Today we have author Paige Strickland here to talk about adopting pets. Paige is adopted herself (her book Akin to the Truth is her memoir about her own adoption). Welcome, Paige!
Greetings, Readers and Animal
Lovers,
There's a reason why I’m guest
posting about pets. Not only have I adopted animals of my own over the years
and grew up with fellow adopted pets, I am adopted myself!
Being an adoptee has given me a
unique bond with my pets and the adopted pets of my friends and other family
members. Every fur-creature in my life came to me through random chance
and or because I went to a place and selected ones with whom I /my family felt
a special connection.
Adopting a pet, like adopting a
child, implies great responsibility and sensitivity on the part of the new
(pet) parent. Your home, even inviting and loving, is a completely
foreign setting for the new addition. Your recently adopted furry family
member may be feeling overwhelmed with newness, uncertainty and change in
routine. They may experience pangs of loss for former companions if they came
from other human owners or lived with littermates and or their feline/canine
mother. Feeling insecure may be the reason for some inappropriate pet
behaviors until the period of adjustment passes.
Even an animal coming to your
fabulous home from a less than desirable setting might exhibit unwanted
behaviors because of the change in their lives. The old setting, good or
bad, was their "normal". It's the only thing they understood,
but with consistency, persistence and lots of love, improvement will happen.
Many people adopt a new pet and
already have other pets in their home. Be sure to still spend time with
your first pet(s), reassuring them that they are still an important part of
your life. You can possibly use an old towel or blanket and pass it
between the first pet's living space to the newer pet and vice-versa.
Allow for supervised together time and time apart so that all animals can
socialize but regroup in their personal spaces.
Years ago, I subscribed to Cat
Fancy Magazine and read many articles by feline behaviorist, Carole Wilbourn.
Her blog is here: http://www.thecattherapist.com. Wilbourn is a
successful pet therapist who promotes methods for introducing new pets to
existing pets in a household. Her style of acquainting animals became
known at "The Wilbourn Method"' and is now known as "The
Wilbourn Way", because the scope has increased to greater forms of cat
therapy, including Reiki.
Every time my family has acquired
a new kitten, I have incorporated many of Wilbourn's teachings when introducing
pets. We buy extra toys, spread the old scents and new animal scents
among cats with fabric items like old socks and towels. We may hold one
pet and refer to it as the other pet's "baby", "buddy",
"love" or something like that. We time out the animals so that
they can ease into their new lives together with a few breaks. Depending
on the personality and ages of your pets, this process can take a few days to a
few weeks. (We even did this when our
human children were born, so that the animals could feel secure in our love and
included in our changed lives. We also
used every opportunity available to teach our young children animal respect,
care and understanding.)
Above all, as you transition a new
pet into your lives, whether with an existing pet or not, remember that the
animal(s) might regress until their worries subside. In many ways they
are like small children. They form attachments and have a limited understanding
and fewer life experiences to draw from. Introducing a new dog or cat takes
time and patience on everyone's part, but will enrich everyone's life with
beauty, companionship and hopefully years of joyful memories.
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Book Description:
Akin to the Truth is Paige’s own memoir about her
adoption. In
1961, adoption was still one of those private and taboo topics. Not much
identifying information was provided for adoptive families or for birth parents
by the agencies. In Ohio, records were sealed forever. Adoptees and birth
mothers were supposed to be thankful for the adoptive family and never look
back. Adoptive parents thought their deal was signed and sealed.
As a child and teenager, growing up adopted was like a Scarlet Letter "A" if anyone ever found out the truth. At least, that's the way author, Paige Strickland felt as she muddled through social situations and other interpersonal relations. She always loved her adoptive family, but realized she wanted not just more, but what other "regular born" people had: real roots, accurate health history and authentic family lore. She wanted freedom from shame, more dignity, authenticity and a full identity.
Then, through random chance, a local TV talk show in 1987 revealed that certain records were open if you were born before 1964 in the state of Ohio, and the author's life would never be the same after that program.
During her quest, (pre computer), for her identity, her adoptive father struggled with his own self image and sense of belonging, so both father and daughter embarked on separate and unique parallel missions to find what was missing in their lives.
This is the story of how being adopted affected Paige growing up in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. It shows how one adoptee has embraced and learned to view family more globally. She tells the saga of a loving but dysfunctional family of both blood and choice, trying to cope with typical and not so typical life alterations during the decades of social revolution and free love. She learns that the most fascinating family stories are discovered by those passionate enough to question and search.
Paperback: 285 pages
As a child and teenager, growing up adopted was like a Scarlet Letter "A" if anyone ever found out the truth. At least, that's the way author, Paige Strickland felt as she muddled through social situations and other interpersonal relations. She always loved her adoptive family, but realized she wanted not just more, but what other "regular born" people had: real roots, accurate health history and authentic family lore. She wanted freedom from shame, more dignity, authenticity and a full identity.
Then, through random chance, a local TV talk show in 1987 revealed that certain records were open if you were born before 1964 in the state of Ohio, and the author's life would never be the same after that program.
During her quest, (pre computer), for her identity, her adoptive father struggled with his own self image and sense of belonging, so both father and daughter embarked on separate and unique parallel missions to find what was missing in their lives.
This is the story of how being adopted affected Paige growing up in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. It shows how one adoptee has embraced and learned to view family more globally. She tells the saga of a loving but dysfunctional family of both blood and choice, trying to cope with typical and not so typical life alterations during the decades of social revolution and free love. She learns that the most fascinating family stories are discovered by those passionate enough to question and search.
Paperback: 285 pages
Publisher: Idealized Apps, LLC (September 8, 2013)
AISN: B00F28TM86
Twitter Hashtag: #AkinStrickland
AISN: B00F28TM86
Twitter Hashtag: #AkinStrickland
About the Author:
Paige Adams Strickland,
a teacher and writer from Cincinnati, Ohio, is married with two daughters. Her
first book, Akin to the Truth: A Memoir of Adoption and Identity, is about
growing up in the 1960s-80s (Baby-Scoop Era) and searching for her first
identity. It is also the story of her adoptive family and in particular her
father’s struggles to figure out his place in the world while Paige strives to
find hers. After hours she enjoys family and friends, pets, reading, Zumba ™
Fitness, gardening and baseball.
Finding Paige online:
Akin to the Truth Website
- http://www.akintothetruth.com/
Kelli, Thank you so much for hosting me today! P.
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