by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know that pets thrive on routine? Case in point, the little dog that I fostered after he sustained an injury from another dog who then made me a foster fail for the second time in my animal welfare career, is an early riser – every day at 6:00am like a loudly buzzing alarm clock. Insistent that it’s time to get up and enjoy life!
Consistency with pets is important for the well-being and happiness. They need structure to feel safe and secure, relaxed and comfortable, especially when their caregiver is not around. A feeding schedule at the same time or nearly so every day helps them know when to expect their meals. Consistency is also a key in maintaining good behavior.
Despite the animal shelter being far from a home environment, routines are implemented for the same reasons noted above. Staff arrives at the same time every day, so until such time, all is quiet. Once in the building, the animals’ excitement builds as they are anticipating their morning walks and breakfast. Cleaning begins shortly thereafter so their cages, rooms and kennels are once again sanitized, neat and comfy for the rest of the day.
Adult dogs generally sleep 12 to 14 hours a day while senior dogs and puppies sleep four to six hours longer. Dogs sleep a lot because their bodies and brains require more rest than humans do. Many take several naps during the day which is nearly impossible to do in the shelter environment. It was decided to implement “quiet time” for the dogs between 12 and 1pm daily with lights off to give them all the opportunity to settle and take a nap. It has made a positive difference giving them the chance to relax during the day.
It’s basically the same for cats. They, too, sleep from 12 to 16 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours a day. They are more inclined to take “cat naps” throughout the day rather than long, uninterrupted sleep. At the shelter we provide several options for resting places in the colony rooms and cages have beds and cots as well. Even when our cat socializing volunteers are in the room, while some play, others are napping.
Meals for shelter pets are served on time, morning and late afternoon for most, lunches for those very young, under the weather or very old. One can always tell when it’s nearing the afternoon mealtime because Bella, the cat, does her dance routine at the windowed door. Her full-bodied shape tells of her love for food! It is comical to see her art form of body movements expressing her enthusiasm for what’s to come. While kittens scream when they are hungry, Bella dances to the music only she can hear.
In order to accomplish all shelter tasks in caring for our homeless pets, routine is critical in getting things done while also so important for the animals, helping them cope in this environment during their stay.
BTW, routines aren’t just helpful for pets; they make life easier for pet owners, too!
Pet Of The Week:
Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information.
