Features
Every Page in the Rescue Pet Welcome Home Planner
- An adoption day checklist, for before pickup, at the shelter or rescue, and the first week
- A page of questions to ask the shelter or rescue, with a place for their answers
- A decompression journal for the first 3 days, plus a weekly check-in for weeks 1 to 3
- A "getting to know me" page, to fill in as your pet's personality shows
- An introductions log for what you tried, how it went, and questions for your shelter, trainer, or vet
- A page for the first vet visit and the records from the shelter or rescue
- A page for trust milestones, from the first whole meal to one year home
- A memory page for adoption day / Gotcha Day, with a spot for a photo
- Bonus: a one-page summary of your pet's key information for the fridge
Great for: Newly adopted dogs and cats, foster-to-adopt, shy or nervous pets settling into a new home, and anyone who wants to remember the first months together.
A Sample Page
See a few rows filled in for a made-up cat, so you know how each page works. Your PDF includes a short example on the decompression journal.
A Short, Easy-to-Read Guide
Three clear pages on the first days, helping keep a new pet from slipping out, meeting your other pets, and the 3-3-3 guideline many shelters share, written in plain language.
Instant Download: Print It or Type in It
Download your fillable PDF right after checkout. Print on regular 8.5 x 11 inch printer paper and write by hand, or type in it. Digital filling may vary by device and PDF app. Print the pages you need, as many times as you need, for your pets. Nothing is shipped. 3% of your purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) goes to help participating animal shelters and rescues.
Why Use a Rescue Pet Welcome Home Planner?
The first months go by fast. Keep the little things.
| Feature | Rescue Pet Welcome Home Planner | Going From Memory |
|---|---|---|
| What the shelter told you | Written down at pickup | Lost in the excitement of adoption day |
| Microchip | Number and company in one place | Easy to put off |
| The first days | A few quick notes each day | The days blur together |
| Meeting your other pets | Each step written down | Hard to piece together later |
| Milestones | Saved on a memory page | Gone with time |
A place for the small wins, from day one to one year home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this planner instead of going to the vet?
No, never. This planner helps you keep the shelter's records and your notes together for your new pet's vet visits, and it never replaces your veterinarian. If your new pet seems sick, hurt, in pain, or just "not right," call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital right away.
Is this a checklist for adopting a rescue dog?
Yes. It's a fillable, printable checklist for adopting a rescue dog or cat: an adoption day checklist for before pickup, at the shelter or rescue, and the first week, plus pages for the first days and weeks at home. Your shelter or rescue may have its own list too, so ask them.
Does it work as a checklist for adopting a cat?
Yes. The adoption day checklist has cat items like a quiet starter room, a litter box, a scratching post, and a breakaway collar, and the guide covers a new cat's first days, when hiding is common.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs and cats?
It's a rough guideline many shelters and rescues share: about 3 days when everything is new, 3 weeks to start learning the routine, and 3 months of trust still growing. It's not a rule. Every pet is different, and some settle in faster or take longer.
What questions should I ask when adopting a dog or cat?
Ask about your new pet's history, how they do with other pets and people (including any bites or guarding), what they love and what scares them, food, where they're used to going potty or using the litter box, medical records and the microchip, and who to call later. The questions page has these and more, with a place for the answers.
What should I expect when bringing home a rescue dog or cat?
Expect them to need time to settle in. Hiding is common at first, especially for cats, and a quiet space, a steady routine, and an early vet visit can help. The decompression journal has quick notes for each of the first 3 days and a weekly check-in for weeks 1 to 3. If anything worries you, call your veterinarian.
How do I introduce a new dog or cat to my other pets?
Slowly, and with help from your shelter or rescue. The guide covers the basics: a quiet room of their own for a new cat at first, and supervising dogs together at home, keeping them apart when you can't watch. The introductions log has a place for what you tried, how it went, and questions for your shelter, trainer, or vet. If an introduction worries you, talk to your veterinarian or a qualified trainer.
Is there a page for Gotcha Day?
Yes. The Our Adoption Day page is a place for your favorite adoption day photo, why you chose each other, the ride home, and a moment you never want to forget, and the trust milestones page ends with one year home.
Is there an app, or is this on paper?
It's a fillable PDF you download right after checkout: print it and write by hand, or type in it. There's no app or login, and nothing is shipped. Digital filling may vary by device and PDF app. When the power or the computers go down, paper still works.
How does my purchase help shelter and rescue pets?
3% of your purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) goes to help participating animal shelters and rescues.