Who Are Special Needs Cats and Dogs?
Our special needs cats or dogs might have disabilities, chronic illnesses, injuries, or specific conditions, such as blindness, deafness, or mobility issues. Behavioral challenges can include anxiety, fearfulness, or difficulties adapting to a new environment.
Shelters often provide special accommodations to ensure these animals are comfortable and cared for. This can include tailored medical treatments, physical therapy, dietary adjustments, or behavioral training. While these animals may need extra care, they often form incredibly deep bonds with their adopters, bringing immense joy and fulfillment to their lives.
Shelters Develop Pathway Plans to Achieve Live Outcomes
Each approach plays a vital role in maximizing life-saving capacity and ensuring the well-being of animals in shelters. Whisker Mountain’s haven between homes focuses more on slow track and foster / transfer / rescue:
Fast Track: Refers to animals that are highly adoptable and likely to find homes quickly, such as kittens, puppies, or friendly small-to-medium-sized dogs. These animals are prioritized for adoption with minimal time spent in the shelter.
Slow Track: Refers to animals that may take longer to be adopted due to factors like age, behavior, or health issues. These animals are provided with housing and enrichment that accommodates longer stays while preserving their adoptable behavior.
Foster: Involves placing animals temporarily in homes outside the shelter to provide care, socialization, or recovery from medical procedures. Foster homes help reduce shelter overcrowding and improve the animals’ chances of adoption.
Transfer/Rescue: Refers to moving animals from one shelter to another or to rescue organizations. This is often done to increase their chances of adoption or to provide specialized care that the original shelter may not be equipped to offer.