Dog Adopt Information

By adopting a dog from CAP Shelter you will have saved the life of a homeless animal.

Adoption charge is $99.00
Senior Animal Adoption Fee - $49.50 (adopt an animal 7 yrs or older)
Senior Citizen Adoption Fee - $74.00
This charge includes:
Spay or Neuter
Vaccinations up to date
Rabies if over 4 months old
Deworming & Defleaing
Heartworm Check
Free vet exam
Microchip(If over 4 months old)
Lifetime registration & ID tag

You can Adopt a Second Dog for ONLY $69.00.
Adopt a Dog AND a Cat for $156.00.

Adoption Procedure for animals at the shelter -
Select an animal that your entire family will welcome as part of the family.
Fill out a CAP Adoption application.
If approved, pay the adoption fee, part of which is tax deductible.
If animal is already spayed or neutered, it can go home right away, otherwise
it will be a day or two before you can take them home. - If in doubt, ask an employee.
NOTE: Do NOT bathe an animal for at least a week after spay or neuter surgery.

Adoption Procedure for animals with a Foster Parent -
E-Mail the Foster Parent with any questions you have and
it would be thoughtful to provide them with some information about yourself.
(They saved the animal's life and they want the animal to go to a caring home!)
They will inform you when they will be returning the animal to the shelter and you may meet the animal at that time.
Some foster parents may be willing to arrange an appointment for you to meet the animal in advance.
If you request an appointment, include your phone number and
some information about yourself and the home that would provide for the animal.
ONLY Adults should make inquiries about animals.

If you are meeting the animal in advance, an appointment
will be made to meet, usually at either the shelter or a CAP Petsmart location.
NOTE: You are Not obligated to adopt the animal AND
the Foster Parent is Not obligated to adopt the animal to you.
If adoption if agreeable to all, then you will fill out an application,
and if approved, pay the adoption fee, a portion of which is tax deductible.
Adoption Applications canNOT be approved UNLESS the applicant
has met the animal in person and this does Not guarantee approval.
Animals have different personalities and the person must meet the animal to see if they are compatible.

MICROCHIP Information
If you are adopting a dog or cat from CAP Shelter,
an AVID chip can be inserted for a small fee of $15.00.
It MUST be done at the time of adoption and the animal MUST be at least 6 months old.

Everyone NEEDS an 'easy to read' Pet First Aid book.
Get an 'easy to read' Pet First Aid emergency book. Pet FirstAidBook

Is the Dog for the CHILDREN?
The responsibility of having an animal joining your household is similar to having another child in the household. The primary responsibility for the care of the animal belongs to the adults in the household. Animals need a responsible adult to love, teach and care for them, to drive them to vet appointments and to pay for any expenses associated with their care. Therefore ALL family members, not just the children, must want the animal and be committed to give it attention and care. A dog has FEELINGS and should be part of the family and cared for the same! Poem - Do I Go Home Today?

An animal is NOT a 'tool' to teach children responsibility ....
To teach children to be responsible, YOU need to set a good 'example' by YOU being reponsible! MNO

Long Distance Adopting
If you live more than a two hour drive from Houston,
Adopt an animal from a 'local' shelter.
There are MANY Homeless animals in your town,
so please give one of those animals a loving home!!!!

When you bring your new friend home . . . .

Your dog has been under stress. He has been in a strange place full of other animals. Now he is in a new home, with a new family and maybe even other pets. Although everyone will
want to meet and play with him, keep the initial interactions to a minimum. Let him explore
and investigate his new home and yard.

Use caution when introducing pets to each other. Some may eventually become friends and others will just co-exist. Before introducing your new dog to pet(s) already in your home, exercise the dog(s) with a brisk walk to release energy. Then allow them to sniff where the other pet has been. Introduce slowly & keep dogs on a leash. If introducing a dog to a cat, do not allow the dog to chase the cat and be careful the cat does not scratch the dog.

It is IMPORTANT to give equal attention to the pets already in your home. Do Not ignore them as this may cause resentment of the new pet, and most important is that they too need to feel loved, even more so because of the new addition to your family. (This is also very important when a new human baby joins the family.)

To introduce a dog and cat, exercise the dog with a brisk walk to release energy. Then let the newcomer check out their new home by walking around and smelling scents. When the dog is in a calm state and still on a leash, allow the dog and cat to view each other at a distance. The human should exude calmness but also dominate firmness and not allow the dog to chase the cat or the cat to scratch the dog. It is best if one human holds the dog leash and one human calmly pets the cat, thereby letting the dog know that the cat is part of the family. Most dogs want to please their human. If the dog remains fairly calm, the human eventually allows the dog to get close to the cat, still using a leash.

For a dog their basic instinct is to chase a cat. Whether the dog chases or not, depends on the introduction and on the cat. It helps if the cat is not afraid of dogs and does not run.

They should not be alone together for a few weeks until the human is sure that the dog is calm in the presence of the cat. Eventually for most dogs, a cat looses its interest to them after awhile although most dogs will still chase a cat that is running through the house. Also cats outdoors seem to be fair game to chase and do not seem to be viewed by the dog as family members.

It is IMPORTANT to give equal attention to your original pet. Do Not ignore him as this may cause resentment of the new pet, and most important is that he too needs to feel loved, even more so because of the new addition to your family.

Keeping Your Dog Secure In Your Yard
Dogs are usually happier being indoors and being truly a 'part' of your family but of course they also enjoy and benefit from being in a secured backyard.

