{"id":2424,"date":"2019-02-06T06:56:20","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T11:56:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/?p=2424"},"modified":"2022-03-01T21:56:30","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T02:56:30","slug":"guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2987\" src=\"http:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/templates-19-1024x512.png\" alt=\"rescuedogs\" width=\"724\" height=\"412\">\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNothing quite completes a home like a new pet. Pets are not only fun to play with and provide companionship, but can also offer people <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rd.com\/advice\/pets\/benefits-having-pet\/\">a variety of additional benefits<\/a>. As a result, it\u2019s no surprise that nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/fact-statistic\/facts-statistics-pet-statistics\">three quarters of families in America have at least one pet<\/a>, equaling tens of millions in America alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite this, only about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspca.org\/animal-homelessness\/shelter-intake-and-surrender\/pet-statistics\">3 million shelter animals are adopted every year<\/a>, leaving many animals behind. While more people are beginning to get behind the idea of \u201cadopt, don\u2019t shop\u201d, there is still a lot of progress to be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bringing home a rescue pet is not only a great way to add a new family member to your house, but also a more affordable choice, as an adoption fee is usually less expensive than purchasing from a breeder. In fact, there are a number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petlisted.com\/5-facts-about-rescue-animals\/\">benefits to rescuing a pet rather than buying<\/a>. With that in mind, this article is going to act as a guide to bringing home a rescue pet. We\u2019ll look at checklist items to complete before adopting, items you may need, and how to make your pet a great addition to the family!<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>1. Try Getting as Much Information as Possible<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you adopt a rescue dog or cat, in most cases, you won\u2019t know much about its history. This includes its age, exact breed, why it was abandoned, and a variety of other things. While the shelter might be able to give you some information, you\u2019re pretty much in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why it\u2019s important to spend time with the pet before adopting it. You\u2019ll want to know its demeanor, and make sure it\u2019s an animal that you\u2019re capable of supporting for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to consider that the pet\u2019s behavior in the shelter could be vastly different from how it will act at home. You never truly know what you\u2019re going to get out of a rescue pet, which is why research and dedication is truly important and not a decision to take lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>2. Buy the Supplies You Need<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have made the choice to rescue a pet, you\u2019ll need to make sure you have the essential items before it comes home. These essentials include food, toys, a bed, kennel\/crate, leash, collar, dog\/cat tags, food dishes, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may be some extra things depending on the type of pet you rescue. For example, if you rescue a cat you\u2019ll need a litter box and a scratching post, while a bird will need a cage.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>3. Pet-Proof Your Home<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have the items you need, make your home ready for the animal. Most animals are curious, and will likely check every nook and cranny in your house once they arrive. Make sure to do a sweep of rooms to ensure they are pet friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In particular, if your pet will spend time outside, check your yard. Make sure there are no ways out and no plants that are potentially poisonous. Also make sure to hide all chemicals, ensure they cannot reach human food, and remove sharp objects.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>4. Establish Ground Rules With Your Family<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the pet actually arrives, it\u2019s important to make sure everyone is up for the challenge that a rescue pet brings. Go over ground rules with your family: where the pet is allowed to go, who is responsible for feeding and cleaning up after the pet, and where will it sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The important thing is to ensure everyone is happy and content with their role, so they will remain consistent with it.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>5. Introduce the Pet Slowly, Don\u2019t Rush it<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It would be great if a new pet instantly meshed with your family life and existing pets, but this isn\u2019t always the case. There is likely to be a brief period of time where the pet is scared, confused, stressed and may even act out. This is completely normal, whether a rescue pet or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You, your family, and your entire home are completely new to the pet and it can be a lot to handle. Because of this, be sure to introduce them slowly. Give the pet as much time as it needs to feel comfortable and don\u2019t try and force it. After enough time passes, the pet will be comfortable and begin to act normally.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>6. One Thing at a Time<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moving somewhere completely new is intimidating for everyone, especially for a new rescue animal. As a result, introduce one thing at a time and have patience with your new pet. It\u2019s best to slowly introduce your rescue to the inside of your house, especially where it will live, letting it explore each room for a few minutes before moving on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, begin to introduce your pet to members of the family. Introduce each person individually, allowing your pet make the first move before allowing them to touch or hold the animal. If you have children, make sure they\u2019re gentle with the animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, these meetings between pets and children should be supervised by an adult. America is home to hundreds of thousands of dog bites each year and children are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chp.edu\/injury-prevention\/safety\/home-and-yard\/dog-bites\/facts-and-figures\">the most common victim<\/a>, so always be safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the pet is comfortable enough with the surroundings and the people it will interact with daily, it should begin to calm down. As for how long this will take, it depends on a number of factors including age, type of pet, and any trauma it may have experienced in the past. Be patient.