What do the people behind the shelter's front desk wish you knew before you fell in love with a pair of big brown eyes?
In this episode of Whisker Wise: Organized Pet Care, Dr. Jennie Marvelle sits down with Stevanie Scott — Director of Operations at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society in Augusta, Maine — for a candid look at what really happens between the kennel and your couch.
Last episode was about choosing the right pet for your actual life. This one walks straight through the shelter doors, with someone who's spent over a decade seeing the whole story: the hopeful first meeting, the nervous first week, and — sometimes — the return. Not because anyone stopped caring, but because nobody told the adopter what to expect.
Here's what we cover:
- What shelter staff wish every adopter already knew before they walk through the door
- How to set a new pet up for success in those critical first days and weeks — including when to worry, and when to just give it time
- The KVHS "3-3-3" rule: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn your routine, 3 months to show their true personality
- The most common reason adopters call the shelter in a panic (and why it's almost always completely normal)
- Which pets get overlooked at the shelter — medical-needs pets, bonded pairs, seniors, and high-energy adolescent dogs — and why they deserve a second look
- The heartwarming story of Jack and Diane, a bonded senior pair who waited nearly a year for their forever home
- How to support your local shelter even when you're not ready to adopt
Whether you're shelter-shopping for the first time, still deciding if you're ready, or just want to understand what your own adoption story might still be teaching you — this conversation is full of the kind of reassurance every pet parent needs to hear: progress over perfection, and you are not alone.
Episode Timestamps
- 0:00 — What shelter staff wish you knew, before you fall in love
- 0:43 — Welcome to the show + vet disclaimer
- 1:38 — Meet Stevanie Scott, Director of Operations at Kennebec Valley Humane Society
- 4:20 — A day in the life at the shelter
- 5:31 — The part of her job most people don't expect
- 6:27 — What shelters wish adopters knew before they walk in
- 8:22 — What new adopters most underestimate about bringing a pet home
- 9:13 — What the shelter experience is actually like for the animal, emotionally
- 10:18 — The shelter-to-home transition: what to expect the first few days
- 11:11 — A 3-item checklist for the first weeks home
- 11:50 — Signs of healthy adjustment vs. signs to be concerned about
- 13:55 — The KVHS 3-3-3 rule, explained
- 14:31 — Does 3-3-3 apply to cats too?
- 16:46 — The most common "this isn't what I expected" panic call
- 17:44 — Introducing a new pet to the pets you already have
- 18:38 — Who gets overlooked at the shelter, and why
- 20:51 — A shout-out to the high-energy dogs waiting for active families
- 22:33 — The most heartwarming adoption story: Jack & Diane
- 24:19 — How to support shelters even if you're not ready to adopt
- 25:17 — Upcoming KVHS community events
- 26:04 — Wrap-up
About the Guest
Stevanie Scott is the Director of Operations at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society in Augusta, Maine. She earned her degree in biology before discovering her passion for animal welfare in 2013, and has spent nine years at KVHS helping thousands of animals find homes. She played a key role in the $8.3 million capital campaign that created the Nancy Schumann Animal Shelter, KVHS's current facility, and now leads a team of about 20 technicians providing daily care to shelter animals. One of her ongoing goals is growing the KVHS community clinic to offer more accessible, discounted veterinary care to the community.
About the Host
Dr. Jennie Marvelle is a veterinarian with over 15 years of clinical experience and the founder of Whisker Wise Publishing, creators of the Whisker Wise Lifespan Pet Planner. Whisker Wise Organized Pet Care brings her practical, compassionate approach to pet parents everywhere.
Links
