your pets home away from home - green acres kennel shop · your pets home away from home 1653 union...

Your pets home away from home 1653 Union Street, Bangor, Maine 04401-2204

Tel. (207) 945-6841, FAX (207) 942-6768 EMAIL [email protected]

www.greenacreskennel.com

Helping you and your pet become best friends for life

Thank you for contacting us about our pet behavior counseling services. A behavioral assessment will consist of reviewing your pet’s behavioral history, discussing specific problems, recommending a behavior modification program and/or appropriate Bach Flower Remedies to help mediate your pet’s behavior and a follow-up call approximately three weeks after the consultation. The fee for the assessment is $150.

Enclosed you will find: 1) a handout describing our pet behavior counseling services, 2) a list of common questions about pet behavior counseling, 3) a behavior questionnaire and 4) a sample letter to use to request the appropriate written referral from your veterinarian.

Prior to scheduling an appointment for you and your pet, you will need to complete and return the enclosed questionnaire, including the Waiver of Liability and Aggression Disclaimer, and provide us with a copy of your pet’s vaccination history and a written referral from your veterinarian. We strongly suggest you obtain the veterinary referral first, as sometimes this can take time and the information you provide on the questionnaire needs to be as current as possible. Please make every effort to submit the veterinary referral at the same time you send us the completed questionnaire.

Please be as objective as possible while filling out the questionnaire and gather information from other family members. We need you to provide as much detail as you can if we are to render the best assessment. Please print so your response is easy to read. This form will provide us with the behavioral history and lifestyle of your pet.

Part of the questionnaire deals specifically with your pet’s emotions and will be used to help determine if the Bach Flower Remedies will be useful in helping mediating the behavioral issues.

In order to recommend which of the Bach Flower Remedies to use with your pet, we need a written referral from your pet’s veterinarian. This referral must be on letterhead from your veterinarian’s office and must specifically state: “I am referring this client for behavior modification and treatment with Bach Flower Remedies, if deemed necessary.” Enclosed is a letter you can submit to your veterinarian which outlines exactly what is required for a referral.

The referral and a copy of your pet’s vaccination records can be mailed to Green Acres at the above address or your veterinarian can FAX it to 942-6768. Please include in the address “ATTN: Kate Dutra.” An appointment will not be scheduled until we have received all the necessary paperwork. If your veterinarian has questions on the Bach Flower Remedies, please feel free to have them give me a call at 945-6841.

Green Acres Kennel Shop - Your pets home away from home - 12/5/2009 - page 2 I look forward to meeting with you and your pet. Please feel free to call if you have questions.

Sincerely,

GREEN ACRES KENNEL SHOP

Don Hanson, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA President Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner, #UKP-2003-1215H Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, IAABC #207 Certified Professional Dog Trainer, CCPDT #1010007 Professional Member Assoc. of Pet Dog Trainers, #973 TDI Evaluator, #688 AKC CGC Evaluator, #970

file: Letter-information required for dog or cat consult-blank 5DEC09.docx

Helping You and Your Pet Become Best Friends for Life.

Pet Behavior Counseling

Helping you and your pet become best friends for life.

Description of Pet Behavior Counseling Services 5DEC09.docx -- Copyright Green Acres Kennel Shop, Bangor, ME -- 12/5/2009 11:25:00 AM

DESCRIPTION OF PET BEHAVIOUR COUNSELING SERVICES

Green Acres Kennel Shop offers behavior counseling for both dogs and cats on both a local and long distance basis. We see local clients at our facility, Green Acres Kennel Shop, in Bangor, Maine, and work with long-distance clients via telephone and email.

Often people find themselves with pets that are exhibiting problem behaviors that a standard training class is unable to address. Behaviors such as separation anxiety, pet-to-pet aggression, pet-to-people aggression, marking, scratching, inappropriate urination/defecation and even obsessive-compulsive behaviors are just a few examples of some of the more common problems that fall into this category. But there is hope!! Green Acres Pet Behavior Counselors, Don Hanson and Kate Dutra will work with you and your pet to resolve behavioral concerns that fall outside of the realm of basic training.

Co-owner of Green Acres, Don Hanson is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). He is uniquely qualified to develop a behavior modification program and/or a Bach Flower Remedy treatment plan for your pet. Don has completed the Dr. Edward Bach Foundations training program in the U.S. and at the Natural Animal Centre in Wales. Don has lectured on pets, behavior and the Bach Flower remedies in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Japan.

Kate Dutra is the Operations Manager at Green Acres and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT). She has studied the behavior of dogs and cats for several years and works with Don in helping you resolve your pet’s behavioral issues.