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>7. Establish a Routine<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once your pet is comfortable and behaving predictably, it\u2019s time to establish a routine with them. This routine will depend on your schedule and who\u2019s at home during different parts of the day. You should dedicate a time for the pet to eat, a time to use the bathroom (if it needs to be let out), and a time to go for walks, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pets are creatures of habit so establishing a routine is very important. Also be conscious of other routine needs, such as potty training and obedience training.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><u>8. The Bottom Line<\/u><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting a rescue pet is an increasingly popular way to join the world of pet ownership. However, it\u2019s important to be aware of all of the potential challenges and risks before doing so. Owning and caring for a rescue pet can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but will come with its responsibilities. By properly planning, your new rescue will have a smooth transition into your home and family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Nothing quite completes a home like a new pet. Pets are not only fun to play with and provide companionship, but can also offer people a variety of additional benefits. As a result, it\u2019s no surprise that nearly three quarters of families in America have at least one pet, equaling tens of millions in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":2425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pet-guides-for-homeowners","category-tips-and-advice"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet - RealtyHop Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet - RealtyHop Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; Nothing quite completes a home like a new pet. Pets are not only fun to play with and provide companionship, but can also offer people a variety of additional benefits. As a result, it\u2019s no surprise that nearly three quarters of families in America have at least one pet, equaling tens of millions in [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RealtyHop Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-02-06T11:56:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-03-02T02:56:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"637\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Writing Staff\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Writing Staff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/\",\"name\":\"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet - RealtyHop Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-02-06T11:56:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-03-02T02:56:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5fdd0dc0300d7f787f2f461dff7c1829\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg\",\"width\":960,\"height\":637},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"RealtyHop Blog\",\"description\":\"RealtyHop\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5fdd0dc0300d7f787f2f461dff7c1829\",\"name\":\"Writing Staff\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d225d9932bd9af945528f3d75b8bf0794babdf9babb70bdbf4c45702226e7231?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d225d9932bd9af945528f3d75b8bf0794babdf9babb70bdbf4c45702226e7231?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Writing Staff\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/author\/staff\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet - RealtyHop Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet - RealtyHop Blog","og_description":"&nbsp; Nothing quite completes a home like a new pet. Pets are not only fun to play with and provide companionship, but can also offer people a variety of additional benefits. As a result, it\u2019s no surprise that nearly three quarters of families in America have at least one pet, equaling tens of millions in [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/","og_site_name":"RealtyHop Blog","article_published_time":"2019-02-06T11:56:20+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-03-02T02:56:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":960,"height":637,"url":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Writing Staff","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Writing Staff","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/","url":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/","name":"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet - RealtyHop Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg","datePublished":"2019-02-06T11:56:20+00:00","dateModified":"2022-03-02T02:56:30+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5fdd0dc0300d7f787f2f461dff7c1829"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/dog-1861839_960_720.jpg","width":960,"height":637},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/guide-to-bringing-home-a-rescue-pet\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Guide to Bringing Home a Rescue Pet"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/","name":"RealtyHop Blog","description":"RealtyHop","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5fdd0dc0300d7f787f2f461dff7c1829","name":"Writing Staff","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d225d9932bd9af945528f3d75b8bf0794babdf9babb70bdbf4c45702226e7231?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d225d9932bd9af945528f3d75b8bf0794babdf9babb70bdbf4c45702226e7231?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Writing Staff"},"url":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/author\/staff\/"}]}},"modified_by":"Shane Lee","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2424"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4294,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424\/revisions\/4294"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyhop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}