Find Your Perfect Pet: Adoption with Quincy Humane Society
Find Your Furry Best Friend: The Ultimate Pet Adoption Guide with Quincy Humane Society
By: Katie Bigley
So, you're thinking about bringing a furry friend into your life? Congratulations! Adopting a pet for the first time is a gratifying experience filled with love, laughter, and many adorable moments. But let's be real, it can also be a little overwhelming. For this month’s blog, I decided to team up with Pilar Brumbaugh, the Director of the Quincy Humane Society to help walk through everything you need to know, from choosing the right pet for your lifestyle to preparing your home and building a lasting bond.
It’s a big commitment to welcome a new pet into your life and it’s important to make sure your lifestyle and the needs of the pet mesh well together so you can both live a happy, fulfilling life together. Before you go to the shelter to pick out your new best friend, it’s important to ask yourself some questions like: What am I looking for in a pet? What am I able to provide for my pet, emotionally, physically, and financially? What does my day-to-day look like and how would that look with a pet involved?
“Some things to think about are number one, the energy level, the activity level, and what are the needs of the pet, and what are you also willing as the adopter to provide that pet? What type of environment are you offering for that pet and going from there,” says Pilar. Cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens, all have their unique personalities with their likes and dislikes and the biggest question to ask yourself is what would that perfect fit look like? Once you have an idea of what qualities you would like in your future furry friend, the Quincy Humane Society is there to help play matchmaker and guide you toward an animal that best meets your needs. “Here at the Quincy Humane Society, we get to know our different animals. What their likes and dislikes are, their personalities and we can help find that perfect fit for them,” says Pilar.
Now, whether you choose to adopt a cat, kitten, puppy, or dog, taking a shelter animal into home life is a big transition for them and Pilar shares some challenges you may run into during that adjustment period. “Here at the Quincy Humane Society, we always talk to our adopters about the 3-3-3 concept. The first three days are going to be different than the first 3 weeks, then the first 3 months, and so forth,” says Pilar.
It does take time for animals to settle into their new living environment. You may find that if you adopt a cat or kitten, they might spend most of their time hiding the first few days or even weeks and that’s okay! Dogs may be a little more anxious and needy during those first few weeks and that’s okay also! It’s a big change for them and sometimes they just need some time, space, and patience while they get used to their new home.
“People sometimes don’t think about the fact that it’s not just going to be cookie-cutter perfect from day one, there’s going to be challenges and that’s okay, it's normal,” says Pilar. Not only does the Quincy Humane Society offer support in finding the perfect pet, but they are also there for support for post-adoptions as well. “We love getting updates, we love having questions sent to us, and we want to hear from you about how things are going and what we can help you with,” says Pilar.
When bringing home your new furry friend, it’s crucial to understand that shelter life is very different from home life. While living at the shelter, animals are used to a routine every day. They get fed at the same time, they get walked at the same time, they get their cages cleaned at the same time. “When they are adapting to a new environment, it’s really important to establish that routine. Not only for the sake of you but for your furry friend as well,” says Pilar.
Animals thrive on predictability and getting a consistent routine established quickly will help provide a sense of security and help to reduce anxiety as they will know what to expect. This will help your new companion feel more confident and comfortable in their new home. Consistent schedules for feeding, potty breaks, and play times will also help your pet learn desired behaviors more quickly. “Pets are adaptable, and you’ve got to be adaptable, too, and it goes back to understanding and just figuring out what works best for you and what works best for the pet. It just kind of naturally tends to happen and so you want to make sure that you’re just being adaptable along with the pet’s needs as well,” says Pilar
Before you bring your new friend home, it’s important to make sure your space is prepped and ready to go. “It’s kind of like baby-proofing, but puppy-proofing, kitten-proofing. This is a whole new world to the pet that you’re about to bring home so everything is going to be exciting, everything’s going to be interesting. New environments, new smells, new sounds, everything,” says Pilar.
This means clearing off countertops, and tabletops, clearing the floor of anything you don’t want potentially chewed on. Covering up cords, pulling up blinds, and placing the trashcan in a more secure location. It’s also important to put up gates or block off any rooms or areas of the house that will be off-limits to your new pet. “Make sure you establish those ground rules and boundaries right away,” says Pilar
If you are adopting a dog or a puppy, Pilar says that a kennel will more than likely be your best friend. “Even a separate room that you can just say, “Hey, while I’m gone this is where you’re going to be.” So that way they’re not overloaded and unattended while you’re not in the home and they can’t get into any harm,” says Pilar.
If you decide to adopt through the Quincy Humane Society, Pilar shares a little bit about their adoption process and what you can expect while looking for your new best friend. “Here at the Quincy Humane Society, we are very fortunate to have spaces where our visitors can meet with some of the animals without having to fill out an adoption application. If you do decide to adopt, there’s just a one-page, front and back, application where we’re asking some information about who you are the type of environment you’re looking to provide, and the animal that you’re interested in,” says Pilar.
However, the paper application isn’t the most important part. Pilar says that it’s really about finding and getting to know the families and then pairing them up with different animals that best fit their needs. “We want you to meet as many animals as you might be interested in. Sometimes you might come in with something in mind whether it’s breed, size, color, you name it. But until you meet the different animals, you may not know,” says Pilar.
Besides the open rooms to visit with your new potential friend and the play yard, the Quincy Humane Society also offers home visits for their canines that are 6 months and older if you live in Adams County. This provides you the opportunity to do a trial run and see if the dog is a good match for you and your family.
Welcoming a new pet into your life is a big commitment and the Quincy Humane Society strives to be by your side every step of the way through the adoption process, from start to finish. “At the Quincy Humane Society, we make this commitment to every animal in our care, when you adopt, if it no longer works out for whatever reason, you can always bring the animal back to us. You are a part of the Quincy Humane Society family when you adopt. We want to be there for you, for the life of the pet. We love them for the entirety of their life, and we’ve made that commitment to them and you as an adopter,” says Pilar.
Every animal deserves a loving home, and every person deserves the companionship of a furry friend. So, if you are considering adopting, go check out the Quincy Humane Society, your local shelter, or a rescue. As you embark on this journey, remember to be patient for the right fit and ask questions. All staff are there to help guide you along to find your perfect match!
Thank you to Pilar and the Quincy Humane Society for helping out with this blog!
