Cats and Dogs Behaving Badly? Help Is A Phone Call Away

DEARBORN, MI – Let’s say your sweet-faced kitty is shredding your curtains to ribbons, using your couch as a scratching post or refusing the use the litter box, or the sad-eyed family dog begs at the dinner table or barks incessantly.

What should you do?

Call the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s new pet behavior helpline — (313) 355-7553 — or send an email to HelpMyCat@DearbornAnimals.org or HelpMyDog@DearbornAnimals.org.

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The animal shelter launched the outreach services to give pet owners in the community a place to get some guidance for minor pet behavioral issues.

“Having behavioral issues is one of the leading manageable reasons we find people surrendering their pet to the shelter,” Elaine Greene, executive director of Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, said in a news release.

“There are unavoidable reasons of course, like a relocation where pets are not allowed, sickness in the family or loss of employment, but behavior issues, if given proper guidance, can often be corrected,” she said.

The outreach services makes professional advice available to people who sometimes turn to friends and family members for help or are unable to afford obedience and training classes.

Dearborn Animal Shelter staff members were trained through a grant program made possible by the Humane Society of the United States that focuses especially on cat behavior issues. Many pet owners are aware of dog training options, but are not as familiar with finding cat behavior advice, Greene said.

Once the Dearborn Animal Shelter staff members completed their training, they decided to extend the helpline to dog owners as well, as they felt this service was important for dog family members too.

Linda Thomas, a certified professional dog trainer for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, will oversee the new helpline service. Thomas completed the HSUS training and many other certifications in her role for the organization.

The helpline is free to callers and open to those who have pets.

Recent shelter adopters with any pet behavior issues are encouraged to continue their correspondence directly with their adoption counselors and not use this helpline service. Information on who to contact is found here.

Click here for the helpline information on the website.

To learn more about adoption, training, events, volunteering or donating online, go to www.DearbornAnimals.org.

The Dearborn Animal Shelter is located at 2661 Greenfield Road, Dearborn, and is operated by the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, a 501C3 nonprofit organization. The main phone number is (313) 943-2697, or you can also follow the Shelter on Facebook or Twitter.