Page 57 - Kyalami issue 3 2022

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
LIFESTYLE

From separation anxiety and irrational fears to having a nervous
bladder, you never know what could be on the cards for a

rescue dog once you bring it home. Don’t be discouraged by
uncertainty, take on the journey and you might just find yourself

with the greatest companion you could hope for.

othing is more exciting than
meeting your dog for the first time
Nand taking it to its new forever
home, but there may be some surprises
in store if your new dog comes from a
shelter.

Animal shelters give abused or otherwise
neglected animals a second chance at
life when they find new, loving homes.
Many dogs that end up at shelters have
gone through traumatic experiences,
or they may have severe injuries or
illnesses when rescued.
Coming from an environment dominated
by abuse could have long-lasting
effects on anyone, and it’s important
to remember that dogs can suffer from
depression, anxiety and even PTSD
(post-traumatic stress disorder) related
to any traumatic experiences they may
have had before being rescued. However,
there’s a lot we can do to help our new
dogs if we see them struggling.
Our rescue pup was much anticipated; we were so excited to finally bring her home.
For the first few days, they may just Don’t be deceived by her sweet face; she’s a ball of mischief one moment and a
want to be left alone and that’s fine! cuddle monster the next.
Remember, they don’t know where they
are or what’s going on, so just give them
some space and let them explore their
surrounding in their own time. Try to feed
them at the same time every day – this
will help to build a routine – and make
sure that fresh water is always available.
In fact, fresh water should always be
accessible, especially after they have
been on a car ride or they've been
engaged in an exciting event.
Try to keep loud noise, commotion,
and guests to a minimum at first
because this can be overstimulating
and overwhelming for an anxious dog.
As exciting as having a new pet is, small
children especially should try extra
hard to give the new pup some space,
particularly if the dog is nervous or
fearful – the last thing we want is an
accident to cause a child to develop a
life-long fear of dogs.
After an adjustment period of a few days,
your new dog should be able to settle in
just fine. If your pup is full of energy and
willing to play when it arrives at its new
home, make sure you have some toys Once she settled into her new home, all Koko wanted to do was snuggle in
available. with us after a long day of digging up our garden.

Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2022 55