When you call to discuss a behavioral problem, one of the first questions we will ask is if your concerns have been discussed with your veterinarian, and when your pet last had a full veterinary exam. Many behavioral issues can be directly linked to medical concerns and these must be addressed prior to a behavioral consultation.

When you have decided to proceed with a consultation, we will mail you a questionnaire or instruct you how to download it from our website. Since we are unable to ask the animals how they are feeling, or what is bothering them, I will need to depend on the

Green Acres Kennel Shop Training Handout - page 2

Description of Pet Behavior Counseling Services 5DEC09.docx -- Copyright Green Acres Kennel Shop, Bangor, ME -- 12/5/2009 11:25:00 AM

ke

wledge of animal

behavior will help us to develop a treatment plan for your pet.

uling

n

ll

k

ovide regular feedback so that we can continue to help you and your pet progress.

FEE SCHEDULE Level Cost

information you provide in the questionnaire and at the time of the consultation. For this reason, we request that you are as thorough and as objective as possible. Plan to ta60 to 90 minutes to complete the questionnaire. We may also ask you to provide avideotape of your pet exhibiting the problem behavior, especially if we will not beevaluating your pet in person. This, in conjunction with our kno

We need to receive the questionnaire, a signed waiver of liability and aggression disclaimer, videos (if requested) and a written veterinary referral prior to the schedof your appointment. Once we have these materials, one of us will contact you to schedule your appointment. At your appointment, you and your pet will meet with DoHanson and Kate Dutra, either in person or over the phone. Each consultation lasts approximately one hour. At the conclusion of your appointment, we will recommend a behavior modification program. If you will be using the Bach Flower Remedies, Don wialso recommend specific Bach Flower remedies for your pet. Within 10 days after the appointment, we will send you a written summary of our findings and recommendationsand any appropriate handouts to aid you in the behavior modification process. We asthat you pr

Description

BC1 n and first $150 Behavioral assessment at Green Acres, recommended behavior modification protocols, Bach Flower Remedy treatment plabottle of appropriate remedies, and report to veterinarian

BC7 n and first $190 Behavioral assessment via telephone, recommended behavior modification protocols, Bach Flower Remedy treatment plabottle of appropriate remedies, and report to veterinarian

BC3 havior modification protocol at alf Trainer assistance implementing beGreen Acres, 30 minute minimum

$30/hhour

BC4 Refill of appropriate Bach Flower Remedies, picked up at Green Acres $6.50 BC9-1

of appropriate Bach Flower Remedies, mailed to your address in USA Refill $14.69

BC5 Follow-up Consultation at Green Acres, 30 minute minimum alf $30/hhour

BC8 Telephone follow-up consultation, 30 minute minimum alf hour $40/h

Pet Behavior Counseling

Helping you and your pet become best friends for life.

Pet Behavior Counseling FAQ 5DEC09.docx -- Copyright Green Acres Kennel Shop, Bangor, ME -- 12/5/2009 11:27:00 AM

The following are typical questions people ask about our pet behavior counseling services.

What is Pet Behavior Counseling? Pet Behavior Counseling involves working with you and your pet to resolve problem behaviors. Typical behavior problems we deal with include aggression and biting, separation anxiety, inappropriate urination and defecation, obsessive-compulsive like behaviors, food, toy or space guarding, fears and phobias and other stress related behaviors. Our goal is to help you better understand the normal and abnormal behavioral patterns of your pet’s species, as well as understanding the individual needs of your particular pet. We provide you with a behavior modification protocol to assist in the resolution of the problem behavior. Here at Green Acres we also recommend treatment with Bach Flower Remedies for most behavior cases.

How Does Pet Behavior Counseling Differ from Training? Ideally, training should be proactive. You start with a puppy or kitten and teach them how to successfully live in the human world, while also attending to their own unique needs as a different species. Training focuses on teaching a pet desirable behaviors and good manners like using the litter box, sitting on a cue, walking nicely on a leash, scratching appropriate objects and coming when called. Management is used to prevent behaviors that you do not like. Behavior counseling focuses on the animal’s emotional state in addition to teaching behaviors. A client typically seeks behavior counseling because their pet is acting in a manner that they find concerning or frustrating. What is an important distinction here is that the animals are equally anxious in these situations. Unfortunately, for our animals, all too often a significant period of time has passed before a guardian realizes the severity of the behavior and help is sought. For this reason, behavior modification can take much longer than training, since we are not only trying to teach alternate behaviors, but also change an animal’s emotional state. NOTE: A dog training class will seldom resolve behavior problems such as fear, anxiety or aggression and in fact is more likely to make those types of problems worse. If you have a dog that is fearful, anxious or aggressive you should meet with a qualified pet behavior consultant for an evaluation before enrolling your dog in any training class. A dog trainer is not necessarily qualified to make such an assessment.



