Irving: Clear The Shelters- New Pet Home Preparation Tips

Press release from the City of Irving:

August 24, 2020

Clear the Shelters: New Pet Home Preparation Tips

Whether it’s tightly sealing garbage cans or removing potential dangerous decorations, new pet owners need to make their homes safe before adopting a cat or dog. That includes keeping toxic foods, pet-unfriendly plants and dangerous household items out of paw’s reach.

With #ClearTheShelters just a few days away, Irving Animal Services wants to help new pet owners prepare their homes to welcome new canine and feline companions:

• Place a cozy bed (or two) for the pet strategically in the home. Dogs and cats are much more likely to keep off of furniture if they have attractive alternatives.
• New cat owners can place double-sided sticky tape or upside-down carpet runners on furniture to discourage a feline from scratching.
• Avoid vertical blinds, pooling drapery, ornate tassels and long cords as window treatments. These can become strangulation hazards.
• Cat households should install high-quality metal screens on all windows.
• It may be a good idea to roll up and store decorative rugs until that new puppy or adult dog is fully house-trained.
• Provide a new cat with a variety of scratching posts and perches.
• Use dog crates and gates to confine a new dog when it is home alone until the animal’s house manners earn it unsupervised freedom.
• Provide plenty of toys for a dog to chew. A dog or puppy with attractive toys and bones will be much less likely to gnaw on furniture, shoes and other household items.
• Ensure the plants in and around the home are not poisonous to pets. View the ASPCA’s list of toxic and nontoxic plants.

For more information about caring for a new dog or cat, please visit the ASPCA’s Cat Care and Dog Care pages.

View Animals Available for Adoption through IAS

This press release was produced by the City of Irving. The views expressed here are the author’s own.