If you have ever walked through the kennels of an animal shelter you can surely attest to the stress of the experience. Perhaps you can remember the first time you entered one. It might have been a memorable experience!
They are loud. They are very, very loud.
It is non stop barking, howling, whining, and yelping. The sound can be deafening at times and if you are not used to it or it is your first time, it can cause a heavy dose of anxiety to rise up your bones and make you want to turn around and walk out.
It’s intense.
Now realize that you CAN turn around and walk out. The animals can’t. They are there all day, all night, all week, all month. It shouldn’t take too much contemplation to realize this isn’t the ideal setting for any animal. Some animals can be there for months on end, even in a no-kill shelter. The longer they are in there the worse the mental trauma can be.
So once you have chosen an animal to adopt, what is the first thing you should do with your new pet?
Allow the pet to decompress. The most important phase an adopted pets goes through after the shelter is the decompression phase. It can last anywhere from the first day to a few weeks to even, in extreme cases, months (especially with cats, or animals that have been abused in the past).
When adopting or fostering a rescued dog from the shelter, it’s a happy time for you and a relief to the dog. For one, you’ve taken them away from that loud, scary place. As the new owners or foster of the dog, you’re also excited because you’re bringing in a new member of the family into your home. This new situation is exciting for everyone with new interactions and adventures to come. BUT WAIT! Before you go showing off your new pet to your family, friends, and resident pets, please give the new dog time to relax for awhile. Your love and patience will be rewarded with a happy, well adjusted new family member by allowing them time to decompress.