Do Many Pets Need Behavior Counseling? Most pets will probably never need to see a behavior counselor. However, the number of animals being seen for behavior problems is increasing just as the number of people needing professional counseling is also on the rise. As lifestyles become more chaotic and hectic, stress increases and stress affects everyone in the family, not just the humans. When one is stressed, whether a person or a pet, they are more prone to behavioral and emotional problems. Today, families are so busy with jobs, school, and extracurricular activities that often they do not have the time to provide their pets with the physical and mental interaction that the animals need to be behaviorally stable. When those needs are not met, problems frequently develop.

When Do I Know My Pet Needs Professional Help? People, even loving and responsible guardians, too often fail to see and heed the warning signals that their pets are giving to them that there may be a problem brewing. If your pet displays any behavior or emotional state that concerns you, it is best to discuss this with a professional as soon as possible. While it may be nothing, it may also be the start of a behavioral pattern that may rapidly spiral downward. When weeks, months or even years pass by, the chances of a positive outcome become slimmer. Once people recognize their pet has a behavior problem, the sooner they start working with a qualified pet behavior counselor the better the prognosis for resolving the problem and the less frustration for both people and pet.

Why Is Seeking Prompt Help So Important? We still do not understand with 100% certainty how the brain works. However, one of the things we do know is that the more a behavior is repeated, whether a “good” or “bad” behavior, the more habitual it becomes. For example, if a dog has been growling and charging individuals walking by the house for the past three months, it is going to be much more difficult to treat than if the client had contacted us within a week of this behavior starting. The brain actually rewires itself as behaviors are rehearsed, making the same response more and more likely. The cases where this has been going on for a year or more are even more difficult. That is not to say these dogs cannot be helped, but by this time most clients are incredibly frustrated which only exacerbates the situation. The longer a problem has been occurring, the longer it takes to treat and resolve, and the poorer the prognosis for a total cure.

Can’t I Fix This On My Own? Often people try to resolve problems on their own without qualified help; instead seeking advice from friends and family, outdated books, the internet, or TV shows with “celebrity” trainers that advise you “not to try this at home”. Doing nothing is bad enough, but doing the wrong thing may quickly make problems much worse. Even people that have excellent relationships with their pets and a solid understanding of learning can benefit from an objective opinion. Sadly, by the time most people come to a pet behavior counselor, we are often the last resort before they decide to consider getting rid of their companion.

What Do People Do That Make These Problems Worse? Aside from not dealing with a behavior problem promptly, another serious mistake people make with behavior problems is to punish the pet for the behavior. Often this is



due to fear, embarrassment or misinformation about the species in general and how to handle these situations. Punishment can come in many forms and should be thought of as levels on a continuum. It may be as overt as hitting and shocking an animal or as subtle as sprays with a water bottle or dirty looks. Fear is the root cause of many behavior problems, and punishment only exacerbates the fear and anxiety, making the behavior worse. People also make behavior problems worse when they unintentionally reward behavior with attention. We often see this with stereotypical behaviors like chasing shadows, chasing tails, etc. The first time people see a dog chase its tail they might think it is cute and laugh, which the dog finds rewarding, thus increasing the chances of repeating the behavior. While these behaviors may not seem serious at first, they can be the start of additional behavior problems and may also cause physical disabilities.

How Should One Choose A Pet Behavior Counselor? Very carefully! Sadly, there are a wide range of people claiming to be pet behavior counselors or animal behaviorists who do not have the requisite knowledge to truly and effectively help people and their pets. You would not select a heart surgeon who was not properly board certified in their field and it is equally unwise to select a pet behavior counselor without credentials. There are three levels of qualified professionals that assist pets with behavioral problems. The level that is most accessible to people are practitioners who have been credentialed as Certified Dog Behavior Consultants (CDBC) or Certified Animal Behavior Consultants (CABC) by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Those credentialed by the IAABC must demonstrate competency in counseling skills and social systems assessment, behavioral science, a general knowledge of animal behavior, genetics, neuropsychology, ethology and species-specific knowledge of healthcare, nutrition, husbandry, and behavior. Those certified are required to accumulate continuing education units on a regular basis. These individuals focus on the use of behavior modification protocols to treat animals. The next tier of pet behavior counselors is Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAAB). These individuals are credentialed by the Animal Behavior Society and typically have doctoral degrees in animal behavior or related fields. They focus on more difficult cases and the use of behavior modification protocols to treat animals. There are currently 43 such individuals in the United States. At the top level are those who are credentialed by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists uses the initials DACVB after their name. These are veterinarians who have completed an approved residency program in veterinary behavior and have passed a national board examination in that discipline. A board certified Veterinary Behaviorist specializes in clinical animal behavior and is able to diagnose and treat medical and behavioral problems, as well as prescribe medications to treat those problems. There are currently 35 such individuals in the United States, most of them in larger cities, major universities or veterinary schools. Green Acres’ Don Hanson is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Don is also a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). This means he has completed the



required courses and examinations to be credentialed by the Dr. Edward Bach Foundation in the use of the Bach Flower Remedies for the treatment of animals.

