When it comes to health and safety for your new friend there are a few things to keep in mind, especially since your new pet has come from an animal shelter. All of our dogs/puppies have been exposed to Kennel Cough and cats/kittens to Upper Respiratory Infection; though we do disinfect and sanitize our facility daily, these viruses are impossible to keep completely under control and remain consistently returning to the facility with new transfers. Think of the shelter environment like a kindergarten class. When one child comes to class sick, all the kids in the class will have been exposed, but not all of them will get sick.

While your pet may show no signs of illness while here at The NOAH Center, it is not uncommon for them to become symptomatic from the stress of having their spay/neuter surgeries and/or entering a new home environment.

Common symptoms include sneezing and clear discharge from their eyes or nose. While healthy, adjusted pets overcome their “colds” quickly without treatment, shelter pets can take a little longer due to the extra stresses they’ve had in their lives.

Please watch your new friend closely for signs they need to be seen by a veterinarian:

• labored breathing
• lethargy
• lack of appetite
• discharge turning yellow or green

These are signs that your pet may have developed a secondary infection and may require antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.