Bringing home a new pet is an exciting and memorable time for both your family and your new furry friend. In our opinion, the best way to bring home a new pet is by adoption from a local animal shelter or rescue. At BISSELL Rental, we are proud to support BISSELL Pet Foundation® and the work that they do to find homes for pets in rescues and shelters. In fact, that’s their mission: to reduce the number of animals in shelters and rescues through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs and microchipping.
BISSELL Pet Foundation
Cathy Bissell founded BISSELL Pet Foundation in 2011 as a natural extension of her love for animals and her commitment to their welfare. Each year in North America, millions of pets enter shelters and almost half of them are euthanized. BISSELL Pet Foundation supports the shelters and rescues who work tirelessly day after day to address the pet overpopulation problem. They provide much needed financial assistance to change the outlook for thousands of dogs and cats and will continue until every pet has a home.
That’s why we thank you for adopting a pet. Whether you found your new pet through a BISSELL Pet Foundation
Empty the Shelters event or through your local shelter on a regular day, you saved your pet’s life and you also saved the life of pet who took its place.
5 Tips to prepare your home for your newly adopted pet
Pet-proof your home
Before you bring your new pet home from the pet shelter, make your home safe for curious pets.
-
Cover trash cans
-
Take breakables off coffee tables and countertops
-
Add child-proof latches to cabinets where chemicals are kept
-
Put away toys and craft supplies
-
Block small spaces where cats or small dogs may get trapped
-
Check electronics for hanging cords (lamps, TV, chargers) and tuck them out of reach
-
Make sure heating and air vents have covers
-
Do you have houseplants? Check to see if they are poisonous to pets and, if so, move out of reach
-
Check everyone’s bedroom for food or old wrappers (no judgement if there are some under the kids’ beds, it happens!)
Prepare your Pet's Personal Space
All pets need a place where they can retreat when they are ready to be by themselves. Moving to a new home after being at the pet shelter can be overwhelming. Having a crate for a dog or a covered bed for a cat is a great way to give them space that can be theirs away from the busy life of the house. If it’s not possible to do that, maybe gating off an area of the kitchen for a dog or ‘giving’ a cat the small bathroom could be a good compromise.
Stock up on Pet Supplies
Before you bring home your new pet, make sure that you have everything that they will need already on hand.
-
Food, plus food & water bowls
-
Collar with ID tag
-
Bedding
-
Toys
-
Brushes/Grooming equipment
-
For dogs, add a leash and poop bags
-
For cats, add at least one, if not two, litter boxes, a scoop, kitty litter, and maybe a scratching post
-
Cleaning supplies! Paper towels and cleaning sprays for pet stains and accidents are a must.
Deep Clean your Home from Top to Bottom
Has your home ever had a pet before? Even if you haven’t had a pet, your home may have. You need to do a deep clean to make sure that any previous smells are out of the home for good. This will make it a lot less likely for your new pet to mark in places that previous pets may have marked or had accidents. BISSELL Rental carpet cleaners are an easy way to get pet messes out of your carpet, even the stains you can’t see anymore.
Find a carpet cleaner rental at one of our thousands of locations nationwide!
Set Family Rules for the First Day
Bringing your new pet home from an adoption event or animal shelter is an exciting event for the whole family. But it can be a little scary for the pet. Think about letting the new pet meet family members one at a time once they get home, instead of bringing the whole family to the pet shelter.
Ease the transition by introducing your pet to one room at a time. Gradually introduce them to other pets through baby gates or crates. If either pet seems to be too nervous or gets aggressive, separate them and try again in a few hours or after things have calmed down.
We hope these tips are helpful as you prepare to adopt a pet into your home. Learn more about
BISSELL Pet Foundation and the amazing work they do for animals by visiting their site!