Close Menu
    What's Hot

    CNY Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten Guide

    May 1, 2025

    How to Develop ‘Momfidence’

    April 30, 2025

    Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies

    April 29, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • How to Develop ‘Momfidence’
    • Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies
    • Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships
    • How to Find the Right Summer Sitter
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Family Times Family Times
    • Community Guide
    • CNY Events Calendar
    • Things to Do in CNY
      1. Activities
      2. Treat Yourself
      Featured

      Treat Yourself: Mark your calendar for Disney’s “The Lion King”—and the other Broadway shows coming to Syracuse in 2025

      By Courtney KlessNovember 26, 20240
      Recent

      Treat Yourself: Mark your calendar for Disney’s “The Lion King”—and the other Broadway shows coming to Syracuse in 2025

      November 26, 2024

      Ride the Rails: Scenic Train Rides for Families

      October 1, 2024

      Treat Yourself: Spend a day—or a weekend—exploring Inlet

      October 1, 2024
    • Parenting
      1. Pregnancy
      2. Babies
      3. Kids
      4. Preschoolers/Toddlers
      5. Special Needs
      6. Teens
      7. Pets
      8. View All

      The Power to Save a Life: Cord blood is being used to treat more than 80 diseases

      January 30, 2020

      It’s Not What It Looks Like: Reflections on motherhood’s changes, outside and inside

      July 29, 2019

      In Search of Sleep: 8 Strategies for coping with wakeful babies

      July 29, 2019

      A Surgical Birth: Many pregnant women are likely to deliver by cesarean

      July 29, 2019

      Strangers Bearing Advice: New babies bring out the expert in everyone

      August 1, 2021

      Hand to Mouth: How to help babies start to sample solid food

      August 1, 2020

      315 Bulletin

      August 1, 2020

      Name, Please? Expectant parents face another momentous decision

      August 1, 2020

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Rainbow Snowflakes: A colorful craft even little ones can make

      November 24, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      Allergy Adjustments: Parents can support their food allergic child

      September 3, 2019

      Calming Commotion: How to deal with car sickness and more

      June 27, 2019

      Introducing Riff Rockit: Kindie artist to play jingles at Leon Fest

      June 1, 2017

      What Is ABA Therapy for Autism? How To Find a Provider for Your Child 

      September 9, 2024

      A History of Inclusion: The Jowonio School marked 50 years in 2019

      March 30, 2020

      Reaching a Milestone: Now the largest chapter in the country, Special Olympics New York is celebrating 50 years

      March 30, 2020

      Come Out and Play: Move Along offers adaptive sports for youth, adults

      March 30, 2020

      Freedom on Wheels: How E-Scooters Empower Teens and Support Family Routines

      November 4, 2024

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Is Puppy Financing Right For Your Family? Pros And Cons Explored

      April 22, 2024

      Furry Friends: What it takes to adopt a pet for the first time

      July 1, 2020

      Tail Wagging Fun: Lights on the Lake Dog Walk 2019

      November 14, 2019

      Uncommon Companions: Local pet store sticks to its niche

      May 30, 2019

      Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies

      April 29, 2025

      College Savings 101

      April 29, 2025

      Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships

      March 28, 2025

      The 8 Best Sunscreens for Kids: Top Picks for Every Need

      March 3, 2025
    • Education
      1. Educator of the Month
      2. Class of the Month
      3. Education News
      4. Reading
      5. Teaching
      Featured

      Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways

      By Courtney KlessApril 29, 20250
      Recent

      Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways

      April 29, 2025

      Tom Meier, Program Manager and Camp Director at Baltimore Woods Nature Center

      March 28, 2025

      Danielle Maciorowski, PharmD, Manager of Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY’s Patient Rx Center

      February 27, 2025
    • Crafts & DIY
      • Create
      • Holiday Crafts
    Family Times Family Times
    Home»Parenting»Furry Friends: What it takes to adopt a pet for the first time
    Parenting

    Furry Friends: What it takes to adopt a pet for the first time

    Tammy DiDomenicoBy Tammy DiDomenicoJuly 1, 2020No Comments11 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    In many states, the number of pet adoptions has risen during COVID-19. But young families considering adopting a pet need to consider a range of factors before allowing a new creature to join the household. People who work to ensure successful pet adoptions say it’s not a life change to be made lightly.

    Beware of Puppy Love

    Local animal welfare organizations such as Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in North Syracuse and the CNY Cat Coalition do their best to dissuade impulse adoptions. Courtney Armbruster of the CNY Cat Coalition says most families seeking to adopt a pet have given some serious thought to the decision. But there are those who – upon seeing a litter of kittens or a puppy at a rescue center or a pet store – take in an animal without thinking it through. Her advice? Please don’t!

    CNY Cat Coalition coordinates foster homes for cats around Central New York with the goal of finding them permanent homes. The cats can be viewed on PetFinder.com, at the North Syracuse Petco and at PetSmart locations in Liverpool and Fairmount

    “Those looking to adopt can arrange to meet [the cats] to see if it is a good fit,” Armbruster says. “We don’t do same-day adoptions.”

