Pet Resource Center

Getting help for your pet

Regardless of your dog or cat's behavior, we offer several free options to help!

Our team of behavior specialists provides enrichment, daily training, and when necessary, additional behavior support to pets in our shelters so that they become the best possible candidates for adoption.

Other resources

Schedule a Behavior Help Line appointment:
helpline for a dog helpline for a cat Other Resource links Have General Questions?
See our FAQ

Dogs that come from hoarding situations may have never lived with people. Learn what to expect, how to handle them and how to best ease them into their new living situation.

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Learn how to handle and improve family cat on cat aggression so that both cats can live safely together.

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What is Canine Rivalry?

Canine rivalry refers to repeated conflicts between dogs living in the same household. Animals that live in groups, like dogs, establish relationships through which the individuals involved interact and live together. The roles that the individuals play...

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Clicker training uses a precise sound (a click) to tell the cat that he has done something to earn a reward. Think of the clicker as the shutter of a camera: you click when you see the correct "picture" of the behavior you're training your cat to...

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If you allow your cat to wander around outside on her own, without your supervision, she is susceptible to any of the following tragedies:

  • Being hit by a car
  • Ingesting a deadly poison, like antifreeze or pesticide
  • Being trapped by a unhappy neighbor or picked up by animal control
  • ...

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Safe Toys

There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy. Among them are your cat's size, activity level and personal preference. Another is the environment in which your cat spends his time. Although we can't guarantee your cat's enthusiasm or his safety with any...

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Living with a cat can be beneficial to children. Cats can enhance a child's self-esteem, teach them responsibility and help them to learn empathy.

Selecting a Cat

Under 2 years of age

  • Time and energy: Require a lot of time, patience and supervision.
  • Safety: May become frightened or even...

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Living with a dog can be beneficial to children. Dogs can enhance children's self-esteem, teach them responsibility and help them to learn empathy. However, children and dogs may not always automatically start off with a wonderful relationship. Parents must be willing to teach the dog and the child acceptable limits...

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Well-socialized cats are more likely to have well-socialized kittens. Kittens "feed" off of their mothers' calm or fearful attitude toward people. Although feeding time is important, it's also vital to include petting, talking, and playing in order to build good "people-skills" in your kitten. Kittens are usually weaned at six...

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Although feeding time is important, it's also vital to include petting, talking, and playing, in order to help your puppy build good "people-skills." Well-socialized mothers are more likely to have well-socialized puppies. Puppies "feed" off their mothers' calm or fearful attitude toward people. Puppies are usually weaned at six or...

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Many people have a problem with roaming cats that attack wild birds as they feed or nest in their yards, that use their garden as a litter box, or that upset their pets by invading their territory. You certainly have the right to enjoy your yard and the birds that...

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Many behavior problems in dogs are the result of boredom or excess energy. Toys offer mental and physical stimulation and enrichment. Directing your dog's energy into play with toys can prevent or help resolve such problems as digging and chewing on furniture, shoes or shrubbery.

Toys We Recommend

Interactive Toys:

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The easiest way to start clicker training is to teach your dog to hand target. During this process your dog will learn that the click sound ALWAYS means a treat is coming, and he'll learn that offering a specific behavior earns a click/treat. This will become the foundation for teaching...

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It is easier to train rabbits if you understand that their behavior is usually motivated by one of three things:

  1. Their natural need and inclination to chew and dig
  2. Their need to communicate and our tendency to require words for understanding communication
  3. The social structure as seen...

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A head halter is a special kind of collar with a strap that goes around your dog's nose and another strap that goes around his neck, just behind his ears. The leash fastens under his chin to a ring that's attached to the nose strap. When your dog begins to...

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