There are three main reasons why newly adopted pets are returned to the Peninsula SPCA. These are:

1) the pet does not appear to be housebroken/litterbox trained
2) the pet is not getting along with other pets in the house
3) the pet does not seem to get along with children/other family members

We truly believe that there are ways that these obstacles can be overcome with a little knowledge and foresight. We are here to help, and we have set up this page to provide a bit of information and help also!

First and foremost, your new pet has just come from a very stressful environment, and on top of that, your pet's prior life may not have been the best. It is very important to realize that their first few weeks in your home may not be easy for them - please give them a chance to explore the unusual surroundings and people/other animals in the house with a minimum of stress.

Puppies- Many puppies under the age of a year will not be 100% housebroken. There are many ways that a puppy can be trained- the majority of people utilize either crate training or paper training. Puppies can only be expected to hold their bladders to one hour plus the number of months that they are in age (ex. If a puppy is 2 months old, they should go out every 3 hours). In addition to this schedule, there are four times a puppy typically eliminates: soon after it wakes up, after eating (the gastrocolic response produces a bowel movement), during or after intense activity, or before slowing down to go to sleep at night. We recommend that trips outside to urinate/ defecate be solely for that purpose and then give them a treat after they "do their business." Playing outside can then be done at another time!

Adult Dogs- Many adult dogs are housebroken, but that can be forgotten while they are in the shelter environment since they are expected to urinate/defecate in their cage. Also, dogs who are placed into a new home are often overwhelmed with emotions of fear, anxiety, and excitement. These emotions may interfere with thier initial ability to relieve themselves in the proper place and at the proper time. When you first bring your new dog home, they should be treated as a puppy who is learning to be housebroken - they should be taken outside (not for playing!) every two to three hours and expansively praised/given treats when they "do their business" in the correct manner. Many pets will quickly remember past training, but it may take some work on your part to help them! It is also helpful at this time to show your dog crate training (see "puppy" section above) or to leave them in a place where they cannot ruin anything when you have to leave them alone in the house. Some dogs have never been housebroken, perhaps because of lack of training in their first home or because they were previously outdoor dogs. These pets should be treated as puppies and trained in the same fashion - it is possible to teach old dogs new tricks! It is also important to remember that some older dogs may have health concerns that compromise their ability to be housetrained appropriately- if none of these suggestions work, please take your new pet to the veterinarian for a thorough exam to see if there are any underlying problems that can be addressed.

Kittens/Cats - Most kittens are already litter-trained. Some exceptions include kittens that were taken away from their mothers very early in life or those with wild/feral parents. Both kittens and adult cats who are placed into a new home are often overwhelmed with emotions of fear and anxiety. These emotions may interfere with thier initial ability to relieve themselves in the proper place. Additionally, cats can become lost in a large home and may not be able to remember where their new litter box is. Cats should be confined to a small portion of their new home until they have mastered that environment and know exactly where their litter box is. They should be allowed to explore new areas of the home very gradually so that they don't become lost or overwhelmed.

Litter boxes should be placed in quiet, accessible locations - a bathroom or utility room is a good place for your cat's box. In a multi-level home, one box per floor is recommended. In multi-cat households, there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra box. Avoid moving the box unless absolutely necessary. Then do so slowly, a few inches a day. Cats won't use a messy, smelly litter box. Scoop solids out of the box at least once a day. Dump everything, wash with a mild detergent (don't use ammonia) and refill at least once a week, less frequently if using clumping litter. Don't use deodorants or scents in the litter or litter box (especially avoid citrus scents). It is also important to remember that some older cats may have health concerns that compromise their ability to use the litterbox appropriately- if none of these suggestions work, please take your new pet to the veterinarian for a thorough exam to see if there are any underlying problems that can be addressed.

Kittens/Cats - It is important that you give your new pet a few weeks to become adjusted to their environment with as little stress as possible. New cats/kittens should be quarantined (kept separate from) the other pets in the house for at least two weeks to ease the transition into the new home and to avoid potential health risks to your existing pets.

The key to introduction is to be patient and realize that this process cannot be rushed. After the two-week quarantine period has passed, you can begin to let your existing and new pets sniff blankets or toys that has the scent of the other on it. After this has been done for a few days, the pets can be allowed to meet with a barrier in place - for example the old cat can meet the new cat by first being able to sniff them under the door or through a screen. Once this has been going well for about a week, the pets can be allowed to be together under supervision (though they should be separated when you leave the house). If you are introducing a cat to a dog, the dog should be kept on a leash and the cat should have an avenue of escape available to them at all times. (i.e., can jump up to a high spot that the dog cannot reach).

Care should always to be taken to NOT get in the middle of any cat fight that may break out - the cats can be grabbed with a big, heavy blanket, but do not put your hands in the middle of a fight, as you may be the unwilling recipient of a bite. Please ask us or your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

Dogs/Puppies- it is important that you give your new pet a few weeks to become adjusted to his/her environment with as little stress as possible. New dogs/puppies should be quarantined (kept separate from) the other pets in the house for at least two weeks to ease the transition into the new home and to avoid potential health risks to your existing pets.

The key to introduction is to be patient and realize that this process cannot be rushed. After the two-week quarantine period has passed, your new dog should meet any established dogs in the house in a neutral environment - in other words a place where the resident dog is not "in charge"- this could be in a neighbor's yard, in a school yard after hours, etc. The two dogs should meet while both are on leashes with separate handlers - if this goes well, the dogs can be allowed to meet with the leashes attached (to allow you to grab the leashes if there is a conflict) outside.

Care should always to be taken to NOT get in the middle of any dog fight that may break out - the end of leashes can be grabbed, but do not put your hands in the middle of a fight, as you may be the unwilling recipient of a bite. It is also important to minimize the chance of a fight by not allowing dogs to play with toys that they could fight over or eat their dinners in the same room until they can be trusted to not squabble over these "high priority items." Please ask us or your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

There are some situations were no matter what is tried, the pets are incompatible, but these should be very few. Please contact us or your veterinarian to help you decide the best course of action to keep everyone safe and happy - and to keep your pet from bouncing from new home to new home!

It is important that you give your new pet a few weeks to become adjusted to their environment with as little stress as possible - this is true for both cats and dogs. In many cases a new pet is chosen to be a companion for the children in the family and it is true that pets and kids are great together! However, it is important to remember that pets are animals and their reactions can not always be predicted, especially if their tails are yanked or food bowls grabbed. Pets should never be left with small children when they are not being watched by a parent or adult. Children should also learn the appropriate ways to interact with a pet - never touch their food bowls, don't grab toys from their mouths, pet them gently (no hitting or tail pulling). Please let us or your veterinarian know if you have any questions or concerns.

Also, it is very difficult to know the past history of any animal that enters the SPCA and what types of people/situations in which they may become nervous or scared. When introducing your dog to new people and children, keep a firm hand on his leash/collar and allow your new pet to help dictate the interaction - in other words, if the pet seems to welcome petting, then allow this to happen ... but if he seems shy/nervous, then have the person feed the pet treats without approaching. With cats, it is best to let them choose the interactions as well - once they are settled into a home and feel safe, they will become more interactive.

Once again, give your new pet plenty of time to relax and get used to their new home - they will give you so much love and care in return to pay for your investment of time and patience at the beginning!