Help DCAS staff make Christmas merrier for the shelter animals! The animals at DCAS heard that Santa Paws was coming to town and put together a Christmas wish list of items that can keep them happy and engaged while they wait for the ultimate gift of a loving home. Spread some holiday cheer and brighten the lives of the shelter pets at DCAS! No coal please! Only the goodest of boys and girls are here!
Give the gift that gives back! Shop Amazon Smile and a percentage will be donated back to DuPage Animal Friends!
Interested in giving the gift of a home to a homeless pet this holiday? View the amazing adoptables at DCAS here: bit.ly/DCASadoptables.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and many people want to celebrate the season of giving by surprising a loved one with the pet of their dreams! As there are millions of homeless pets living in animal shelters across the country this time of year, what sounds like a dream for animal adoption agencies can actually be a source of stress. Many shelters will even place a moratorium on adoptions in the weeks and days leading up to Christmas. This baffles many adopters. Why would an agency whose goal is to find homes for homeless pets make such a decision?
First, we would like to applaud you for thinking adoption first.
Why would an agency discourage adopting a pet as a surprise gift? The reason is that bringing a pet home requires a considerable amount of preparation to ensure the animal’s safe and successful integration into their new home and new family. Why?...
Pets are creatures of habit. Change is hard. And it is especially hard on an animal whose life has already been turned upside down. And for those that have been living in a stressful environment for weeks, sometimes months. Our pets crave what's familiar - people, places, sounds, smells and even schedules. We humans love spontaneity. Our animal friends however, prefer things to be much more predictable.
New people and places can sometimes be scary or stressful. Let’s face it. We’re not all extroverts always looking for the next party. The same is true of our animal friends. The first few days and weeks that an animal is in their new home are best spent bonding with immediate family members. Taking the time to build this bond builds trust and strengthens an animal’s confidence. A slow transition is an especially important step for a somewhat shy or fearful animal. Skipping this step can often set a new pet up for failure. These important first few days are not the best time to introduce a new pet to the entire extended family – especially Aunt Matilda who wears way too much perfume. Not to mention the scary dude in the fuzzy red suit with the excessive facial hair who Ho-Ho-Ho’s a lot. After all, who doesn’t get just a little anxious about holiday family gatherings? You may have to grin in bear it, but your pet doesn't have to.
Don’t “wing it”. Like welcoming home a new baby, bringing home a new pet requires a lot of research, forethought, supplies and planning. You wouldn’t dream of bringing home that new bundle of joy without first stocking up on a crib, bottles, diapers, blankets, and all that baby needs from the moment it arrives. Or head into the delivery room without first gaining the knowledge that a dozen doctor’s appointments, Lamaze classes, and books have provided. For the same reasons you wouldn’t want to “wing it” with a new baby, you also don’t want to “wing it” with a new pet.
Some people simply don’t like surprises. Many shelters, DCAS included, experience a high number of surrendered pets following the holidays because the recipient wasn’t prepared for a pet, or the pet and new owner were simply not a good match. There is joy in excitedly preparing for the arrival of a new pet. There is even more joy in playing an active part in saving an animal’s life and giving that animal his or her “Freedom Ride”. THAT is a gift worth waiting for.
All that being said, the holidays CAN be a WONDERFUL time of year to welcome home a new four-legged friend when done properly…
Time off work. The holidays often provide us with more free time to help an animal make the gradual transition from shelter life into your family’s routine before heading back to work. And it provides you with some extra quality time to bond with your new pet.
Gift Cards! With all those gift cards you receive at Christmas you can take your new pet on the shopping spree of their DREAMS!
Tis’ the season for giving. And there are few greater gifts than saving the life of an animal in need.
DCAS is all for giving a loved one the gift of a furry best friend as long as it is done responsibly. Instead of surprising a friend of family member with a live pet, give the promise of a new pet. We'll help you do just that. Now through December 24th, stop by the DCAS shelter to pick up an Adoption Gift Certificate and gift box to place under the tree for your loved one. Then return with the recipient after the holidays to let them pick out the perfect furry friend for them.
