New Adopter- Post Adoption Info
Thank You For Adopting With Motley Zoo!
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We hope that your new furry family member(s) is settling in well! Please feel free to share any stories or concerns you may have in this regard.
Action Items For New Adopters:
1. Shop for pet insurance
We do highly recommend pet insurance. It can literally be the difference between being able to save your pet's life- or face surrender or euthanization in a crisis. As well, the younger the animal, the better to get started before a "pre-existing" condition may creep into the picture.
We recommend shopping around for a policy with brands like Healthy Paws or Trupanion who may offer free 30-day policies for new pets. There are many more insurance companies too, however these mentioned tend to be the best rated.
Be sure to check this great resource out in your quest for finding the pet insurance that's best for you and your pet! consumersadvocate.org/pet-insurance
Although Motley Zoo does everything in our power to prevent any health issues before you go home, with live animals anything can happen. Signing up for a policy (especially with a free offer) will save time, money and heartache if something comes up unexpectedly- so please take advantage!
2. Register your new pet's microchip
The brand of chip Motley Zoo uses is called 24PetWatch. You can register the chip with them and it should be free. They do offer other paid features but you do not need these- so please be aware when selecting your options.
There is also a FREE database that has no ties to any other offers, services or products called, Found Animals. The service is provided by The Michelson Foundation, a private organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals.
3. Pet Licenses
Your city and or county may require you to obtain a pet license for your new animal.
There are many benefits to having a pet license. A license is the fastest way toward reuniting with a lost pet. As well, funds from such licenses go to fund animal control efforts- not just to keep animals off the street, but to fund shutting down dog fighting rings, building cases against animal abusers and more.
Not only is it the law in some areas (and you can be fined for not having a license), but your funds are going to promote better animal stewardship in your community.
Licenses are required in King County or in Seattle, if you live within city limits. Please check with your county for the laws regarding your community.
4. Employee Matching
Your employer may offer the amazing benefit of matching donations (including hours volunteered), so please check with them to see if your contribution can be matched!
These funds are critical to amplifying our efforts to save the lives of animals in need!
We are already in the databases of many companies that offer this- and if you don't see us in your, please tell us so we can inquire about how we can be included!
5. Dog Daycare, Training and Boarding
Motley Zoo's Rock Star Treatment Dog Daycare offers great services such as dog daycare, training and (on a limited basis), boarding! Proceeds from these services go toward supporting our rescue mission.
Rock Star Treatment Dog Daycare, Redmond, WA
Our 7,500 square foot facility in Redmond, called The Studio, is where we watch over already owned dogs during the day (M-F 7a-7p)- keep them busy, tire them out- and the funds from the service help us support the rescue animals!
Dog daycare is immensely beneficial for most dogs- and especially for puppies (as young as 8 weeks)! The spectrum of socialization for your dog is widened, to a degree, you cannot achieve alone.
If you are always there when socializing, your dog will only feel confident in new situations if you are present too. However, dogs who attend daycare learn to generalize about the world around them- better preparing them for any new situation they may encounter. Dog daycare goes a long way to helping your dog find confidence so that new places, people and things, are no big deal!
We have seen daycare do amazing things for many dogs, especially those who are shy or under-socialized. We cannot stress enough the benefit of giving your dog the gift of a social life- for your sanity and the betterment of their development!
The staff at Rock Star Treatment is comprised of (skilled volunteers and) dog trainers, so we have many opportunities for you!
Each trainer has a different class curriculum and offerings as well as potentially different styles and methods for training your dog. We encourage you to explore the options and find one that works with you and your dog's needs.
Group classes are held at the Studio, however, some trainers offer private and/ or in-home sessions as well.
Boarding
Dog Agents on staff at Rock Star Treatment may offer boarding for your dog- though this is on a limited basis and some restrictions apply. Also, some fosters will board their former foster animals as a fundraiser for Motley Zoo- which is a winning combination: they get to see their furry friend again and it generates funds for our current rescues!
Please inquire if you are interested in dog boarding. Cat sitting is less of an option for us, though we can occasionally accommodate. If not, we can typically refer you to someone else we already know and trust!
6. Updates & Issues
We love hearing updates about our animals and we encourage you to send them as often as you can! Sometimes what helps us smile on the toughest of days (of which there are many in rescue), is the update from a Rock Star, reminding us that this work is critical and indeed, makes a difference.
As well, we certainly hope everything goes smoothly when you get your Rock Star home and start settling in- though on occasion some issues may arise.
Please tell us immediately if you have any concerns about anything- especially health or behavior!
Our role and commitment is not just to find the animals new homes, but to help support these animals and families once they are united. Many times some simple advice can be the difference between a successful adoption and a returned animal.
Thankfully returns don't happen often, however when they do, we find most people were suffering in silence, dealing with issues they didn't know how to manage...but never said a word to us. Please don't let that happen!
We'd like to note as well, we are likely the BEST resource to ask first!
Vets are not required to have any kind of schooling in behavior (or nutrition, actually) and while dog trainers may likely be the long-term solution to fixing an issue, in talking with us, you may find you can learn how to manage the situation yourself. You may not need the trainer for that problem after all- although this does not mitigate our encouragement in EVERYONE taking a training class, as a step toward achieving a healthy and balanced relationship with your dog.
At the very least, if we know what problems you may be facing, we can likely recommend a trainer we feel would be most effective and beneficial for your specific issue.
It doesn't hurt to ask us- but it may hurt if you don't!
7. Pet Resource info from Bayer
This page offers some resources on basic pet issues. Take a look!
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