How Does Pet Behavior Counseling Work? The specifics of how counseling works will vary with each practitioner. Typically, all consults start with a telephone call and a recommendation that the animal have a complete veterinary workup to rule out any medical causes for the behavior problem. The next step may or may not involve you completing questionnaires before going to see the counselor. The best pet behavior counselors will insist on seeing the animal in person, or minimally, a videotape in the case of a long distance consultation. Avoid counselors that offer to treat your pet via phone, FAX or email, without ever seeing the animal. Behavior can be very complex and should be observed first hand by a trained professional. At Green Acres, counseling begins with a telephone inquiry. After establishing the nature of the problem, we may recommend that you take your pet to their veterinarian for a medical exam to rule out physical causes for behavioral concerns. Once a medical problem has been ruled out, you will be asked to fill out a detailed history form on your pet. The more time you take and the more details you provide, the better we can help you and your pet. In addition to completing the appropriate questionnaire, you will need to sign a waiver of liability and aggression disclaimer, and send us a referral letter from your veterinarian. The Bach Foundation has a very strict code of practice, which requires that their animal specialists have a veterinary referral before recommending Bach Flower Remedies for an animal. Upon receipt of the history forms and veterinary referral, we will contact you to book your appointment. When you come in for your appointment, both Don and Kate will typically see you. Don will focus on talking with you while Kate watches your pet and records her observations. The average consultation lasts 60 minutes. At the completion of your appointment, Don will prepare the first bottle of Bach Flower Remedies for your pet. Within a week, you will receive a letter summarizing the consultation and listing recommendations for behavior modification, along with relevant handouts for you to read. A report will also be sent to the referring veterinarian. Don and Kate are available for follow-up, as required.

What Is A Behavior Modification Protocol? A behavior modification protocol uses both operant and classical conditioning to help your pet learn to offer alternate positive responses to undesirable behaviors. The content of the plan depends on the nature of the problem we are trying to address. A typical plan will consist of you working with your pet for short periods of time (5 to 10 minutes) for several regular sessions while minimizing stressful situations. All behavior modification methods used by Green Acres are based upon the principles of positive reinforcement and will consist of no punitive measures. Our motto here is: “Behaviors that are rewarded tend to be repeated.” Depending upon the problem behavior, how long the behavior has been exhibited and the individual animal, a behavior modification program may be successful in as little as two weeks, or may take over a year to obtain desired results.



What Are the Bach Flower Remedies? The Bach Flower Remedies are all natural, herbal preparations developed in the 1930’s to help restore health by balancing one’s emotional state. While originally intended for use with people, today they are also effectively used for treating many behavioral problems with animals. The Bach Flower Remedies are especially beneficial when treating problems involving fear or anxiety. The number of behavior modification sessions can often be reduced if, rather than stressed, a pet is calm and relaxed and thus more open to learning. In his practice, Don has successfully used the Bach Flower Remedies for several years. More information on the use of Bach Flower Remedies with pets can be found at our companion web site www.bachflowersforpets.com.

How Long Does It Take For A Pet To Get Better? This is the question all clients want answered and the one that is practically impossible to provide with any degree of accuracy. There are a plethora of variables that affect resolving concerning behaviors. The only thing that is certain is that if a client fails to address a behavior problem it will get worse. How quickly a pet recovers will depend on; the pet’s inherent personality, their age, how long the behavior has been occurring, the type of problem, the client’s inherent personality, compliance to management, the behavior modification protocol and treatment with the Bach Flower Remedies. I have seen some pets make dramatic progress in a week, others that take over a year to resolve and some that never resolve. Most behavioral problems require a strong commitment on the part of the guardian to help see their pet through. Doesn’t your pet deserve this? file: Pet Behavior Counseling FAQ.docx



This page intentionally blank

_____/_____/_____

Dear Dr. ___________________________, I have requested an appointment with Don Hanson at Green Acres Kennel Shop for a behavioral consultation with __________________________. The consultation will consist of reviewing behavioral history, discussing specific problems and the recommendation of a behavioral modification plan and/or specific Bach Flower Remedies. Bach Flower Remedies, such as Rescue Remedy, are homeopathically prepared from non-toxic flowers. They are used to help balance the emotions, and have been used safely and effectively with animals of all species, including humans. They are sold in many health food stores, pharmacies and even grocery chains. Veterinarians and doctors with complementary and alternative practices often include the Bach Flower Remedies in their repertoire. Green Acres and the Bach Foundation believe it is crucial that an animal’s veterinarian is aware of all aspects of the animal’s care. Even though the remedies are sold over-the-counter, The Dr. Edward Bach Foundation, the body that has certified Don as a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner, requires that Don receive written veterinary approval prior to the recommendation of specific remedies for individual animals. In order for Don to recommend the remedies, the following must be on the referral letter:

