BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – If you are thinking about bringing a new furry family member into your home this holiday season, there are several factors to consider.
Humane societies across the state are hoping to find homes for animals this holiday season.
The Humane Society of Chittenden County takes in cats, dogs, and small animals, like guinea pigs, and rabbits at their facility in South Burlington.
Queen city cats is a foster-based rescue focused on cats. They also maintain a partnership with queen city cat lounge to house some of their cats.
“They get socialization, so they start acting more naturally and displaying behaviors that they would in a home, and you get a better idea of what a really good match would be for the cat and for the family,” Kristina Madarang Stahl, Queen City Cats Co-Owner said.
While the humane society says interest in adoptions has remained steady during this holiday season, the lounge says they’ve noticed an increased interest.
“I would think primarily about the long-term fit and the social dynamics of your household,” Madarang Stahl said.
If you want to adopt you’ll need to consider how a new animal may interact with other pets, the age of the family members that will be taking care of them, and if anyone has an allergy. It’s also recommended to prepare your home with food, toys, and other supplies.
“Getting on their level and making sure there aren’t any little wires and tiny objects they can ingest and that can harm them,” Madarang Stahl adds.
This is especially important during the holidays when there may be more decorations throughout the home. The humane society does not recommend giving a pet as a gift.
“If you’re looking to gift an animal, we do have gift certificates or just have you covering the adoption fee for that interested party,” Christen Trayah, Shelter Manager at HSCC said.
They’ll work with you to determine which pet works best with your lifestyle. The ultimate goal is to prevent any animal from having to go through the rehoming process again.
“We have lots of counseling that we do during the adoption process that we’re able to talk about how to prepare to bring a new pet home,” Trayah said.
If you’re looking to adopt a pet, you can also check out places like Homeward Bound, Passion 4 Paws, or your local humane society.