After You Adopt a Pet

Dog on picnic table with owners sitting there

Vaccinations & Preventative Care

Any future care for this pet will be your financial responsibility. 
  • Kennel Cough & Upper Respiratory Infection - being in a shelter, dogs and cats may have been exposed to or have gone through an episode of kennel cough (dogs) or upper respiratory infection (cats). Symptoms can include sneezing, mucus from the eyes/nose, cough (dogs) and oral lesions (cats). If your new pet exhibits any of these symptoms at home, please follow up with your own veterinarian for care. 
  • Dental Health - your new pet's dental health will be your financial responsibility. Many adult pets who come into shelter care have some level of dental tartar and will likely need their teeth cleaned at some point in the future.
  • Heartworm Prevention - your new dog received a monthly dose of heartworm prevention. Repeat the heartworm test in 6 months with your veterinarian.
  • Veterinary Care - each animal is current on all the core vaccines when they are adopted. You can find the vaccine history in the animal's Medical History. We suggest continuing parasite prevention and other necessary vaccines after adoption. Please speak to your veterinarian regarding your pet's health and lifestyle to determine what future vaccinations are needed and when. Your new pet will need an exam with your veterinarian within three weeks of adoption. At that time, your veterinarian can speak with you about a preventative health plan. Your veterinarian is the best person to help you with overall pet health maintenance. 

Post-Op Instructions (if your pet was spayed or neutered at WCAC)

Your animal may have been recently spayed or neutered.  If the animal was recently spayed or neutered, we ask that you wait 10 days from the time of the surgery to bathe your animal. You can find the date of the spay/neuter in the animal's Medical History Record. Surgical glue was used to seal the surgery site and we don't want to prematurely dissolve that glue by bathing the animal before 10 days. If you notice your animal bothering the surgery site, you may need to purchase an e-collar and contact your own veterinarian for additional information. Please limit their activity, as much as possible, for 10 days after surgery. They need that resting time for the tissue to adequately heal. 

What we feed at WCAC

While staying at the Animal Center, your new pet received Hill's Science Diet chicken formula. All pets are fed dry kibble, puppies and kittens may also receive Science Diet can food chicken formula. 

How to Fit an E-Collar

Some pet stores will have the ability to help you fit an e-collar on your new pet. The most common issue is that the collar is too small. First, choose a size appropriate fit the size of the pet's neck. You should be able to fit several of your fingers between the collar and the animal's neck. Many people will test the fit by pulling the collar up towards the ears. instead, you need to push the collar back toward the animal's shoulders. When in this position, extend their nose forward. If the nose goes beyond the sides of the collar, it is too small.