Re-homing of sheltered animals

There are many kind souls out there who are willing to adopt and bring sheltered animals back with them and shower them with all the love they could give. Over the weekends, someone shared with me some stories of sheltered animals that are unable to ease in easily to their new homes, or have behavioral issues, and some even escaped.

Understanding from these sheltered animals' perspective, it could then be easily understood why. 

In Singapore, many street animals are 'captured' and put in shelters. Due to limited space, some shelters would put animals who are displaying behavioral issues or not being adopted after a window period, to sleep.

Put ourselves in their paws, this is very traumatizing and frightening. They do not understand why they were happily walking on the street one day, when suddenly some humans came to 'kidnap' them to a place with cages and so many other animals, and why they have to be separated from their loved ones. Some shelters may have shortage of manpower and have no time to give sufficient attention to the animals. After the ordeals they went through, some animals might feel frightened of humans, even to kind and friendly visitors or potential adopters. Some might still enjoy the love and kind attention from visitors, and would welcome the idea of these kind souls bringing them out of the shelters. But some may not be mentally prepared to accept the life of a domesticated animal, resulting in behavioral or escaping issues. 

Besides giving a lot of patience and love to help these animals to ease-in with their new homes, some Bach Flower Remedies can come in handy to help them cope better: 

1) Walnut - to feel more settled and adjusted to changes and the new environment. 
2) Mimulus - to help overcome their known fears or phobias. However, if the animals are having extreme frights or terrors, Rock Rose may be used instead.
3) Aspen - to help overcome fears of unknown things or feelings of apprehension. 
4) Star of Bethlehem - to sooth shock, distress, trauma (recent or deep-rooted) or grief. This is commonly needed by sheltered animals.
5) Cherry Plum - to restore calmness, and emotional and self control. This is useful for animals who become too hyper and hysterical. 
6) Honeysuckle - to help overcome homesickness, nostalgic or dwelling in the past memories. This is useful for animals who miss their family or friends still in the shelter.
7) Impatiens - to deal with agitation or irritability.
8) Rescue Remedy - to help calm animals during emergencies, harsh or critical situations.

At any one time, only 7 remedies can be given. The above 7 remedies can be given for the initial stage. It would be good to also include the remedies according to the animals' personality type. However, some people might need some time to better understand and know their animal friends' personality. 

Some common animals' personalities that can also cause behavioral or emotional issues: 

Chicory - give a lot of love, want their love to be reciprocated, and want to stay close to their loved ones.
Crab Apple - over-obsessed with their body's appearance or cleanliness, or groom excessively. This is useful for animals who have scarred body parts. 
Heather - attention-seeking
Impatiens - easily agitated, irritated or impatient.
Mimulus - shy, nervous or easily frightened.
Vine - controlling and domineering

With the appropriate remedies given, a happier animal friend would soon be seen.

These are only some examples. Every animal has their own unique temperaments and personalities. If you need help to identify the appropriate remedies for your animal friends, do not hesitate to give me a quick ring.