Thinking of adopting a pet?

As many of you will know, for the last couple of years, I've been a volunteer at an animal sanctuary. Many of the animals are brought in in a poor physical state, and almost always suffering emotionally. I come to give them Reiki treatments to help them to recover both physically and emotionally - very often an emotional hurt can linger for longer than a physical one, and can impede full recovery.

I'm going to give them a name check, because they do fantastic work and I think this needs recognising (these are my words in this blog, I'm not claiming to speak for them). At Animals in Distress in Irlam, there's only a small paid staff and an army of amazing volunteers who give up their time to come and care for the animals. They're a charity, and depend greatly on donations from the public to keep them going. Vet bills are huge these days, and they need to spend a vast amount from their funds in this way.

They never ever put a healthy animal down, and will keep on looking after, feeding, and provding necessary vet treatment for as long as an animal is with them.

It's always a cause for celebration when one of the animals finds a new home. But unfortunately, things don't always go perfectly. Animals are sometimes returned (they'll always take them back), often because the new carers didn't fully realise what they were taking on. It's such a shame, as this can be very stressful for an animal.

Kittens and puppies are very cute, but you should always be aware how much hard work they can be. Older animals need homes too, and have usually learnt how to be house trained, and be with people. Nevertheless, older animals can come with baggage, not all of which will have been apparent during their time in the sanctuary. However, the staff will always tell you what they know about the animal you're thinking about adopting, and it's a good idea to listen to their advice.

For example, if you're told a dog or cat is not good with children, and you have children, it would be better to find another animal. Some cats don't particularly like either men or women, others prefer to be the only cat in a household, but others enjoy the company of other cats or dogs. There are all sorts of idiosyncracies in the animal world. One important point - if you are thinking of integrating a new pet into a household with more than one animal, be sure you do this properly. There is lots of good advice out there - have a look at Vetontheweb. The sanctuary staff and your vet will also be able to help you.

At the sanctuary, many of the animals have been found or brought in as strays, so little is known. Some of these animals can take some time to get used to human company - some may hide away, others will bite or scratch when approached. This doesn't mean that they won't become good pets - frequently they do, but they need time, patience and lots of love. Don't crowd them, take your lead from what the animal is telling you. Just be happy that you're able to give an animal a safe place to live, with good vet care, and regular good quality food. Think about what you can do for the animal, not what the animal can do for you. And don't give up on them...... please. There are lots of people who can help - your vet can refer you to an animal behaviourist, or other therapies, such as Reiki, may be able to help.

Adopting an animal who wouldn't otherwise have a safe and loving home is a wonderful thing to do, but it's not a decision to be taken lightly - do please think whether you are able to give an animal a good home, and have the patience and love to help them to settle in, no matter how long it takes.

Finally, Animals in Distress are at 55 Silver Street, Irlam, and can be contacted on 0161 775 2221.