what to do if…

4-Paw Posts

New cat under the couch? Here’s a way to make friends with your new feline!

You just brought your new cat home from the SPCA. You’ve set up a room just for them to settle in and get their bearings, with their food, water, litter box, and some toys.  Hooray! But, when you let Kitty out of their carrier, they won’t come out - or they zip right out of the carrier straight under the couch and refuse to come out. What to do? First, don’t panic. This is very typical for cats! Cats derive their sense of security from…

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August 28, 2018
4-Paw Posts

Resource Guarding: What is it, and what can you do about it?

We all have resources that we value, whether it's our cup of coffee in the morning, our favorite armchair, or quality time with our best friend. This is true for dogs, cats, and other species as well! A valued resource is something that we'll seek out deliberately, and be reluctant to give up if someone tries to take it away. (How many of us would respond with a snarl if someone grabbed our morning coffee out of our hands? I sure would!) Resource guarding stems…

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August 21, 2018
4-Paw Posts

Leave It: How to get your dog to ignore stuff they can’t have

Dogs are opportunistic - you may have heard this before. When a dog sees or smells something interesting, they put it in their mouth first and ask questions later. We humans often put dogs in environments where we don't want them to do this, and it can cause heartbreak when they eat something that's not safe, or behavioral challenges when we find ourselves pulling items out of their mouths that they really, really, really didn't want to let go of. "Great, I got it out…

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August 16, 2018
4-Paw Posts

Teaching your cat to target

You just brought your new cat home from the SPCA. You’ve set up a room just for them to settle in and get their bearings, with their food, water, litter box, and some toys.  Hooray! But, when you let Kitty out of their carrier, they won’t come out - or they zip right out of the carrier straight under the couch and refuse to come out. What to do? First, don’t panic. This is very typical for cats! Cats derive their sense of security from…

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July 24, 2018
4-Paw Posts

First Week Panic – It’s going to be ok!

Step one: See cute animal. Step two: Bring home cute animal.  Step three: Suddenly realize that you’re responsible for the life of a whole other living creature, and PANIC! Sound familiar? Even if you’re sure that you’re ready to bring home a new pet, it’s very common to have a moment (or more) of panic or self-doubt in the first week or two. After all, it’s a big decision! Here’s what we at the SPCA would like for you to know, if you’re currently feeling this…

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July 12, 2018