You've decided to adopt — wonderful. Here's a step-by-step checklist to get the home, the supplies, the paperwork, and the first vet visit lined up before your new family member walks through the door.
1. Pet-proof the home
- Tuck away electrical cables and secure loose wires.
- Move houseplants out of reach — many common ones are toxic to pets.
- Lock away cleaning supplies, medicines, and pest baits.
- Identify a quiet "safe room" where your pet can decompress for the first week — usually a small room with their bed, water, and litter / pee pad.
- If you live above the ground floor, check balcony railings and windows for kitten- and small-dog-sized gaps.
2. Day-one supplies
- Food — get a small bag of what the shelter has been feeding. Switch gradually over 7–10 days.
- Food and water bowls — stainless steel or ceramic, not plastic.
- Bed or blanket — a soft, washable surface in the safe room.
- Collar with an ID tag (engraved with your phone number) and a leash for dogs.
- Carrier for the journey home — even for cats coming from a few streets away.
- Litter box and clumping litter for cats. Pee pads for puppies during house-training.
- Toys — two or three to start. You'll learn what they like.
- Grooming basics — a brush appropriate for their coat, pet-safe shampoo.
Stock up in our Dog and Cat aisles.
3. Paperwork to collect from the rescue
- Vaccination record (or a clear note on what's pending).
- Deworming history.
- Sterilisation status — date, clinic, post-op notes.
- Microchip number, if chipped.
- Any known medical history, allergies, or behavioural notes.
- The shelter's contact — keep it. They're a resource for life.
4. First vet visit
Book this within the first 7–10 days, even if the shelter says everything is up to date. The visit is for:
- A general health check — your vet should weigh, examine, and listen to the pet end-to-end.
- Confirming the vaccination schedule and booking the next due dates.
- Discussing parasite prevention — tick/flea control, monthly deworming.
- Starting a relationship — this is the vet who will see your pet for years, so pick someone you click with.
5. Settle-in protocol
Follow the 3-3-3 rule — see our first 30 days guide for the full version.
- Days 1–3: minimal handling. Let them explore the safe room. No visitors, no other pets in the room, no baths.
- Days 4–7: short, calm sessions in adjacent rooms. Start a feeding and walking routine.
- Week 2: introduce them to the rest of the home one room at a time. Start basic training — recall, simple cues — using treats.
- Week 3–4: introduce other household pets carefully (always supervised, always with an exit route). Expand walks.
6. Ask the shelter before you leave
Don't walk out without asking:
- Their best guess on age, breed mix, and approximate weight at maturity.
- Anything that triggers fear or aggression — fireworks, men, other dogs, brooms.
- Whether the pet is comfortable with children, other pets, being alone for a few hours.
- Food brand and meal timing.
- Whether the shelter offers a trial period or post-adoption check-ins.
7. Save these numbers
- Your vet's clinic and emergency line.
- The nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital.
- The shelter or rescuer who placed the pet.
- Our customer support: hello@thewagandwhisk.com for product or supply questions.
You're ready
Once you've worked through this list, you're prepared. Submit your adoption inquiry and we'll help you find the right pet.