What I did when I was new was that before I joined pettalk I had been reading it for like 2 years I think. never told that to any PTer though I kept turning it on everyday sometimes read pettalk and was so excited that I actually saw the mayor and the founder. Hah! It took me sometime to settle here, though. But, this was what I did to settle here as nicely as I could:
You should try doing these:
Tell us about your pets, what animals you like, show us some pictures of your pets and read threads and reply. Make threads about something new or nice that happened to you and/or your pets.
Oh! And I am a Horse Lover too! I die after horses! But, I don't have enough space in my home for one.

Glad to meet you. I am Sana and I love nearly every animal. I have a German Shepherd Michelle and a Corgi, One Down, he makes one of his ears go all dangly and hanging. I have loads and loads of chickens. I have daily visitors in my garden, two doves, loads of sparrow, bulbuls and I used to have a visitor, an Oriental Hornet, Buzzy. I used to have a mud turtle, but he..went away. My signature tells how long ago he left me...

Waiting to see your little chippers pictures sooon!