Expert Tips to Ensure Your Pet's Happiness and Longevity in Central IL Homes

Share and Follow

HOOPESTON, Ill. (WCIA)– With the holiday season in full swing, some gifts come with more than just festive packaging, especially when it comes to pets. This year, an animal expert from Central Illinois is sharing valuable insights to ensure these furry friends find lifelong homes and avoid ending up in shelters.

While the joy of receiving a pet for Christmas is exhilarating, the reality of pet ownership soon sets in. It’s a situation that animal rescue organizations frequently encounter.

“It’s often a case of, ‘We didn’t realize what we were taking on. We have a toddler who’s potty training, and now we’re also trying to house train a puppy,’” explained Amy Buttram, volunteer coordinator for the Hoopeston Animal Rescue Team.

Buttram emphasized that the key to successful pet care begins with understanding your new animal’s experience, referring to what she calls the “three, three, three theory.”

“Three days to decompress, three weeks for the routine to set in, and then three months to actually be comfortable in the home,” she said.

Buttram added that a big part of helping animals adapt to their new normal is sticking to a routine.

“Holidays can be hectic, but it’s things like getting up at a regular hour and taking that dog out or taking the cat, or making sure the cats get fed,” she shared.

It takes everyone in the family to raise an animal, she added.

“Especially if you have kids, work with them early. Teach them how to do gentle pets,” Buttram said.

There’s no one right way to raise your pet, and Buttram said that mistakes are inevitable.

“It’s not going to go perfectly, and it doesn’t mean that you have failed as a pet owner. It doesn’t mean that your child is a failure as a pet sibling, for example. Things take time,” she said.

When you might begin to second guess yourself, Buttram said to remember to take a deep breath and know that it’s going to be okay. At the end of the day, the most important thing to do is love your new pet, and they’ll love you right back.

And if a pet in your home isn’t the best fit, Buttram said that you can always volunteer at the animal shelter to get your four-legged fix.