Adopting a rescue dog or cat: the first weeks at home

Greece has many dogs and cats in need of homes, and adopting one is hugely rewarding. A little preparation helps your new companion settle in quickly and confidently.

Choosing a rescue

A good rescue organisation will:

• Ask about your home, routine and family so they can match the right animal to you
• Tell you honestly about the animal's history and behaviour
• Arrange one or more meet-and-greets, especially with children or other pets
• Have the animal vet-checked, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and microchipped, and usually neutered
• Offer support after adoption

Before your pet comes home

• Prepare a quiet, safe space: a bed or open crate in a calm corner that is never used for punishment.
• Decide house rules together (sofa? bedrooms?) and stick to them from day one. Consistency helps rescue animals feel secure. Baby gates are useful.
• Have food (ideally what they've been eating), bowls, a collar and ID tag, a lead or litter tray ready.

The first days

• Keep things calm. Postpone visitors for a week or two.
• Let your pet come to you. Some animals are cuddly from the start; others need time to watch and learn.
• Stick to a regular routine for meals, walks and sleep.
• Expect some withdrawal, accidents or unsettled nights — it's normal and not personal.
• Some rescues settle within hours, others take weeks. A common rule of thumb: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn the routine, 3 months to feel truly at home.

Rescue cats

Set up one room with food, water, litter and hiding places before your cat arrives. Let it explore that room first, then gradually open up the rest of the house.

Health checks for Mediterranean rescues

Dogs from Greece and southern Europe — whether adopted locally or moving abroad — should be:

• Tested for leishmaniosis and other diseases spread by sand flies and ticks
• Kept on sand fly and tick prevention

See fleas, ticks and leishmaniosis, and book a check with your own vet in the first week.

Be patient

The animal you meet on day one isn't yet the animal you'll know in three months. With patience, kindness and routine, most rescues blossom.