Our Nursery
Our shelter receives dozens of kittens and puppies each week, some arriving with their mothers and littermates and some all alone. In the month of May 2009, we received a record of 65 puppies/kitties per day. These "little ones" require special attention and must be separated into our "nurseries", where they can receive more specialized care and the nurture they need to survive and grow into healthy pets and become eligible for adoption. Because their immune systems are not fully developed, they must be kept apart from the adult pets of the center and maintained in an area that is "disease-free" so that they are protected from the general adult population.
Recommendations for New Puppy/Kitten Owners:
Spay/Neuter
Spay/Neutering your animals helps to control animal over-population, and prevents puppies and kittens from even entering our shelter. Click here for pricing and Spay/Neuter information under Our Services. Why Spay/Neuter?
Keep a Watchful Eye
Nurture, Socialization, and Training
Vaccinations
Following common veterinary practice for recommended vaccinations is crucial to good health. See "Multiple Vaccinations: Why They Are Necessary in Puppies & Kittens" for a good discussion on early vaccination of pups and kittens.
Set Your Pet Up for Success
Supervise the puppy at all times until it has learned what it is allowed to chew, and where it is supposed to eliminate. Many people who adopt and then return an animal do not follow this rule. At any time when a puppy cannot be supervised, house it in his/her crate. Anytime the puppy will be left alone for longer than it can control its elimination, you must provide an area for elimination. Every effort should be made to avoid punishment for new puppies as it is generally unnecessary and can lead to avoidance of family members at a time when bonding and attachment is essential. Take the puppy to the same spot at the same time each day to eliminate. Use the same door. When he does eliminate, praise him/her lavishly and give a small treat! To train a kitten, take the pet to its litter box and touch its front paws gently in the clean litter.
Positive Reinforcement and Consistency
Learning occurs by establishing the relationship between behavior and consequences. There can be different outcomes of behavior. Positive reinforcement is anything that increases the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated. The more the pet does a behavior, the more consequence it gets and what it gets is good. Do not expect your dog to have positive behaviors when you bring it home. You must be willing to have the time and energy to teach your pet acceptable household behaviors.
There are many training facilities available in and around The Woodlands and Conroe, TX. Please click on the following links for more information:
Heartworm Disease and Prevention
Heartworm disease causes serious damage to a dogs' heart and can be fatal if left uncontrolled. Heartworms clog the major blood vessels, reducing the blood supply to the lungs, liver and kidneys. Mosquitoes transmit this harmful parasite from one dog to another. Unfortunately, there are no outward signs of heartworms. There is no need to expose your dog to the risk of heartworm disease when it is so easy to prevent. Heartworm preventative is available at your veterinarian, at the local feed store or online. Puppies can be put on heartworm preventative around 8 weeks of age. This once a month pill should be given for the rest of your dog's life, especially in Texas where we have large population of mosquitoes. The mosquito carries the infective larvae which causes heartworms in dogs. Cats can also get heartworm disease, but it is less prevalent in cats. See your veterinarian for for more information.
Crate Training
The first few weeks your have your new puppy are the most formative in several regards. One of the primary behaviors that is essential for your puppy's life is proper potty/crate training. Crate training relies on your puppy's natural desire to keep its bed clean. Crate training is a "safe haven" for both small and large breeds. Your home will be protected from the "chewing stage" if you leave your pet in a crate while you are asleep or away. Puppies trained to sleep in their crates come to accept the crate as their private "den", especially when the door is left open and "treats" (like peanut butter and kibble filled kongs) are left inside! Never use the crate to "punish" your puppy - it should be a happy place, and a place where your pet feels safe.
It is up to you to make your new adoption a success. Please avoid owner-turn in's by following the guidelines above.
Recommendations for New Puppy/Kitten Owners:
Spay/Neuter
Spay/Neutering your animals helps to control animal over-population, and prevents puppies and kittens from even entering our shelter. Click here for pricing and Spay/Neuter information under Our Services. Why Spay/Neuter?
- Reducing pet overpopulation - this is a critical step in any action plan to curb the rising costs of managing dog and cat overpopulation in our communities. Pets should be spay/neutered by 5 months of age.
- Providing health benefits to companion pets. Read more about the health benefits at "BENEFITS OF SPAY/NEUTER FOR CATS AND DOGS" at SPAY-USA.org. Spaying/neutering has been shown to increase the life expectancy of companion pets and prevent certain cancers.
- Reducing the pet's urge to roam (reduces the numbers of accidents and their exposure to diseases), reducing their urge to "spray" or mark their territory, and reducing their aggressive behaviors (biting).
