🐾 adoption support
Welcome to pet parenthood!
Whether you adopted from Sota Saves or another rescue, we’re here to help you navigate life together. From typical training hiccups to unexpected behavior quirks, we’ve rounded up our favorite tips and resources to help your pet settle in and thrive. You’ve got this—and we’ve got your back!
Tips for welcoming your new best friend to your home
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Bringing home a new cat is so exciting, but knowing where to start can feel a little overwhelming. From picking the right food and essential supplies to scheduling that first vet visit, we’ve got you covered. Find the answers to these questions and so many more here.
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Bringing home a new dog is so exciting, but knowing where to start can feel a little overwhelming. What supplies do you need? What food should you buy? When do you need to bring them to the vet? Find the answers to these questions and so many more here.
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Some animals become instant best friends, while others need a little extra time to warm up! Helping your pets make a great first impression sets everyone up for success. How do you introduce a new dog to your resident cat? What should you do if there's tension or chasing? Find the answers to these questions and so many more in our favorite trusted guides linked below!
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The secret to building lifelong bonds between pets and kids is teaching mutual respect from day one! With time, patience, and a little adult supervision, you can set the whole family up for success. How do you safely introduce a pup to a toddler? What's the best way to prepare your cat for a new baby? Find the answers to these questions and so many more in our favorite trusted guides linked below!
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We all know pet parenthood comes with expenses, but a little routine care now can save you big medical bills later! Investing in preemptive care is the best way to keep your companion healthy and your wallet happy. Which upfront health steps are worth it? How can simple habits prevent costly emergency visits down the road? Find the answers to these questions and so many more here.
Health & Safety: General medical care
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Learning how to keep your new pet healthy can be overwhelming. We hope our quick tip guide will help you get started.
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Something often overlooked when bringing home a new pet is assessing your home for innocent things that could actually harm your new friend. Become familiar with poisonous plants and household products to better protect your pets.
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We know how hard it is to deny those big puppy dog eyes at the dinner table. The occasional human food won’t generally harm your pet BUT before giving them extra snacks, be sure to learn what foods are harmful to our furry friends.
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No matter how well you love and care for your pet, accidents can happen. Prepare for the unexpected by becoming familiar with when and how to seek emergency care for your pet here.
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If you adopted your pet from Sota Saves, they have received all age-appropriate recommended vaccinations. It is important to keep your pet updated on their vaccinations to protect their health. Learn more about vaccinations here.
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Both dogs and cats are susceptible to the two most common pet parasites; fleas and ticks. Learn how to identify, treat, and prevent fleas and ticks here.
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Here in Minnesota, we are no strangers to cold temps and know how to protect ourselves from the dangers of winter. However, our pets rely on us to protect them from these dangers. Learn how to care for your pet in the winter here.
Common behavioral topics
Every pet has unique quirks, but some of them make us go UFF DA! From house manners to stopping unwanted scratching or barking, understanding their behavior is the key to a happy home. Find the answers to these questions and so many more in our favorite trusted guides linked below!
Dogs
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It’s important to understand that most dogs will bark to varying degrees - it’s how they vocally communicate. However, sometimes barking can become excessive and be a sign of distress. Identify why your dog is barking and how to treat the problem here.
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Chewing is a normal behavior for puppies and dogs and can be beneficial to relieve the pain of incoming teeth and maintain dental and jaw health. It can also offer an outlet for boredom, anxiety, or frustration. That being said, it is important to establish “approved” chewing behaviors while discouraging destructive chewing. Learn how to help teach your dog the difference here.
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A crate can offer your dog its own dedicated safe space. Crating your dog can also help when tackling other training like potty-training or discouraging destructive behaviors. Find out how to positively introduce your dog to a crate here.
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The key to house training a dog or puppy is patience and knowing that each day gets you one step closer to the goal! Read some tips to get your started here.
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Separation anxiety is distressing for both the dog and their people. It can lead to destructive behaviors, injury, and escape attempts. Think your dog may suffer from separation anxiety? Read more about the symptoms and tips to ease anxiety here.
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Mouthing and nipping is normal behavior for puppies, but this behavior becomes less cute as they age. Learn how to help teach your fido mouthing boundaries with the following links:
Cats
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Cats can develop litter box issues for various reasons. It is important to identify the cause quickly before it becomes a chronic problem. You can also try to preemptively avoid the problem before it happens. Learn more about litter box problems here.
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Marking may at first seem like a litter box problem, but it is actually more of a communication problem. Marking is less common in altered males but can still happen in multi-cat households or during changes in their environment. Learn how to avoid and treat the problem here.
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Cats scratch while playing, stretching, marking territory, or to buff frayed and broken claws. Rather than discouraging all scratching, you will have better luck encouraging “approved” scratching behaviors. Learn how to do so here.
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Even sweet and loving cats can lash out on occasion. Often this is done because they are trying to communicate their boundaries. Learn how to teach them to communicate less painfully here.
Let us know how it’s going!
Whether you just adopted your furry family member last month or years ago, we love to hear updates on Sota Saves alumni!