If you have adopted a shelter dog recently: Congratulations! You have opened your home to an animal that had lost theirs; I personally think they usually sense your kindness and are forever grateful.

But shelter dogs may need a little extra patience adjusting to you and their new home, given what they have been through. And you may know little about their background or past experiences. Robin Edwards, a dog trainer from Weston helps pet parents through her Bark Busters business, wrote in to offer these suggestions:

* Hold a family meeting to discuss how the dog will be cared for and what he will be allowed to do in the house. Can he sleep on the bed and couch? Who will walk him? Be consistent or the dog will become confused.

* Dogs like a “den,” where they can sleep and get away from the commotion, so set up a roomy crate for him in the house. But limit the amount of time he spends in it.

* Get everything in advance for your dog before the big move: ID tags and collar, leash, feeding bowls, toys, grooming tools, a crate and bedding.

* Bring your dog home on a weekend or when you will be home for several days. But before he steps through your door for the first time, give him a long walk to tire him out a little.

* Make sure your dog sees a veterinarian within a week after his adoption for a health checkup.

* Limit visitors for the first few days, while your dog adjusts to his new family. And when you do have guests, tell them they can help train your pooch by ignoring him when they first arrive until he calms down.

* Dogs need a pack leader, or they’ll try to become the leader themselves. That leader should be you, and the humans in your home over age 12. Learn obedience skills and your dog will see you as the leader – and be happier, and better behaved, for it.

Here’s more from the Humane Society of the United States on easing your shelter dog’s transition to his new home.

Rescue. Raise. Love!

PS: Want to see if your pup's behavior makes the grade? Take this Bark Buster quiz and find out if he's an A student or in danger of flunking out.

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Sit, stay, pray!

Father Joseph, a Franciscan priest with St. Francis Friary, will be blessing all creatures great and small (and of all denominations, we presume) at the Humane Society of Broward County on Sunday, Oct. 5. The celebration is in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, who preached that all creatures deserve our respect and compassion.

Here is Father Joe, getting a blessing of his own from a schnauzer at the 2006 Humane Society ceremony.

The ceremony begins at 3 pm on the east lawn of the shelter, at 2070 Griffin Road, just west of the Interstate 95 exit. All sizes of pets are welcome but must either be in a carrier or on a leash.

Father Joe also will be blessing the animals in the shelter and shelter mascots Tweety the Cat and Oscar the Bird.

Want to do your own blessing at home, or in your church or temple?

Check out Diana Guerrero's Web site, Blessing of the Animals, which is a companion to a book by the same name. I have this book and it's great. But the site, too, will give you a few tips on blessing ceremonies, animal "rites of paw-sage" like cat mitzvahs, and throwing a pet birthday party, as well as offers some readings and prayers.

It also has a promotional video showing awesome blessing ceremonies from around the world and featuring a variety of animals, including elephants and horses.

I recognize, however, that some people are uncomfortable making animals the focus of a religious ceremony. What do you think? Are pet blessings disrepectful,or do they embody what you practice in your faith? How about things like doggy weddings or cat mitzvahs?

Animal blessing photo by Joe Cavaretta, Sun Sentinel.

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There’s never a good time or a good place to lose your air-conditioning in South Florida. But when the time is July, when temperatures are pushing into the 90s, and the place is an animal shelter, home to dogs and cats that suffer in the heat even more than we do, you have a worst case scenario.

But that’s the situation facing the Humane Society of Greater Miami, which has lost its cooling system at its Soffer and Fine Adoption Center in North Miami. So if you are able to donate to an animal welfare cause, or have been thinking about adopting an animal companion, now is the time.

Cats especially are affected by the heat. Temporary foster homes also would be welcome.

For more information, call the center at 305-696-0800. Or click here to go to the organization’s Web site for more info.

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Give the dog his due. Only six days left to nominate a deserving canine superhero for the Dogs of Valor Awards, sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.

Lassie and Underdog have nothing on some of the real-life canines that have acted bravely and saved human lives.

The Humane Society talks about Jesse, a service dog, who helped his owner -- a woman with an amputated leg -- out of her house when a fire started. Jesse died when he went back in to rescue the cat.
And there was Shana, a German shepherd mix who dug her elderly owners a path through the snow drifts during a storm and pulled them both to safety.

Click here for the Dogs of Valor Award home page, that includes links to the contest rules and nomination form.

There are separate categories for animal companions and working dogs. Nominations must be submitted online and must be received by 5 pm, Friday, May 30. You can nominate your own dog, one belonging to someone else -- or even a deceased animal.

Valor never dies -- or fades away.

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