• It must be on your office letterhead • The referral must specifically state that you are referring for behavioral

modification AND Bach Flower Remedies • The referral must be signed by a licensed veterinarian

You will receive a report after ________________’s assessment, indicating the behavioral modification plan and any remedies that were recommended. If you have any questions regarding the Bach Flower Remedies, please feel free to contact Mr. Hanson at 945-6841 or at [email protected]. Sincerely,

mailto:[email protected]

This page intentionally blank

Feline Behavior Questionnaire

Please make sure to answer all questions and to provide as much detail as possible. Use extra paper if required. If a question does not pertain to your pet, please indicate this using n/a. We cannot provide a thorough assessment of your cat’s behavior without complete information from you. All of your answers are confidential. May we use this information in a published case study if we do not identify you or your cat?

Yes No Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ____/____/____ PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING PROOF OF RABIES VACCINATION TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.

PLEASE PRINT!

Guardian Information 1. Name: ____________________________________________________________

2. Address: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. Home Phone: ( ) ______-_____________ Work Phone: ( ) ______-_____________ Cell Phone: ( ) ________-________________

4. Email address: _____________________________________________________ Cat’s General Information

1. Name: ____________________________________________________________

2. Breed(s): __________________________________________________________

3. Current age: _________________Age when acquired _________________

4. Primary Veterinary clinic: ____________________________________________

5. Veterinarian that typically sees your cat: ________________________________

6. When was your cat last vaccinated for Rabies? __________________ Distemper Series? _________________

Green Acres Feline Behavior Questionnaire – page 2

Feline Behavior Questionaire 9FEB09.docx

Waiver of Liability and Aggression Disclaimer I, the undersigned owner/handler (client) of the cat described above do hereby agree that Don Hanson, Green Acres Kennel Shop and all Green Acres Kennel Shop employees and agents will not be liable for any damage or loss resulting from failure of the cat to respond to any cues or behaviors taught to the owners/handlers (client) and cat by Green Acres Kennel Shop or resulting from counseling and advice supplied to the owners/handlers of the cat. The cat’s behavior now and in the future is solely the responsibility of the owners/handlers (client) of the cat. Should any behavior on the cat’s part now or in the future result in damage to property, the owners, or person or property of some third party, owner agrees to assume full responsibility for any and all such damage, and to absolve Don Hanson and Green Acres Kennel Shop and all Green Acres Kennel Shop employees and agents from any and all obligations to pay such damage to owner/handler or third party. , I agree to indemnify and hold harmless, and hereby release Green Acres Kennel Shop, its employees, owners or agents from any and all liability of any nature, for loss, damage from disease, death, running away, theft, fire, injury to or from persons, other animals or property, or by any other causes. I also understand that aggression in cats is a behavior problem that can in some cases result in serious injury and even death. I also understand that failing to follow the management protocols outlined to me by Don Hanson of Green Acres Kennel Shop, may greatly increase the likelihood that my cat will bite and perhaps injure someone at some time in the future. Further more, I understand that all cats can and will bite under the right (wrong) set of circumstances, and that even if I do follow the management and modification protocols explained to me by Don Hanson and Green Acres Kennel Shop that this is not a guarantee that my cat will never bite again. I do hereby agree to hold Don Hanson and Green Acres Kennel Shop and all Green Acres Kennel Shop employees harmless in the event that my cat should bite at any time in the future. ______________________________________________________________________

Signature (cats owner) ______________________________________________________________________

Witness Date: ____________________________



Specific Behavioral Problem Describe, in as much detail as possible, the behavioral problem that you wish to address, including events preceding and following the specific incidents. Indicate the level of seriousness you believe the problem to be. Also indicate the approximate length of time your cat has been displaying this behavior. Please use additional paper if necessary.

1. Problem : Very Serious Serious Not Serious Inception Date:____/_____. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



2. Why have you kept you pet despite the behavioral problem(s)? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Are you concerned that you may have caused the problem(s)? Yes No – If yes, why? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Do you feel guilty about this problem? Yes No – If yes, why? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. How much time will you commit to working with your cat to resolve the behavioral problem(s)? Please be specific as to the amount of time per day, per week, etc. ___________________________________________________________________________

6. Are other family members equally committed to resolving your cat’s problem behavior? Yes No

7. Have you considered finding another home for this cat? Yes No 8. Have you considered euthanasia for this cat? Yes No 9. Has anyone recommended euthanasia for this cat? Yes No 10. Have you consulted with anyone else about this issue? Yes No – If yes, when did this

occur and what were their recommendations? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Did you implement these recommendations? Yes No 12. If yes, how well did they work?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



13. If “No” why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bite History

1. Has this cat ever bitten a person? Yes No – If yes, please continue with this section. If no, please move to question # 6.

