For Pet's Sake: Adopting Any Pet Requires a

Ingrid Braulin - Grantham, NH

Iwas supposed to be writing an their older owners ended up dying or going article about animals and burns when a to a non-pet-friendly nursing home and friend asked me to write something about no one wanted their 10-year-old Schnau- needing a sense of humor when you adopt zer. It is important that if you DO take a pet. I figured, with everyone still trying on a pet, that you have a succession plan. to cope with all of 2020, I’d put burns on Who (in their right mind, in writing, and the back burner for next time and try to ahead of time) promises that they will care help make your lives just a tad lighter. for the animal should you no longer be

No doubt about it, whether you adopt a able to do so? Include your pet, no matter parrot, cat, dog, rabbit, or anything else it what your age, in your will. Try to leave requires some re-adjusting of your respon- an amount of money to cover some of the sibilities, your lifestyle, and the re-tooling cost of your pet’s care. You have no idea of your sense of humor. Especially if you how much that endears you to the heart have one of two conditions: 1. You have of the pet’s eventual caregiver. It will give never had a pet before; 2. You are a senior you and them, peace of mind. Oh, and citizen like me, looking to recapture the make sure you tell the future pet-parent of good old days. their good fortune ahead of time. Please,

Whenever I hear from a client that they no awkward surprises. are adopting a new pet or adding to their A puppy? A kitten? Really? Good luck stable of non-human friends, I hope they with that! My favorite calls were from are prepared for some lifestyle changes. retired folks who just got a Lab Retriev- I hope they researched it and are cer- er, a parakeet, or a kitten. After all, they tain they are ready to take on this new had one when they were first married in addition/s. This is not only for their sake their 20’s and “just knew this is what they and the sake of all those around them but wanted.” Oh Boy! Let us not even discuss also for the pet’s sake. the sleepless nights, the boundless ener-

Needless to say, the internet is awash with gy, the constant cleaning up-after, and the all kinds of great hints and lessons but also expense! “Oh, we figure we’ll just take him some pretty gnarly and useless ones. I’m with us when we travel.” A PUPPY? A bird? going to try to walk you through some of A kitten? Even most full-grown cats will the more important things to remember drive you crazy after 10 minutes in the car. that they conveniently miss. So be prepared. This decathlon of baby-

You should NOT under any circum- hood you will be undertaking might last stances even consider taking on a pet only 2-3 years, but it will age you at least whether parrot, cat, dog, muskrat, turtle, 5. There are all kinds of things you will etc. without being absolutely certain of need to think about for a “baby” pet, all its specific expected longevity. Example: the training you MUST undertake to be on there are over-filled shelters for parrots the same page; the physical strength and and cockatoos in America because their endurance you will need to provide it with owners did not stop to think: “I’m 60 and exercise and stimulation (no, puppies do this bird will more than likely outlive me not come with a cuddly bed and fireplace by at least another 40 years.” Dogs and cats where they lie for hours on end, not dis- have been put to sleep in shelters because turbing you). Then you will need patience and humor for all the “funny, cute, ha-ha” things they do like peeing on your best quilt…the cat, chewing your 1950’s comic book collection-the rabbit, shrieking for hours for attention…the parrot, and taking the raw filet steak off the kitchen counter when you turned your back…that “sweet” retriever puppy. Do not howl in pain or anger…they don’t get it and besides, you’ll frighten the dog into submissive peeing or the cat in hiding under your king-sized bed never to be seen again, or the parrot turning your finger into a snack. You’ll just have to put a hearty tone into your chuckle and tell your spouse and neigh- bors, “Isn’t that cute?” In two earlier segments, I spoke about Fall 2020

any shelter dogs coming into your home as a permanent solution so I won’t cover that again. But I will say that no matter what you decide to do in bringing in a new pet, the worst thing you can do is show anger or frustration at all the things they will do or get into. All animals, yes, including fish, can sense tension. I had a huge Oskar fish years ago that would swim to the corner at the bottom of his 75-gallon tank behind his rocks and sulk if we were arguing…well, it looked like sulking. He also knew when it was dinner time because he’d hang out near the surface blowing bubbles at us.

So, instead of tearing your hair out, weeping from your soul, or screaming at the animal, you may as well look at the bright side (?). Humor, affection, re-direction of their focus, and fake enthusiasm on your part will definitely help almost any pet get over the newness of your home, their youthful “indiscretions”, and will help them learn the rules and regulations.

You show, you repeat, dog tries, dog gets it, treat, try, repeat, treat …That is the rhythm section of teaching a pet to do almost anything you want, except cats. Cats you show, you repeat, cat licks his paws, you show, you show, you show, cat is done washing his paws and walks away. I know, I hate to burst your bubble but if a cat decides it wants to learn, it will. Otherwise, dream and weep on.

Finally, find a pet sitter with training, a sense of humor, and a daring-do attitude about life and animals. No sense in the meek or brash, you want professional and dedicated. Make sure that the pet sitter is comfortable with your type or breed

of animal. Leaving your Pitbull with me is a no-go, for some unknown reason, I am terrified. Leave your Akita, Shepherd, vulture, or lion cub and you have me as a dedicated, easy-going stepmom who will let them sleep in her bed if need be. Credentialed pet sitters are an important part of your pet’s life. If you travel, they should visit your dog 3-4X a day (it’s the peeing, folks), cat twice a day, parrots 3 visits (they are SO conversationally needy), rabbits 2-3 times a day. All these are minimums. Better yet, have the sitter stay in your home. Expensive? It should be, they work and play with your animals like you probably can’t, besides the pets are your kids. Sleepovers? That’s where your pet goes to the sitter’s home and stays. Not always an option, but great if you can get it. Your pet becomes one of the sitter’s family.

There you have it, folks! Ingrid’s Try Humor to Help You through your folly and enjoy your great animal. You will never, ever find a more fantastic or loyal companion then your pet/s (unless you have a Lab…they’ll go with anyone for a snack).

Ingrid Braulini is the owner of Pet First Aid & Wellness. She is a Certified Pet Tech and Wellness Instructor, a NAPPS Board Member, and NAPPS Certified. For more information, visit www. PetAidClasses.com.