by Megan Buff

Created on: November 30, 2008

I am a huge supporter of animal adoption. Both of my dogs were adopted from the local shelter, and I worked with an equine rescue agency for several years. It's amazing to see an animal learn to trust people again, and to be the recipient of incredible love and loyalty. That said, adoption is not easy. You'll be taking on an animal that can't talk to you, and has probably had bad experiences with humans in the past. In all likelihood, it will be a least a bit afraid of you at first. But with time and care, you can foster a wonderful, long-lasting relationship.

First, do your research. Decide in advance what kind of animal you want to get, and make sure you have the resources (space, equipment, money, energy, etc.) to care for it. Find out what breeds of animal are more likely to fit your lifestyle. If you want a dog to go running with you, for example, you probably shouldn't choose a dachshund, no matter how cute it is. Think about the practicalities of bringing an animal home. Where is it going to sleep? How will you clean up after it? Will you keep it off the furniture, and if so, how?

Then you're off to the pet shelter or rescue agency. Animals will look cute. They have a habit of doing that. But remember your research, and stick to the decisions you made before you stepped through the door. It may be that the right dog, or cat, or whatever, for you isn't in the shelter that day. You don't have to adopt something right away. Keep looking until you've found something that suits your needs. On the surface, that sounds very selfish but let's be honest: if the animal doesn't fit into your lifestyle, neither of you will enjoy the partnership. Leave it for someone else to love.

When you do find the right animal and bring it home, you'll have to help it adjust to the new surroundings. Provide an area that can be its personal space (for dogs and cats, a bed or padded crate works well). Establish rules quickly, though calmly. Don't yell at or threaten to hit your new friend, as this will only make him or her less secure. Scold with a deep, firm voice, but be equally ready to praise. Animals are most confident when they know who's boss and what they're allowed to do. Keep rules to a minimum, not overwhelming your pet, but enforce them consistently. This will make for a better partnership all around: your animal will not be confused, and you're less likely to be angry at them for breaking the rules yet again.

It's important to remember that adopted animals have usually had rough pasts. They might react strangely to certain objects or happenings. One of my dogs ran a mile whenever he saw a stick, even if you were just picking it up to put in the recycle bin. (He was also terrified of squeaky toys.) Don't punish behavior like this, as you'll only make the animal more afraid. Reassure your pet that you won't hurt him or her. If the reaction doesn't cause a disruption of life, it's best to just ignore it. If you need to change the animal's behavior, slowly re-introduce the frightening object to them, reassuring them all the while. Expect this to take a long time, and have patience above all.

Working with rehabilitated animals is challenging, there's no denying that. But it's also very rewarding. With a little time and effort, animals that were formerly down on their luck can be some of the happiest companions in the world.

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