2. Did any if the bites require medical attention? Yes No – If yes, please elaborate: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Describe the most recent bite in as much detail as possible, indicating what the person who was bitten was doing and what the cat was doing at the time of the incident. Also please indicate any perceived stressors that occurred in the week prior to the occurrence of the bite (i.e., grandchildren visiting, vet visit, construction, etc.): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. If not the most recent, describe the most serious bite in as much detail as possible, indicating what the person who was bitten was doing and what the cat was doing at the time of the incident. Also please indicate any perceived stressors that occurred in the week prior to the occurrence of the bite (i.e., grandchildren visiting, vet visit, construction, etc.): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Has this cat ever bitten an animal? Yes No – If yes, please continue with this section. If no, please move to the next section.

6. Did any if the bites require medical attention? Yes No – If yes, please elaborate: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Describe the most recent bite in as much detail as possible, indicating what the animal that

was bitten was doing and what the cat was doing at the time of the incident. Also please indicate any perceived stressors that occurred in the week prior to the occurrence of the bite (i.e., grandchildren visiting, vet visit, construction, etc.): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. If not the most recent, describe the most serious bite in as much detail as possible, indicating what the animal that was bitten was doing and what the cat was doing at the time of the incident. Also please indicate any perceived stressors that occurred in the week prior to the occurrence of the bite (i.e., grandchildren visiting, vet visit, construction, etc.): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Major Trauma 1. Has your cat ever had surgery as a result of a major injury? Yes No – If yes, please

elaborate: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Has your cat ever been hit by a vehicle? Yes No – If yes, please elaborate: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



3. Has your cat ever been hit or kicked by a person? Yes No – If yes, please elaborate: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Has your cat ever been attacked by another animal? Yes No – If yes, please elaborate: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Has your cat ever been in a building that was on fire or that has been struck by lightening? Yes No – If yes, please elaborate: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Household Information 1. Please list the people, including yourself, currently living in the household and the

corresponding information: Please indicate with an asterisk (*) all of the above who will be coming to the evaluation with the cat.

Name Age Sex Relationship to You

Occupation Time Spent Daily with Pet



2. Has your household changed since acquiring this cat? Yes No 3. If yes, how?

Change Yes No Date

Marriage

Divorce

Illness

Child added

Child moved

Pet added

Family moved

Death of human in family

Death of pet in family

Family schedule change (i.e. job change)

Other:

Cat Health Issues 1. Sex: Male Female 2. Is cat spayed/castrated: Yes No - If yes, at what age? _____________ 3. Reason(s) for neutering or not neutering:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Behavioral changes after neutering: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Has this cat ever been bred? Yes No Don’t Know 6. Are the cats front feet declawed? ________________________________________ 7. At what age were they declawed? ________________________________________ 8. Are the back feet declawed?

____________________________________________________________________ 9. At what age were they declawed?

____________________________________________________________________



Adoption Process 1. Where did you obtain your cat? _______________________________________ 2. Has this cat had other guardian(s)? Yes-how many? _______ No 3. If this cat had a previous guardian, why did they surrender the cat?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did you decide to get a cat? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Have you had cats before? Yes No 6. Why did you select this specific breed or mix of breeds?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Have you had this breed before? Yes No 8. Why did you get this specific cat?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Do you know how many kittens were in this litter? Yes No 10. If yes, # of females ________, # of males ________ 11. What, if anything, do you know of the first eight weeks of your cat’s life?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. What are your expectations of a “good” cat? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. On a scale of one to five, with one being not meeting your expectations at all and five being the nearly perfect cat, how would you rate your cat? ________



14. What behaviors in your cat keep him from being a “5” in your eyes: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Health & Nutrition

1. Does your cat have any preexisting or current medical problems? Yes No If yes, what are they? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. When did you cat last have a complete veterinary physical exam? ___________________________________________________________________________

3. How frequently does your cat see your veterinarian? ________________________________ 4. Does your cat have any allergies? Yes No – If yes, please specify:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Is your cat currently taking any medication or supplements? Yes No – If yes, please list: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Is your cat sleeping and resting normally (does not dream excessively or startle when awakened)? Yes No – If no, please explain: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Is your cat’s skin and coat healthy and clean (free of odor, shiny, pleasant to touch)? Yes No – If no, please elaborate: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Is your cat eating and digesting its food normally (eats when food is presented, no vomiting or diarrhea)? Yes No – If no, please elaborate: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Is your cat drinking normally? Yes No – If no, please elaborate: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Is your cat urinating and defecating normally? Yes No – If no, please elaborate: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



