Petspectations - What to expect from a Greta's Haven pet
Veterinary Care
Any pet that you adopt from Greta's Haven Pet Rescue will have had all necessary and age appropriate veterinary care. This will include wellness check-ups, vaccinations, de-worming medications, exotic animal dietary supplements and preventative medications.
As an adopter, you will be provided with copies of all of your new pet's medical records. Any pre-existing conditions will be explained to you and potential care beyond regular wellness visits and vaccinations that the pet may need (if any) will be described.
As an adopter, you will be provided with copies of all of your new pet's medical records. Any pre-existing conditions will be explained to you and potential care beyond regular wellness visits and vaccinations that the pet may need (if any) will be described.
Sterilization
Any animal that can be spayed or neutered to prevent breeding will have the procedure completed before leaving our care. Puppies and kittens can be altered as early as eight weeks of age by our vet. Pediatric spay/neuter has been proven to be a low-risk process and, in our experience, the younger animals recover more quickly and with fewer complications than do older animals. Because spay and neuter are surgical procedures, we will retain the animal in our care for at least a week post-surgery to ensure that the pet heals properly. This provides you, the adopter, an extra level of assurance that you are getting a healthy animal that is ready for its new home.
Any animal that cannot be spayed, neutered or otherwise sterilized such as small rodents and reptiles will only be adopted out on a strict contract which prohibits breeding the animal.
Any animal that cannot be spayed, neutered or otherwise sterilized such as small rodents and reptiles will only be adopted out on a strict contract which prohibits breeding the animal.
Knowledge of your new pet's personality
Because we work with only a few animals at a time in a home-based situation, we will be able to tell you about your new pet's personality, likes, dislikes and quirks. Knowing these things will help speed the bonding process between you and your new pet.
Knowing a pet's personality also helps us to find it an appropriate home. Each pet has individual needs and we screen homes carefully to ensure that those needs will be met.
Knowing a pet's personality also helps us to find it an appropriate home. Each pet has individual needs and we screen homes carefully to ensure that those needs will be met.
Training
Pets in our care have a basic level of species appropriate training. Adult dogs will be house-trained and cats will be litter-box trained before being placed. Most dogs will know sit, stay and down before leaving our care and some dogs will know additional commands.
Trial Adoption
We know that not every adoption will go smoothly. Despite all of the efforts of both the rescue and the adopter sometimes a pet just does not "fit" in its new home.
Greta's Haven Pet Rescue offers a four week trial adoption period on every pet. If during this time you decide that the pet is not working out you may return it to us for a full refund of the adoption fee.
Greta's Haven Pet Rescue offers a four week trial adoption period on every pet. If during this time you decide that the pet is not working out you may return it to us for a full refund of the adoption fee.
Pet safety net
Our dedication to a pet's welfare does not end upon its adoption.
If ever an adopter has changed circumstances that offer no recourse other than to give up the pet, Greta's Haven Pet Rescue requires that the pet be returned to the rescue's care.
If ever an adopter has changed circumstances that offer no recourse other than to give up the pet, Greta's Haven Pet Rescue requires that the pet be returned to the rescue's care.
Holiday Pet Tips
_ Pets are life-long commitments and should not be given as gifts. Every member of the family with whom the pet is going to live should be in agreement that a pet is wanted and will be treasured. Shelters and rescues are deluged with pets after the holidays because they have been given as gifts by well-meaning people who do not realize the pet is not wanted by the recipient.
If you still want to add a pet to your household this holiday season, here are some tips to consider:
1. Consider whether you can realistically commit to caring for the pet for it's lifetime, including all expenses that the pet may require.
2. Make sure that other household members also want the pet. Make a clear and concise plan for the pet's care after it joins the household including each person's role in the pet's daily routine.
3. Have an idea of what you are looking for in a pet including age, activity level, breed, grooming requirements, color and personality. Find several matches on petfinder.com for the family to review.
4. Get pre-approved by the rescue or shelter to adopt a pet but add it to your household after the activity of the holiday season has passed. Pets thrive on routine. The parties, visits and constant flow of people can not only be stressful for your new pet but it can also make it difficult to bond.
Are you a parent or guardian making the commitment to the pet, but you want to surprise a child?
A. Talk to the child about the needs of pets before the holiday, especially if the child is asking for a specific pet. The child should have a realistic expectation of what responsibility having a pet entails.
B. Become pre-approved for a pet or find several potential candidates on petfinder.com
C. Purchase pet appropriate supplies and wrap them as gifts for the child to open during the holiday celebration. Give the child a book about pet care for the specific animal. If you already have a pet picked out, tape a picture of it on the inside cover.
D. At a calm time after the holiday celebrations, browse petfinder.com with the child or show the child the profile of the pet you have chosen. Make a plan for the day that you will pick up your pet from the rescue or shelter together.
E. Engage the child in steps to prepare the home for the new pet during the days leading up to obtaining the pet. This will not only make the child more excited for the pet, it will also combat those post-holiday blahs!
If you still want to add a pet to your household this holiday season, here are some tips to consider:
1. Consider whether you can realistically commit to caring for the pet for it's lifetime, including all expenses that the pet may require.
2. Make sure that other household members also want the pet. Make a clear and concise plan for the pet's care after it joins the household including each person's role in the pet's daily routine.
3. Have an idea of what you are looking for in a pet including age, activity level, breed, grooming requirements, color and personality. Find several matches on petfinder.com for the family to review.
4. Get pre-approved by the rescue or shelter to adopt a pet but add it to your household after the activity of the holiday season has passed. Pets thrive on routine. The parties, visits and constant flow of people can not only be stressful for your new pet but it can also make it difficult to bond.
Are you a parent or guardian making the commitment to the pet, but you want to surprise a child?
A. Talk to the child about the needs of pets before the holiday, especially if the child is asking for a specific pet. The child should have a realistic expectation of what responsibility having a pet entails.
B. Become pre-approved for a pet or find several potential candidates on petfinder.com
C. Purchase pet appropriate supplies and wrap them as gifts for the child to open during the holiday celebration. Give the child a book about pet care for the specific animal. If you already have a pet picked out, tape a picture of it on the inside cover.
D. At a calm time after the holiday celebrations, browse petfinder.com with the child or show the child the profile of the pet you have chosen. Make a plan for the day that you will pick up your pet from the rescue or shelter together.
E. Engage the child in steps to prepare the home for the new pet during the days leading up to obtaining the pet. This will not only make the child more excited for the pet, it will also combat those post-holiday blahs!