Synopses & Reviews
How to tackle the challenges and enjoy the rewards of adopting a pet
Twenty percent of all pets in the U.S. are adopted. By adopting a pet, people often save the life of the dog or cat they bring home and gain a devoted friend for life. But adoptions can come with their own difficulties, especially if the pet is older or suffered from abuse. This fun and easy guide helps prospective adopters prepare for challenges (starting with the complicated application process that many shelters and rescue organizations require), select an appropriate animal, and begin a wonderful new life together. Focusing chiefly on dogs and cats but also covering other adoptable animals, the book discusses feeding, supplies, health care, housetraining, basic obedience, solutions to behavior problems, and the special needs of older and abused animals.
Eve Adamson (Iowa City, IA), the owner of two adopted mixed-breed terriers, is an award-winning pet writer and the author or coauthor of over 30 books, including Labrador Retrievers For Dummies (0-7645-5281-3) and Dachshunds For Dummies (0-7645-5289-9). She is a contributing editor for Dog Fancy magazine and also writes for Cat Fancy, the AKC Gazette, and other pet publications.
Synopsis
People who adopt or rescue a pet want to have a successful loving relationship, but are often faced with problems that are unique. Adopting a Pet For Dummies covers the unique challenges of living with an adopted pet, such as explaining the adoption process and policies, bringing the pet home, buying supplies, housetraining, health care, feeding and nutrition, basic training for older or abused pets, dealing with behavior issues, and solutions to common behavior problems.
Synopsis
Develop a loving relationship with your adopted pet
Your fun and easy guide to the challenges and rewards of adopting a pet
Thinking about adopting or rescuing an animal? This friendly guide gives you a no-nonsense introduction to the process and helps you select the right companion for you and your family. You'll see how to handle everything from feeding, health care, and housetraining to obedience, behavior issues, and special needs for older and abused animals.
Discover how to
- Work with shelters and rescue groups
- Navigate the procedures and paperwork
- Find a supportive veterinarian
- Adopt a dog, cat, bird, critter, or exotic pet
- Help your pet adjust to its new home
About the Author
Eve Adamson is an award-winning pet writer and the author, coauthor, or contributor to more than 40 books including
Labrador Retrievers For Dummies and
Dachshunds For Dummies. She is a contributing editor for
Dog Fancy magazine and writes frequently for many pet publications; among them are
Your Dog, Dogs USA, Puppies USA, Cat Fancy, Cats USA, Kittens USA, Veterinary Practice News, and
Popular Pets, including the issues on
Guinea Pigs, Rats, and many issues on dog training and behavior. She writes the “Good Grooming” column for
AKC Family Dog magazine and a breed profile column and a natural dog care column for
Pet Product News, and she is a member of the Dog Writer’s Association of America and the Cat Writer’s Association of America.
Eve is an active supporter of the Iowa City/Coralville Animal Adoption Center, where she adopted her terrier, Sally, in 1999. She lives with her family in Iowa City, which includes partner Ben Minkler, sons Angus and Emmett, terriers Sally and Jack, a parakeet named Snugglebunny, a dwarf hamster named Mr. Hampy, and three little fish ceremoniously dubbed Little Fishies 1, 2, and 3. You can find out more about Eve and her most recent publications at her Web site, www.eveadamson.com.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
Part I: All About Pet Adoption.
Chapter 1: Exploring the Pet Adoption Option.
Chapter 2: Seeking Shelter: Finding and Using Animal Shelters.
Chapter 3: Rescue Me! All About Pet Rescue Groups.
Part II: Welcoming a Dog into Your Life.
Chapter 4: Choosing Your Dog.
Chapter 5: Helping Your Adopted Dog Make the Homecoming Transition.
Chapter 6: Caring for Your Adopted Dog.
Chapter 7: Doggy Boot Camp: Basic Training and Behavior Management.
Part III: Here Kitty Kitty: Rescuing a Cat.
Chapter 8: Finding the Purrrfect Feline for You.
Chapter 9: Welcoming Home Your Adopted Cat.
Chapter 10: Kitty Care.
Chapter 11: You Really Can Train a Cat.
Part IV: Befriending a Little Critter.
Chapter 12: Choosing Your Critter.
Chapter 13: Getting Ready for Your Critter.
Chapter 14: Taking Charge of Your Critter’s Care.
Chapter 15: Critter Behavior and Training.
Part V: Bringing Home a Feathered Friend.
Chapter 16: From Macaws to Budgies: Choosing Your Feathered Friend.
Chapter 17: Creating a Bird-Friendly Home.
Chapter 18: Caring for Your Adopted Bird.
Chapter 19: Training Your Bird.
Part VI: Giving an Exotic a Second Chance.
Chapter 20: Choosing a Creepy Crawler.
Chapter 21: Preparing for Your Exotic Pet.
Chapter 22: Exotic Care and Feeding.
Chapter 23: Snake Charming and Herp Handling: How to Train Your Exotic Pet.
Part VII: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 24: Ten Great Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Adopted Pet.
Chapter 25: Ten Favors You Can Do for Your Adopted Pet.
Chapter 26: Ten Ways to Support Your Local Shelter or Rescue Group.
Index.