Do I need to put pets away for an NMLP pickup?

Not necessarily. NMLP works in donor homes regularly and is comfortable with most household pets. The right answer depends on your animal:

• Friendly dogs — usually fine; mention them when scheduling so Josh expects them. Dogs that bark loudly at strangers but settle quickly are normal.
• Reactive or anxious dogs — better to put them in a back room or a fenced yard during the pickup. They'll be happier and the pickup will go faster.
• Working dogs (livestock guardians, service dogs in working mode) — let Josh know in advance; coordinate accordingly.
• Cats — almost always fine. Most cats hide during a pickup; some supervise. Either way, no issue.
• Birds, reptiles, fish, small mammals — no concerns; just mention if a cage or tank is in the path.
• Allergies (for the donor) — Josh isn't allergic to common pets. If you have specific concerns about an unusual animal, mention it.
• Hoarder cleanup with many animals — NMLP coordinates with whoever is managing the broader cleanup; respirator and gloves on-site as standard practice.

Mention pets when you call 702-496-4214. Specifics help — "two friendly Labs" or "one anxious rescue, will be in the bedroom" or "barn cats outside" — so the pickup runs smoothly.

If you'd rather nobody comes inside at all

There is a zero-entry version of every pickup, and pet households use it constantly. Stage the boxes on the porch, in the garage, or inside the gate, text the location to 702-496-4214, and the load disappears while the dogs stay calm behind the door — nobody rings the bell. Military families on PCS timelines run this play every season; it works just as well for a reactive rescue or a cat who hates the sound of a hand truck. The other no-contact path is the 24/7 drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, which involves no visit at all. If a gate code or a yard dog stands between the street and the boxes, mention it when scheduling and the plan accounts for it.

What pickup day looks like with animals home

When I do come inside, it is one person with a hand truck making a predictable path between the books and the van — no crew, no propped-open doors for an hour. Tell me the path crosses a bird cage or an aquarium and it gets planned around. The practical notes from a lot of pet-household pickups: cats mostly supervise from furniture; friendly dogs settle once the boxes start moving; anxious dogs are happier in a back room not because they are a problem but because strangers carrying boxes are stressful to watch. For cleanup situations involving many animals, I coordinate with whoever runs the broader effort, with gloves and a respirator as standard kit. Specifics at scheduling time — two friendly Labs, one anxious rescue in the bedroom — make the whole visit smoother.