Keep a Watchful Eye
- Watching for signs of possible illness (appearing lethargic, bloated, lacking in energy, lack of appetite or thirst, diarrhea, runny nose with yellow discharge, blood in stools).
- Keeping pups isolated from adult dogs until old enough for vaccinations.
- Maintaining good nutrition and regular exercise schedules and playtime.
- Administering de-worming medication to rid pups/kittens of intestinal parasites. Puppies and kittens that are born with worms need to have the medication as soon as possible. Read more about "de-worming" at:"Treatment for Worms In Dogs And Cats".
- Watching for signs of "mites" and alerting the Shelter staff so that treatments can be given. Read more about the most prevalent type of mite infestation in puppies and kittens: "Mange Demodex".
Nurture, Socialization, and Training
- Providing puppies and kittens with mental and physical stimulation by handling/playing/exercising them regularly and exposing them to different people, sounds, toys. Walk your pet each day to release some of that extra energy that puppies and kitties have. It will be easier to train your pet when they are in a calm submissive state.
- Providing them with lots of love and attention and making them feel secure---holding, petting, hugging, playing and grooming
- Providing some training, such as learning to walk on a leash and wear a collar, coming when called and responding to other verbal cues from humans. An excellent website for advice on training your puppy/kitty is "Can We Help You Keep Your Pet?" (www.wonderpuppy.net).
Vaccinations
Following common veterinary practice for recommended vaccinations is crucial to good health. See "Multiple Vaccinations: Why They Are Necessary in Puppies & Kittens" for a good discussion on early vaccination of pups and kittens.
Set Your Pet Up for Success
Supervise the puppy at all times until it has learned what it is allowed to chew, and where it is supposed to eliminate. Many people who adopt and then return an animal do not follow this rule. At any time when a puppy cannot be supervised, house it in his/her crate. Anytime the puppy will be left alone for longer than it can control its elimination, you must provide an area for elimination. Every effort should be made to avoid punishment for new puppies as it is generally unnecessary and can lead to avoidance of family members at a time when bonding and attachment is essential. Take the puppy to the same spot at the same time each day to eliminate. Use the same door. When he does eliminate, praise him/her lavishly and give a small treat! To train a kitten, take the pet to its litter box and touch its front paws gently in the clean litter.
Positive Reinforcement and Consistency
Learning occurs by establishing the relationship between behavior and consequences. There can be different outcomes of behavior. Positive reinforcement is anything that increases the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated. The more the pet does a behavior, the more consequence it gets and what it gets is good. Do not expect your dog to have positive behaviors when you bring it home. You must be willing to have the time and energy to teach your pet acceptable household behaviors.
There are many training facilities available in and around The Woodlands and Conroe, TX. Please click on the following links for more information:
- Petsmart.com
- Yespup.com
- Forest Shadows Pet Resort
- Petco
- www.k9heeler.com
- myk9trainer.com
- www.barkbusters.com
- http://www.pawitforwardtraining.com
- http://thefundamentaldog.com/
- http://mansbestfriend4.reachlocal.net/contact.aspx
- http://www.greendogtraining.com/
- http://covenantkennel.com/index.htm
- http://dogtrainingboarding.com/training1.html
- www.gfdogtrainer.com
Heartworm Disease and Prevention
Heartworm disease causes serious damage to a dogs' heart and can be fatal if left uncontrolled. Heartworms clog the major blood vessels, reducing the blood supply to the lungs, liver and kidneys. Mosquitoes transmit this harmful parasite from one dog to another. Unfortunately, there are no outward signs of heartworms. There is no need to expose your dog to the risk of heartworm disease when it is so easy to prevent. Heartworm preventative is available at your veterinarian, at the local feed store or online. Puppies can be put on heartworm preventative around 8 weeks of age. This once a month pill should be given for the rest of your dog's life, especially in Texas where we have large population of mosquitoes. The mosquito carries the infective larvae which causes heartworms in dogs. Cats can also get heartworm disease, but it is less prevalent in cats. See your veterinarian for for more information.
Crate Training
The first few weeks your have your new puppy are the most formative in several regards. One of the primary behaviors that is essential for your puppy's life is proper potty/crate training. Crate training relies on your puppy's natural desire to keep its bed clean. Crate training is a "safe haven" for both small and large breeds. Your home will be protected from the "chewing stage" if you leave your pet in a crate while you are asleep or away. Puppies trained to sleep in their crates come to accept the crate as their private "den", especially when the door is left open and "treats" (like peanut butter and kibble filled kongs) are left inside! Never use the crate to "punish" your puppy - it should be a happy place, and a place where your pet feels safe.
It is up to you to make your new adoption a success. Please avoid owner-turn in's by following the guidelines above.