There’s no better way to ensure that your gift won’t be returned!
Fine Print: DCAS Adoption Gift Certificates possess no monetary value and does not imply a pre-paid adoption fee. There is no charge for a DCAS Adoption Gift Certificate. Adoption fees must be paid at the time an adoption is finalized.
To view adoptable animals please visit: bit.ly/DCASadoptables
The holiday season is a hectic time of year. Halls are being decked, bells are being jingled, and family is coming to town. We all want our pets to partake in the festivities but the holidays can be stressful and potentially dangerous to our furry family members. Use these tips to help you pets enjoy a safe and merry holiday with you!
For more information please visit the ASPCA website.
Now through December 31st you can adopt a cat in the chic-est color for a bargain price. All adult (6 months & older) black & black/white cats will have their adoption fees waived and kittens (under 6 months) will have their fees reduced to $25! All cats/kittens will be up-todate on age appropriate vaccines, spayed/neutered, and mircochipped!
View adoptable animals at: bit.ly/DCASadoptables
Adoption Hours:
Monday & Thursday: 2-6:30pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday: 12:30-4pm
Saturday: 11-2:30pm
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Meet Barb!
Barb is an impossibly generous, kind, and dedicated animal lover and volunteer! After over 13 years of volunteering experience with the shelter Barb has really done it all. A tried and true cat lover, Barb spends most of her time socializing with the shelter cats, but she has also walked dogs, and is a regular fixture at shelter events. An absolute creative genius, Barb creates homemade dog and cat beds to sell and donates all proceeds back to the care of DCAS animals. She has even used her creative skills to create homemade dog treats which has earned her the nickname "Biscuit Barb" or"The Biscuit". We are so grateful to have the kind, caring, generous "Biscuit" as part of the DCAS volunteer team! Thank you Barb!
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We've all been there. Right in the middle of preparing a holiday meal and an onion (or something else potentially dangerous to our pets) hits the ground. There's a mad dash to the item and the frantic shouting of "Leave it" as we try to beat Fido to the treasure that fell from the counter. It can be frustrating and sometimes downright scary when this occurs. What if we told you that there's a better way?
Teaching "Leave It" as a behavior for your dog(s) can ease a lot of stress, not just in the kitchen, but in many other circumstances where your dog might be exposed to something you don't want him or her near. And the best part about it, it's super easy to teach! Follow the steps below to teach your pet to "Leave it".
- Have two types of treats on hand. One should be low value (cheerios work great) and the other high (break out the cheese, baked chicken etc). Treats sould be small and esily consumed in one bite.
- Place the low value treat in your hand, make a fist, present your hand to your dog, and allow him or her to sniff.
- Wait for your dog to stop sniffing
- When your dog moves his or her nose away from your hand mark the behavior (with a verbal "Yes" or a clicker).
- Offer the higher value treat with your other hand as a reward.
- Once your dog has demonstrated an understanding of the desired behavior (turning head away from treat) then you can add the cue "Leave It" as your dog removes his/her nose from your hand.
- Repeat until your dog immediately turns head away when you cue "Leave it"
- Be sure to repeat with the treat in each hand,
- When your dog has this down you can up the ante by placing a treat on the floor and lightly covering it with your foot. Repeat directions above.
Tips
- Avoid assigning a verbal cue until your dog has an understanding of the desired behvaior.
- Be sure to keep training fun and engaging with your pooch. Learning should be a game!
- Make sure that treats are offered in both hands and under each foot when training.
For more information read this article from Best Friends Animal Society or watch this video from Victoria Stillwell
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- Wednesday, December 25th- the shelter will be closed in observance of Christmas
- Wednesday, January 1st- the shelter will be closed in observance of New Year's Day
- Sunday, January 12th- DCAS will be hosting a Pet First Aid & CPR course from 10-3p
- Saturday, January 18th- DCAS will be hosting an Informational Volunteer Orientation at 10am
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