At the shelter

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat month. Jacque Lynn Schultz, C.P.D.T., Companion Animal Programs Advisor, suggests nine different ways to welcome home your new cat and ease the adjustment period most new relationships go through.

* Go slowly at first. A new cat may need seven to 14 days to relax into her new environment.

* Offer her a safe place to hide while she gets her bearings.

* Bring your new feline to a caring veterinarian for a wellness exam within one week after adoption.

* Provide the same diet she had at the shelter at least for the first week or two. Slowly make the switch over one to two weeks, starting with a quarter ration of the new food mixed into the old favorite. From there, up the ratio of new to old about 10 percent each day.

* Set up a litter box in a quiet, low-traffic area. Non-clumping litter is recommended for kittens under 10 weeks of age.

* Cats must scratch, so make sure to provide yours with a sturdy, rough-textured scratching post to save wear and tear on furniture.

* Cat-proof your home before giving your new feline run of the house. Put away harsh cleaning products, human medications and household poisons. Re-home any poisonous houseplants.

* Once settled in, a young cat or kitten will be eager to play. Stock up on interactive toys such as feather wands and kitty fishing poles to engage attention and direct energies toward a positive pursuit.

* Ready a comfortable cat perch on a sunny windowsill.

'Patti' is a precious 6-week-old, longhaired tortie. She is such a tiny baby and loves to be held, cuddled, and wants to feel secure. In another week or so, she will become more playful. 'Arnold' looks very suave and debonair wearing his handsome gray and white coat. He is looking for a purr-fect home with cat lovers. In the three cat rooms, every cage is full of equally deserving cats and adorable kittens. Spay/neuter is included in the modest adoption fee if performed at either local vet clinic. First round of shots and worming is also included.

'Ella' would make a wonderful companion dog. She is an Australian/Norwich terrier mix. The national terrier of Australia, this is one of the smallest of the working terriers. The first of the breed originated in the late 1800s in Tasmania. A cornucopia of European breeds was crossed with this root stock, among them the precursors of the Skye, Dandie Dinmont, Scotch, Yorkshire, and Manchester terriers. In the early 1900s, the breed had made its way to British show rings and homes and by 1925, it had come to America. One of the quieter terriers, the Aussie is nonetheless a plucky, clever character, but eager to please, making it one of the more obedient terriers. It received AKC recognition in 1960 and is ranked 109. (Source: Coile's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds) 'Be Bop' is a precious 6-week-old black lab pup who enjoys attention and being held. He is one of the cutest puppies at the shelter.

Check out our shelter pets on dyerhumane.org and petfinder.com. Click on either shelter or animals and type 38024 zip code. Several local rescue groups in our area include Laura Hart's "Almost Home" rescue located at The Pet Stop, and have saved a total of 231 local shelter pets' lives since Sept. 12, 2008. Jill Joyner's "One Step Closer to Home" rescue saves four-legged friends in the Western Tennessee area and acts as a sister to all larger rescues. Animal Care Hospital and PETcetera, located on St. John Extended, have teamed up with the shelter to raise awareness of the unlimited number of abandoned pets in need of loving homes. Stop by PETcetera to view a canine ready for immediate adoption. The shelter stays at capacity, taking in around 100 pets a week. Sadly, we have many more pets than people to adopt them. This will not change until people become responsible pet owners. Help stop the exploding pet population by spaying/neutering the pets you own.

Civic groups, scouts and classrooms, please consider adopting the shelter as a community project. There are so many needs at the shelter. We are always looking for caring volunteers to bring treats and toys that do not present a choking hazard. Help socialize the animals and walk dogs while they are waiting for a forever home. We now have a fenced-in grassy play area for dogs and puppies. Won't you consider helping these local homeless pets?

A tax-deductible donation to the shelter is a wonderful way to honor and remember your loved ones and help local homeless animals. General donations, The Beagley Fund (heartworm treatment) donations, Save a Life Makeover, and memorials may be mailed to the Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society, P.O. Box 223, Dyersburg, TN 38025-0223. On your check, please specify to which fund your tax-deductible gift should be directed. Thank you for helping the animals!

The Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. The shelter is located at 1120 E. Court St. and phone number is 285-4889.