11. Is your cat fed dry or canned food or both? _____________________________________ 12. How often is your cat fed meals? 1x 2x 3x 4x Freefed 13. What exactly is your cat fed (include brand names) and how much are they fed:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. Where is your cat fed? _______________________________________________________ 15. Describe how your cat eats?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. How many times during the day do you give your cat treats? 0x 1x 2x 3x 4x 5x >5x

Cat’s Physical Environment

1. What kind of living situation do you have? ___Apartment ___Townhouse/Condo ___House with small yard ___House with big yard ___Farm ___Other ______________________

2. What is the approximate square footage of your home? ____________ 3. Does your cat have free access to the entire home? Yes No – If no, please elaborate:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. When you are not home, where is your cat typically? ________________________________ 5. Is your cat allowed outside? Yes No 6. What percentage of the day does your cat spend outside during the warmer months?

_______%. During the colder months? _______% 7. How many times is your cat let out per day? 0x 1x 2x

3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x >10x 8. Where does your cat sleep?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Litter Boxes 1. How many litter boxes do you have? _____________________________________ 2. Describe the litter boxes (circle all types that apply and indicate the number of boxes for

which the description is true)

DESCRIPTION NUMBER

Open

Covered

Square

Rectangular

Large

Small

Shallow

Deep

Liner

No Liner

Other (describe)

3. Are any of the litter boxes the automatic type?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What type of litter(s) do you use? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Are the liners or litter scented” ____________________________________________________________________

6. Where are the litter boxes located? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



7. How close together are the litter boxes? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. How close are the litter boxes to the cats feeding area? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. How often do you scoop the litter box? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. How often do you change litter? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. How often do you thoroughly clean the litter box? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Describe in detail how your cat uses the litter box. For example, doe sit scratch in the litter box before eliminating? Cover up feces? Scratch outside the box? Miss the box? How does it get in the box and out? Does it eliminate in the presence of others? Does it vocalize while eliminating? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. When the cat does not use the litter box, where does it eliminate? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. Describe how it eliminate sin these areas? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Cat and Human Interactions 1. How often do you interact with your cat on daily? 0x 1x 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x >6x 2. What is the average length of the interaction? _________________________________ 3. What is the purpose of your interaction (check all that apply)?

____feeding ____grooming ____bonding ____play ____other: ______________________

4. If you play with cat is regularly, how does it respond if you do not play with it? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Do you find interactions with your cat enjoyable? Yes No – If no, why not? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. On average, how often do you play with toys or play games with your cat inside the house daily? 0x 1x 2x 3x 4x 5x >5x

7. What is the average length of time of each play session? __________ 8. Describe how you play with your cat inside:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. On average, how often do you play with toys or play games with your cat outside daily? 0x 1x 2x 3x 4x 5x >5x

10. What is the average length of time of each play session? __________ 11. Describe how you play with your cat outside:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. What do you do to provide your cat with mental stimulation? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. What other forms of exercise do you provide for your cat? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Socialization History

1. How much socialization did your cat have prior to 8 weeks of age? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How many different people did your cat meet when they were 4 to 16 weeks of age? _______ 3. How many different cats did your cat meet when they were 4 to 16 weeks of age? _________ 4. How many different places did your cat go when they were 4 to 16 weeks of age?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your cat’s socialization? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Interactions Within the Household

1. Describe how your cat interacts with each of the members of the household, paying attention to any differences: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



2. Please list all of the animals in the household, labeling the chart so it indicates which pet was obtained first, second, etc.

Name Species/Breed Sex Age Obtained

Age Now

1st, 2nd, etc.

3. If you have other pets, are any of them ill? Yes No – If yes, please explain: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Describe your cat’s relationship and interactions with each of the above animals: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Which of your pets do you favor? ________________________________________________ 6. Why do you favor this pet?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Which of the pets receives the most attention? _____________________________________



