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Fear Free
Overview
Fear Free is a unique program that has a proven record of success in reducing pet fear, anxiety, and stress by understanding when pets are communicating these behaviors. We partner with you to manage and change the behavior of your pet to provide a Fear Free experience for all.
With over 52,000 veterinary and pet professionals committed to becoming Fear Free Certified, Fear Free is one of the largest initiatives to this day.
Fear Free’s mission states, “Our mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.”
Why Choose Fear Free:
Your pet’s enrichment and emotional well-being are Fear Free’s top priority. Our Fear Free certified team will partner with you to tailor a plan that improves you and your pet's experience at our hospital. We will partner with you to prepare for a hospital visit before, during, and after your pet becomes conditioned to enjoy a weekend with us.
Benefits:
Reduce your pet's fear, anxiety, and stress
Minimize physical restraint
Hospital/Pet Parent Partnership
Online Resources
Learn More:
To learn more about what you can do at home to reduce your pet's fear, anxiety, and stress, please visit Fear Free’s website:
Good Touch, Bad Touch
Being picked up and smushed into a hug is a stress trigger for cats. Cats are often more likely to approach us for affection, and to hang around longer, when we let them make the first move.
Living with a Clawed Cat
Living alongside a cat with claws can be an adjustment, especially if you are unfamiliar or a first-time cat caregiver. Let’s learn more about your cat’s amazing body.
To Make Cats Happy, Offer Choices
Cats can make great pets when we learn what each one needs to thrive, and then meet these needs. But when things go wrong, fear, anxiety, and stress can be the result in both our cats and ourselves.
How To Set Your Kitten Up For Success
Before you bring one of these cute kittens home, learn how to help ensure a happy transition to a new life for both of you.
Litter Boxes
Cats eliminate to fulfill a fundamental need. They also use eliminations as a way to mark their territory. Our goal is to help you provide your cat with a positive experience when using the litter box.
Teach Kittens Gentle Play
If you have a mouthy, bitey kitten, don’t let her learn that it’s okay to play rough with you. Instead, set your kitten up for success by teaching her how to play nicely.
Fundamentally Feline
At Fundamentally Feline the focus is to address all aspects of a cat's behavior that can be improved upon to help both cats and humans live more harmoniously together.
Your Cat’s Vet Visit Begins at Home
America’s cats are facing a healthcare crisis. Making vet visits less stressful for cats begins with a number of things cat parents can do at home, long before the actual trip to the clinic.
What's Wrong With The Prong?
Prong, choke, and shock collars HURT! And in turn, they hurt your relationship. Pain is not needed to teach your dog to become a more enjoyable and better-behaved companion.
Dog Behavior
We at SF SPCA are committed to providing high-quality resources and recommendations for your training needs. We're proud to offer some helpful options related to behavior and training.
How to Crate Train Your New Dog or Puppy
Crate training is one of the easiest ways to help your new dog be successful in your home. Most veterinarians recommend crate training your dog from the puppy stage up through the senior years.
Dog Body Language 101
Animals speak all the time through their body language, but their messages are often misunderstood or unheard. As a result, a dog may be placed in a situation or interaction where they’re uncomfortable.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Have you ever come home to a disaster created by your own best friend? Canine separation anxiety is one of the most common behavioral problems dog owners deal with.
Dog Noise Phobia
During thunderstorms or fireworks, do you find your pooch shivering, shaking, and hiding? These are signs of a possible noise phobia, something that thousands of pet owners deal with every day.
Your Puppy’s First Veterinary Visit
Background information about your pup can help the veterinary staff better care for the little guy. Here’s what you should plan on bringing to the visit.
How to Prepare for a Veterinary Visit
Your veterinary team needs your help to make your pet’s visit as Fear Free as possible. Here are some tips to implement at home so you can prepare your pet for the visit well in advance.
How to Help Your Dog Chill
Animals do not have the same cognitive patterns as humans, so we can’t teach them mindfulness & breath control, but we can teach them to go to a specific location and give them a cue to help them relax.