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Animal
Services Adoption Information & Advice
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EVALUATE
YOUR NEEDS - Find
out what breed of dog or
cat best suits your lifestyle.
Are you active? Are you
home a lot? Do you have
children? Do you work 20
hours a day? These are
all the things that need
to be considered before
adopting an animal.
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VISIT
PINELLAS COUNTY ANIMAL
SERVICES - Many
people's first inclination
is to go a pet store; however,
shelters have many dogs
and cats to choose from
in all shapes and sizes.
We recommend calling our
shelter first to determine
what documents you should
bring and/or the criteria
to qualify, when adopting
an animal.
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ASK
THE SHELTER STAFF LOTS
OF QUESTIONS - These
are the people that are
with the animals every
day. Most likely, the shelter
staff will be able to determine
the animals' personality
traits, likes, dislikes,
and temperament. Also,
if you are looking for
a specific breed or personality
type, our shelter staff
may be of help.
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KEEP
YOUR OPTIONS OPEN - A
pet doesn't have to be
a puppy or kitten to be
a loyal companion. Older
animals have a lot to offer.
Often times older dogs
are already housebroken
and leash-trained and older
cats may be litter box
trained.
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TAKE
YOUR TIME - It
may take awhile to find
that perfect pet, so be
patient. You may have to
visit the shelter quite
often before you find the
one that is right for you.
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MAKE
A DECISION AS A FAMILY
- If this pet
will be a family pet, make
your family a part of the
decision. How does the
dog/cat get along with
everyone and how does everyone
get along with the dog/cat?
After all, remember you
are choosing an animal
to be a member of the family.
Your pet may live as long
as 16 to 18 years. Are
you and your family prepared
for such an important commitment?
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GIVE
YOUR ANIMAL SOME TIME TO
ADJUST - Once
you bring your new pet
home, remember that it
is in a new place and has
to learn the lay of the
land. Let it wander around
and sniff. If there are
children in the home, tell
them that like a new kid
in school, the animal may
need a few days to adjust
before it's comfortable
to play. Most importantly,
be patient. It may take
a few weeks for the animal
to feel at home and for
it's true personality to
emerge.
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USE
OUR SHELTER AS A RESOURCE
- We will be
happy to offer advice to
keep you and your pet together.
Provided
as a Public Service by Pinellas County Animal
Services.
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