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Fostering a Dog with Heartworm
Heartworms are worms that live in the heart and lungs of infected animals. Heartworm larvae are spread via mosquito bites, and heartworm disease can lead to…
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Kitten Socialization
Below, you will find a list of things kittens would benefit from being exposed to. For any foster animal that is 16 weeks or younger, we encourage you to keep this list saved for easy access. Make an effort to …
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Foster Quick Contact Reference Guide
Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays Sundays Holidays Foster Medical Questions or Concerns If you have medical questions regarding your foster animals, please email [email protected] or call (925) 296-3125 – Option 1 from the main menu, and Option 1 to …
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Crate Training for Foster Families
Make the crate a fun and happy place to be. Allow your foster to be able to access the crate whenever they want by keeping the crate in the space where your foster will be spending a lot of time. …
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What Happens After Foster Animals Return to the Shelter?
Clinic Department Before going up for adoption, the shelter guest needs to be spayed/neutered, have any other surgery that may be necessary to do in a shelter setting, be microchipped (if not already done), ears checked, clip their nails, and …
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Separation Anxiety and How to Prevent It
Keep departures and arrivals low-key. During the 10-15 minutes before you leave the house, strive for a calm, neutral atmosphere. Avoid grand gestures of hugging, kissing, or petting with your dog. If your dog has previously shown any signs of …
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What is Positive Reinforcement?
“The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.” – B.F. Skinner Here at ARF, the method of training we use (for both dogs and cats) is called “positive reinforcement.” Positive reinforcement works by using praise …
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How to Play with Cats and Kittens
We’re sure many of you may roll your eyes at the thought of learning how to play with your foster cats and kittens, but we thought we might provide some reminders about how to take advantage of appropriate play. Play …
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Post-Operation Instructions and Care
What to Expect After Surgery The dog or cat may be groggy and lethargic up to 24 hours after surgery/anesthesia. This is a normal effect of the pain medication they were provided, but if these symptoms continue and the foster …
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Common Post-Anesthesia Cat Behavior
Occasionally after surgery, cats and kittens can have an adverse behavioral reaction to anesthesia. Behaviors you may see include, but are not limited to: hissing, growling, and swatting and may be towards people or other animals including their family members. …
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What is Trigger Stacking?
Trigger stacking happens to dogs when there are too many sensitive stimuli occurring within short succession of each other. These sensitive stimuli are specific to each dog, but some common stimuli include other dogs, bikes, vacuums, and skateboards. Each stimuli …
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General Tips for Taking Great Animal Photos
So you want to try to take some gorgeous photos of your pet? We can help! Every dog and cat has a photogenic side and we can assist you in finding it. If this helps you get some great shots, …