8. Why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Interactions with Others Outside of the Household 1. How does your cat usually relate to other people that are not part of your household?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Does your cat relate to all types of people the same way or do they behave differently around some people based on certain characteristics (age, sex, size, appearance, mannerisms, etc.)? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How quickly does your cat acclimate to meeting a new person for the first time? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How does your cat usually relate to other animals that are not part of your household? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Does your cat relate to all animals the same way or do they behave differently around some based on certain characteristics (sex, age, species, breed, size, etc.)? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. How quickly does your cat acclimate to meeting an animal for the first time? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Cat’s Emotional Profile 1. Is your cat usually content? Yes No – If no, what signs make you believe it is not content?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What percentage of time would you say your cat is not content? ____________% 3. How do you feel when your cat is not content?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Does your cat have any fears? Yes No – If yes, please list examples of fears: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Describe the signs of fear in your pet? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. How do you react when you think your cat is afraid of something? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Does your cat have any “bad” habits (scratching, improper elimination, hunting, biting, eating fabric, etc.)? Yes No – If yes, please describe: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Explain how you feel about these habits: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. How would you describe your cat’s typical energy level? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. How would you describe your cat’s typical mood? ___________________________________________________________________________



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Does your cat seem overly sensitive to sound, movement or touch? Yes No - If yes, please describe: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Does your cat move _____stiffly or _____freely? 13. Is your cat usually _____quiet or ______noisy? If noisy, what types of vocalizations does your

cat usually make (meowing, yowling, hissing, etc.) and under what circumstances? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. How often does your cat hiss? _______________________________________ 15. Under what circumstances does your cat hisses?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. How do you respond when your cat hisses? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. How do you feel when your cat hisses? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

18. When it comes to your cat, what do you consider to be “misbehavior?” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. How do you typically respond when your cat “misbehaves?” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



20. How do other family members typically respond when your cat “misbehaves?” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21. Has your cat experienced any major trauma (physical or emotional) during their life? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Daily Routines 1. Describe a typical weekday for your cat:

Midnight

1AM 2AM 3AM 4AM 5AM

6AM

7AM

8AM

9AM

10AM

11AM

Noon

1PM

2PM

3PM

4PM

5PM

6PM

7PM

8PM

9PM

10PM

11PM



2. Describe a typical weekend day for your cat: Midnight

1AM 2AM 3AM 4AM 5AM

6AM

7AM

8AM

9AM

10AM

11AM

Noon

1PM

2PM

3PM

4PM

5PM

6PM

7PM

8PM

9PM

10PM

11PM



Additional Information 1. Is there anything else you feel we should know about you and your cat?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Please provide us with a rough sketch of the layout of your residence. Be sure to indicate areas where litter boxes, feeding and sleeping areas are located and the outside perimeter of the home (specifically, distance from road, neighbors, etc.) Also indicate any outdoor barriers, natural or otherwise, that separate your home from the road and neighbors.



Emotional Profile Our pets exhibit many moods, emotions and behaviors. Review the following words and phrases and circle each of those that you have observed in your pet. Put an asterisk (*) next to the 5 you observe most frequently and include a description of what your pet is doing at the time these emotions/behaviors are observed.

Absent minded

Acts out

Aggressive

Aloof

Angry

Anxious

Anxious to please

Anxious when alone

Apathetic

Apologetic

Arrogant

Avoids eye contact

Bad tempered

Bitter

Carefree

Compulsive

Courageous

Craves attention

Demands attention

Dependant on you

Depressed



Despondent

Disinterested in food

Disinterested in play

Dreamy

Easily Discouraged

Easily intimidated

Exhausted

Fanatical

Fearful

Frantic Escape Attempts

Frequent licking

Gentle

Gloomy

Grief

Grumpy

Guards food

Guards places

Guards toys

Guilty

Has been traumatized

Hateful

High Strung

Homesick

Humble

Hyper-vigilant



Hysterical

Impatient

In a hurry

Inattentive

Indecisive

Independent

Inflexible

Insecure

Intolerant

Irritable

Jealous

Lack of confidence

Lacks energy

Leadership

Lethargic

Lonely

Loss of Control

Moody

Mood Swings

Nags

Needy

Nervous

Never at ease

Noisy

Not Eating



Obsessed

Over Excitable

Over Sensitive to light

Over Sensitive to motion

Over Sensitive to sound

Over Sensitive to touch

Overwhelmed by life, temporarily

Over Works

Pain, emotional

Pain, physical

Panic

Panting Excessively

Passive

Persistent chewing

Persistent licking

Possessive

Prefers to be alone

Preoccupied

Private

Protective

Pushy

Repeats mistakes

Resentful

Reserved



Restless

Restless at night

Restless during sleep

Rigid

Sedate

Self Centered

Self Mutilation

Shock

Shy

Silly

Sleeps excessively

Slow to learn

Slow to recover

Sorrow

Spiteful

Spooky

Submissive

Submissive Urination

Terrified

Territorial

Timid

Tired

Tired but perseveres

Tires easily

Travel Sickness



Unclean

Unfocused

Unpredictable

Upset by change

Uptight

Very sociable

Vicious

Vigilant

Violent

Vocal

Whining

Worry

your pets home away from home - green acres kennel shop · your pets home away from home 1653 union...

Documents