Myth:  If you have dogs and cats as part of your family you also have mounds of fur, muddy paw prints on your floors, tattered sofa cushions and not so pleasant odors in your home.

If the proper steps are taken, your home can look and feel just the way you want it to be-welcoming, comfortable, beautiful that reflects your personal sense of style…for all household members furry and non-furry, with 2 legs or with 4 legs

You want to make welcoming your new four-legged addition to your family as stress free as possible for all family members, 2 legged and 4 legged alike. This means that your home should be assessed to make sure that your new pets’ needs are addressed, and that you have prepared your home for their arrival in order to limit potential damage to your home.

Assessment of the existing home environment:
Before you bring your new pet(s) home, an assessment of your interior furnishings including upholstered seating and bedding, window and wall coverings, and flooring is recommended. Try imagining your home as your new pet will see it.
 
Realities to Consider:

• The floors in your home are the most important part of the house to your pet. 
• Your pets will rub against your walls leaving behind their dirt and body oils
• Chenille upholstered seating and pet fur are not a good combination if your pet will be allowed to sit on your furniture
• Pets will add a new ‘scent’ to your home not matter how clean they are
• Cats like to be up high (think back to their roots high up in trees)
• Cats need ‘viewing’ spots with plenty of sunshine
• Cats sleep on average 16 hours per day
• Dogs need appropriate scents to sniff and quiet places to retreat to (think dog den)
• Puppies like to chew on practically everything.  Examine what is within ‘reach’ i.e., electrical cords on lamps
• Cats love to play with curtain and blind cords
• Accidents WILL HAPPEN no matter how careful you are, or how trained your pets are.

Important Areas to Think About Before Bringing your Pet Home:
Pre-determining where your pet(s) will be spending their daytime hours when you are home or away; in a crate, free run of the home, in a specific section of the house, If outside in the backyard, will there be a specific area of the yard they will be confined to?
and where they will be sleeping at night; on a pet bed? In your bed, a child’s bed? In a crate, if so, in what room will the crate be placed?