    While many young kids are drawn to puppies and kittens, Armbruster says an animal’s temperament is a more important factor than its age.

    “Every cat has a very different personality,” Armbruster says. “The good thing about getting them when they are very young is that they get used to your kids.”

    With so many rescued cats and dogs available for adoption, Armbruster encourages families to consider those before going to a breeder or a pet store.

    “There are valid reasons why someone would want to go to a breeder, but we encourage people to consider rescued animals,” she says. “They make wonderful pets.”

    Do Your Homework

    In addition to knowing what to look for, experts say it’s important to know what you are willing to do.

    “It’s important to make sure that you are ready and that you have realistic expectations,” says Kathy Gilmour, director of Helping Hounds. “The expenses associated with veterinary care can be a big consideration for many people. We see people who think that getting a dog will make them get out and walk more. They don’t. Dogs have a lot of value to add to families. But they are also a lot of work. They have to have exercise and companionship. They also need training. All of that requires time.”

    For families looking for dogs, Gilmour suggests doing some research on what breed, size and temperament of dog would fit best. “People forget that this is a commitment that can last for many years,” she says. “Fostering does help with that a little bit. Families have access to more information about our dogs. Our foster families watch the dogs and how they interact in the home.”

    Helping Hounds dogs are usually with foster families for about three weeks. Most are house trained before they are adopted. Gilmour says the organization – which opened in 2009 – has a very high success rate. Gilmour estimates that only about 4% of adopted pets are returned within the first 60 days.

    While it is often recommended that families with very young children not get a new pet, some families like the idea of pets and children growing up together. Helping Hounds requires that everyone who will be living with its dogs be introduced prior to adoption.

    “We have adopted to families with everything from infants to college-aged children,” Gilmour says. “Sometimes a young puppy does see a young child as a great chew toy.”

    Armbruster says that for families that have never had a cat before, some of the most common questions involve the litter box. All cats adopted through the CNY Cat Coalition are litter-box trained. Adoption fees through the CNY Cat Coalition are $115 for a young kitten and $75 for a cat over 6 months old. This covers spaying or neutering, rabies and distemper shots and a leukemia test. “It costs us more to get all of those things done than our adoption fee,” Armbruster says.

    If it turns out that the cat is not a good fit, the CNY Cat Coalition does have a two-week return policy. “After two weeks, we almost certainly will still take the animal back, but there’s no refund of the adoption fee,” Armbruster says. “I’ve taken cats back after three years.”

    A common reason why cats do get returned is allergies. “There are some breeds and some coat types that are less likely to trigger allergies, so we can steer people toward those,” Armbruster says. “It’s a hormone in a cat’s saliva that people are actually allergic to. Siamese and short-haired white cats have the least of it.”

    A Family Affair

    Jordan Fleischmann, of Cicero, adopted her black Labrador retriever, Abby, when her son, Jackson, was only 10 months old.

    “My mom’s friend was moving and she had to find a new owner,” Fleischmann says. “I already knew the dog, so I was confident it would be a good match.”

    Jackson and Abby became fast friends. Fleischmann says she specifically chose to get a Lab because she knew the temperament would make it a good choice for a family dog.

    “I was nervous about the dog biting Jackson, especially with him being so little,” she says. “But Abby was in love with him. It was good.”

    Fleischmann got Jackson used to the rules of dog ownership as soon as he was able to understand. Safety was paramount. “Right from the beginning he had to learn: When Abby is eating or drinking, leave her alone. When she has her toys, don’t touch.” Fleischmann says. “Teaching Jackson the boundaries was the hardest. But I am consistent.”

    Jessica and Brett Butler also added a pet to their family while raising small children. They adopted Sebastian (or Sea Bass) – a large, high-energy, longhaired cat – before their older son, Dominick, was 2, and their younger son, Brooks, was just 2 months old.

    “It was really hard with Dom because he hadn’t had a pet before,” Jessica says. “It was a kitten, and it wanted to play, but we had to teach him not to pick it up, or pull its hair. Occasionally, we do have to remind him not to throw a toy at the cat. With Brooks, we’ve never had an issue with him pulling his tail or anything like that. He grew up with the cat.”

    The decision to add a cat to the family stemmed from Dominick’s love of stuffed cats and other feline toys. “One day he asked if he could get a real cat, and we were like, ‘Sure!’” Jessica recalls with a laugh. “We were doing Chats with the Cats at the SPCA during the summer (a program where visitors can read to sheltered cats), and I saw him there.”

    As Sebastian grew, the family set some ground rules for playtime; hand-to-cat contact is very limited. Dominick has had a few scratches here and there, but Sebastian has never hurt Brooks.

    “Brooks could rest his head on him or touch the cat and he sensed that he was a baby,” Jessica says. “But we were still trying to adjust to the new norm. So, it was quite a change.”

