfortable. This Is Her, A Year And A Half Later!
Bored Panda was incredibly curious to find out what the best way to introduce our newest family members to everyone at home should be. So we reached out to the friendly team at the ASPCA. With over 3.3 million dogs going into US animal shelters each year, the ASPCA are experts on the subject of adoptions.
Kelly DiCicco, the ASPCA Adoptions Promotions Manager, told Bored Panda that when it comes to introducing pets to new family members, everyone should take it slow. Have patience. And it’ll pay off. The same tactics apply both to adopted dogs and to cats, too (for any of you feline-lovers out there).
“Do not approach the dog or cat, but allow them to come to you. If the animal begins to show signs of feeling uncomfortable, you should end your session and try again later.”
#4 Brodie Was Brought Into The Shelter After His Mom Attacked Him. Now He's A Qualified Therapy Dog For People With Disabilities
#6 Yesterday Was Lupa's Gotcha Day, This Is The Difference A Year In A Good Home Makes!
DiCicco pointed out that there are certain cues you should look out for that indicate that your new dog (or cat) is feeling uncomfortable and needs some alone time.
“In dogs, this could include ‘whale eyes’—a term used to describe when a dog shows the whites of their eyes—paw lifts, lip licking, yawning, and pacing. In cats, this may include hissing, swatting, and keeping their ears pinned back,” she said.
“People don’t like being forced to interact with someone they’re not comfortable with, and neither do pets! Giving the dog or cat a few of its favorite tasty treats during these sessions can help.” We couldn’t agree more. And if we, people, could get treats whenever we’re feeling uncomfortable, life would be almost perfect.
#7 Our Foster Pup When She Was Found On The Streets As A Sick, Discarded, Breeder Mama And Then A Few Days Ago, Napping Peacefully On Our Bed
What's more, in an earlier interview, DiCicco told us that keeping “an open mind and heart” is best when heading to an animal or rescue shelter. You might just walk out with a pet you never even considered before. DiCicco stressed that anyone willing to adopt a pet shouldn’t be shy about asking shelter staff lots and lots of questions.
“Every shelter has a unique population of animals and no one knows them like the people who work with them every day. Plus, shelter staff have expertise in making successful matches and can help prospective adopters decide whether an animal is a good personality and lifestyle fit. They also consider a potential adopter’s lifestyle, home environment, and the animal’s potential compatibility with children and other animals in the home in order to make matches that are a good fit,” she said.
#10 This Is Lucy, From Nov 1 To Today. My Amazing Wife Saved Her From The Streets And Disease
#11 Harvey Was Born The Runt Of A 12 Puppy Litter. The First Picture Is His First Day With Us At 3.5 Pounds And Lots Of Health Issues. He’s Now 32 Pounds And Getting Quite Handsome!
#12 From A Hoarder House With 100+ Dogs To A Home Of Her Own! I Had Fostered Her Since November And Officially Adopted Her Last Month!
#13 Patron Was Found Discarded In A Trash Bag On The Side Of The Highway At 4 Weeks Old. 8 Weeks Later, He’s A Very Happy Boy And We Couldn’t Love Him More!
#14 Hiya, This Is Rimosa! I Rescued Her Back In June Of 2019. She Had Yeast, Heart Worms, Lots Of Other Infections, Missing Teeth, She Was Missing Most Of Her Hair, And She Had Been Beaten. She's Fine Now, Top Picture Was The Day I Brought Her Home And The Other Was Last Week. Working On Her Manners Now
#15 This Boy Came To My Partner And I As A Foster Dog, But Within Hours Of Meeting We Knew We Wanted To Keep Him Forever. Introducing Hades, My Big Soft Goofball
#16 He Went From Mistreated, Frail And On The Verge Of Death To A Happy Pupper With A Heart Of Gold! Meet Jack
#18 It's Been 4 Months Since I Caught Marley And Her Puppies. She Was Living As Part Of A Feral Pack For 13 Months After Being Abandoned, And It Took Me 3 Months To Gain Her Trust. She Seems To Know Everything's Going To Be Alright Now
#19 My Friend Adopted A Senior Dog That Had Been Shot In The Leg And Left To Die. These Pictures Are A Day Apart
#20 Mary, The Dog Rescued From The Street With A Collar Ingrown To Her Trachea. Before And After In 2 Months
