How to Keep Animals Calm When Visiting a Shelter

Written By Melissa "MJ" Viera

By Melissa Viera

Originally published August 12, 2026, on WBSM 1420

Whether you’re looking to adopt a pet or visiting an animal shelter to drop off donations, you can contribute to a calm shelter environment. Learning how your behavior affects the animals at the shelter is one small but important step to take before visiting. There are some surprising ways that visitors can cause animals stress without even realizing it.

Animals end up in shelters for a number of reasons. Dogs have to leave the sofas they’ve known their entire lives, small pets are abandoned, and cats are rehomed. There are so many possibilities, but one thing they all have in common is that the animal didn’t choose their circumstances.

Read More: How to Visit an Animal Shelter Without Stressing Pets | https://wbsm.com/ixp/519/p/animal-shelter-visitor-guide-stress-reduction/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral


Melissa "MJ" Viera

In 2013 I opened MJ’s Pet Training Academy with the vision of creating a new kind of dog training center. Along with teaching pet owners and professionals, I enjoy writing about dogs. I’m a member of Dog Writers Association of America, and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, as well as a CPDT-KA. I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts on training and more.

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