    “Trying to keep them supervised was tough,” Brett adds. His advice for new cat owners? “Get a spray bottle!”

    Armbruster says it’s important to understand that adults in the household are ultimately responsible for a pet’s care. “When your 6-year-old says they’re going to clean the litter box every day, that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. And what happens if she doesn’t? Are you going to keep the cat? It’s not a toy and it’s not a disposable thing.”

    While adult cats are significantly more independent than a puppy, families have to consider how busy everyone in the household is. “Some people have kids who are involved in travel sports, and they’re gone every weekend,” Armbruster says. “It’s not just a part-time pet; it’s an all-time pet. Just check your lifestyle. Is it conducive to a dog or a cat? How often are you going to be available to play with it, snuggle it?”

    CNY Cat Coalition will not adopt out a kitten under 6 months old unless there is an adult at home during the day, or another animal to keep it company. “Young kittens don’t thrive as well without a friend, or a lot of attention. If you are looking for a very young animal, you should get two,” Armbruster says.

    In it for the Long Haul

    Surprisingly, Abby the Lab was quick to adjust to the unfamiliar place. “It only took Abby about a day to get used to being in a new home,” Fleishmann says. “That night, she was sleeping on my bed.”

    Like all young dogs, Abby benefits from consistent behavior training. Fleischmann says this is the most difficult aspect of having a young dog and a young child in the house together. “Disciplining a dog is hard to do with a little one,” she says. “But we’re learning.”

    For the Butlers, a cat has been a good choice of pet because they are rarely home on weekdays. Since he is still so young, Sebastian has tons of energy. When the family is home, Sebastian can be found right there with them, hanging in the family room as the boys play, or snuggling with Jessica at night.

    In addition to requiring companionship, cats (like any pet) also need veterinary care.

    “They need vaccines and they need to be seen regularly by a vet. We recommend that cats do be indoor only, but people don’t know that it is the law in New York State for cats and dogs to be up to date on their rabies vaccines,” Armbruster says. “Even more concerning is the distemper vaccine..You can carry it into the house on your shoes from the soil, and if your cat is not vaccinated, it can be exposed. Distemper can remain in the environment for two years.”

    Families with a new pet should select a veterinarian and bring the animal in for an exam as soon as possible, recommends Dawn Counterman, who was a certified dog trainer and operations manager at Liverpool Village Animal Hospital when this story was written.

    “We like to do it within a few days,” Counterman says. “Many pets come here from other states, so we like to get a good baseline assessment on them.”

    Dogs are given a heartworm test; cats get checked for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Flea and tick prevention is vital for both.

    Counterman also offers puppy socialization classes – a toe dip of sorts for the behavioral training she hopes all pet owners get for their dogs. She loves to see children attending the puppy socialization classes with the dogs. “I think it is really important that the kids get a little bit of that basic training,” she says.

    New pet owners can be overwhelmed by issues as basic as what to feed an animal, “because there is so much information out there,” she says.

    “I would like new pet owners to know that there are services out there to help with many situations,” Counterman says. “We want to treat the whole patient.”

    By taking the long view regarding pet ownership, more families – like the Butlers and the Fleischmanns – can build happy, healthy relationships with their animals. There are plenty of animals looking for good homes, and there are many resources to foster successful matches.

    Tips for New Pet Owners:

    • Adopt a rescued animal whenever possible.
    • Consider older pets.
    • Know what you are willing to do with and for a pet.
    • Consider the potentially high cost of veterinary care. Even indoor cats need regular vet visits and vaccinations.
    • Expect that your kids will do far less to care for a pet than they say they will.
    • Make sure everyone in the house is on board.
    • Always spay and neuter your pets.

    Animal Adoption dogs Pet Health pets
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Tammy DiDomenico

    Award-winning writer Tammy DiDomenico lives in DeWitt with her husband and two sons.

    Related Posts

    Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies

    April 29, 2025

    College Savings 101

    April 29, 2025

    Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships

    March 28, 2025
    Flip Through Our Latest Issue!
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    Top Posts

    2025 Summer Camp Guide

    April 1, 2025751 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020536 Views

    Host a Kid-Friendly Friendsgiving Party

    November 1, 2024407 Views

    CNY Day Camp Directory

    March 31, 2023355 Views

    Family Times Magazine publishes a digital magazine highlighting events, businesses, and content to inform and entertain families here in Central New York. Sign up for our twice monthly newsletter to have the magazine and other featured content.
    ____

    Email Us:
    [email protected]
    Publisher:
    [email protected]
    Contact: 1.315.422.7011

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn RSS
    Our Picks

    Fall Activities Guide

    October 1, 2024
    Most Popular

    2025 Summer Camp Guide

    April 1, 2025751 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020536 Views

    Host a Kid-Friendly Friendsgiving Party

    November 1, 2024407 Views
    © 2025 Family Times, CNY. Designed by Crossroads Marketing.
    • Our Authors
    • Archives
    • Things to do around Syracuse and CNY: Local Events Calendar
    • Advertising

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.