CONTAINMENT:
An underground electric fence is NOT recommended as the sole means of containing a dog. Besides the fact that the dog can leave your property if highly motivated, any person can easily walk on your property and steal your animal!! Another threat is that any larger animal can enter your property and attack your animal.

Suggestion:
To make your property as secure as possible, you would do well with about a 6 feet high fence which canNot be climbed and you should put 12" x 12" (2" thick) cement stepping stones around the entire inside perimeter of your yard.
This usually is effective in keeping most(NOT all) dogs inside your yard unless he chews fences. Then you would need to add the underground electric fence to keep him away from the fence.

Remember to keep you gates locked and know and trust your neighbor!
Also make certain your dog ALWAYS is wearing an ID tag with TWO phone numbers listed on their tag. (Tags can be purchased at Petsmart or Petco)

Tips for Dog Owners
Chocolate can be a POISON to a dog!! Do Not give your dog any amount of chocolate.
Some plants are poisonous to your pet. Identify toxic plants & make them inaccessible to your pet.
Bones can be DANGEROUS to a dog. Bones can splinter and lodge in their throat.
Never leave your pet unattended in a car, ESPECIALLY in hot weather.
Do NOT transport your dog in the back of a pickup truck. Falling out can be fatal..
NEVER give a dog a Ball which he can close his mouth over because the ball
could become lodged in their throat and they can suffocate and die.
Dogs are social animals and should be kept inside with the family but
if not inside, then make certain you provide shelter from hot sun, rain and cold.

Keep your pet in a yard with a secure fence, and do NOT chain or tie a dog up. A chained dog
cannot protect itself and chaining or tying up a dog creates frustration in your dog that may lead
to behavior problems like excessive barking.

NEVER EVER give Tylenol (toxic to liver) or ibuprofen (Nuprin, Motrin, Advil, etc.).
Ibuprofen is very toxic and fatal to dogs at low doses. - - ONLY aspirin is 'safe'
for dogs, and buffered aspirin or ascriptin is preferred to minimize stomach upset.
(Do NOT give asprin to Cats.)

IMPORTANT: Have you noticed how many people are quick to scold their dog, but never give praise?
When your dog does something good or does what you tell them to do, make CERTAIN to ALWAYS
PRAISE them in a pleasant and cheerful tone of voice. Don't be a Mr. Scrooge!

Having an animal sharing your home is like having a human child in the family.
The dog or puppy needs a responsible ADULT to love, teach and care for them.

Purchasing a Doggy Door
There are MANY sizes and type Pet Doors from which to choose!

P e t s m a r t also sells several price and types of Doggy Doors
including 'Economy' Doggie Doors, 'Electronic' Doors and
even Doggy Doors to use with a 'Sliding Glass' door!
Regular size 'Swing Open' Doggy Walk-Thru Gate.

Extra Wide 'Swing Open' Doggy Extra-Wide Gate

NOTE: If you have a cat that you do not want to go out, there are 'electronic' doors
which ONLY open for animal wearing the collar.
(You must check batteries often to make sure they can open the electronic door.)
When using a doggy door make sure your yard is 'escape proof', keep your gates locked
and know and trust your neighbor in adjoining yards.
Petco Doggy Doors .... Petco Doggy Doors
T h e P e t S t o r e D o o r s Seattle Washington

NOTE: If your animal has access to the outdoors,
make CERTAIN your fenced yard is as 'escape proof' as is possible.
Also, know AND trust your neighbors who have adjoining yards!
Having a pet door for an adult dog is great idea.
A reliable way stop a dog from digging out is to place 12" x 12" cement
stepping stones around the entire inside perimeter of your fence.
It is a lot of work but it is effective for most (NOT all) dogs.

Is your dog a 'cool' and 'hip' to new adventures?!
Consider enrolling him 2 or 3 days a week in DOGGY DAYCARE!
Many doggy daycare's now have a WEB CAMERA
so you can see what you best friend is up to!

Dog Parks
City of Houston, The Woodlands, City of Bellaire
and Harris County have fenced DOG parks!
Click Here

HOUSTON area - Allows all size of dogs!
Most of their locations allow most any size dogs!
CAMDEN

Everyone NEEDS an easy to read Pet First Aid 'book'.
Get an 'easy to read' Pet First Aid emergency book. Pet FirstAidBook
FirstAidBook_DogsCats_11-06.jpg (13650 bytes)

FirstAidBook_DogsCats_11-06.jpg (13650 bytes)

Pet FirstAidBook

EMERGENCY/Disaster Tips - Don't forget the animals!!!
What to do for Animals before and during a DISASTER, including Hurricanes.
Click Here

Keep the phone numbers of your vet AND an emergency 'after hours' clinic
AND local poison control center, posted by your phone.
National Animal Poison Control Center (www.napcc.aspca.org/ )
Aspca Animal Poison Control Center Hotline As the premier animal poison control center in North America,
the APCC is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, make the call
that can make all the difference: (888) 426-4435. A $55 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

Please Remember when you decide to Adopt a Dog, do it because the ENTIRE family is ready to give
and receive Love. Do NOT adopt a dog as a 'present' for the kids or a guard dog. If you want a present,
find something at a toy store and if you want protection, get an alarm system or put up bars.
Dogs have FEELINGS and do Not deserve to be treated like 'objects'.

10 Things a Dog Asks of it's People
Click Here

If you have a question about pets, call (28l)-497-0591
or visit the Adoption Center at 11925 Katy Freeway,
HOUSTON, TEXAS. Map and Hours

Reasons to Have a Pet Door: