Trade the time that would otherwise be spent on home visits for helping more animals find good homes and supporting pets and families post- adoption. Are there myths about pet adoption? In this manual we operate from the assumption that these aspects are c. Some pet owners will want to take the extra time to include all members of the home in their decision, b. Refusing to place an altered pet in a home with intact animals is counter-p. An adoption relationship can help you share perspectives and give cat lovers the insights they need to make good decisions. No evidence exists demonstrating that one breed is more dangerous than another. Have these resources available on-site to make it easier for adopters to do the right thing and remind them that you’ll be available to help if problems come up at home. If you need to restrict adoptions because your animals aren’t spayed or neutered, fix that first. Nom nom compiled a list of varying pet adoption laws in each of the 50 states, using legal articles and information from pet adoption organizations. An open conversation can be more effective in eliminating this practice. A list of these policies is available at animalshelter. Adopters come with a range of veterinary experience and also have the ability to learn more , just like you. Some adopters may admit to an interest in declawing, but others may not. Performing home visits takes time and ties up space and other resources that could save more pets in your care or in your community. Instead of sending adopters to pet stores, questionable breeders and classified ads because of unfounded fears, support these gift adoptions by helping the gift giver find the best match for t. Allow adopters to determine if they would like all members of the home to meet a new pet before adoption. It doesn’t make sense to hold up an adoption in order to prove it. These visits also risk putting adopters on the defensive, which damages your relationship. Use persuasion, not policies, to help cats live indoors. They can cause you to miss out on a great home. Instead of relying on a physical object that may not actually serve your goals, focus on the needs themselves and help adopters meet them, no matter their living environment. Help adopters keep their dogs happy and healthy, whether or not they have a fence! Their success is tied to all other aspects of your organization. Reasons could include worries about over-vaccination, bad vaccine reactions or even a mistaken due date. You will also miss potential adopters who choose to avoid the visit altogether. Freedom from chains? Adoption policies that treat dogs as individuals and use a selection process based on history, observation and, if applicable, results of formal behavior assessments, support only the facts. If this sounds crazy, then imagine how adopt. Age restrictions and snap judgments based on age are barriers that interfere with your adoption conversation. Others don’t know how many easy options there are for indoor cat fun. Many cat lovers don’t understand that declawing is an amputation and are horrified when they learn. Counselors at wisconsin humane society shared information with her about the benefits of keeping cats indoors and she made the decision to keep her adopted cat, kate, indoors or onl. Adoptions don’t happen in a vacuum. Use this opportunity to explain how vete. Adoption has many benefits — for you and the animal — but myths about pet adoption persist. We know that puppies and kittens (and older pets!) can be wonderful presents for children, loved ones and friends during the holidays and for birthdays, too. All dogs and adopters should be set up for success through: Automatic denials based on declawing reduce options for cats and shut out opportunities to change minds. What makes fences so appealing? · pet rescues have used interviews, strict adoption criteria and adoption take-backs to protect animals. Off-leash exercise with their family? Are their dogs happier and healthier? Access to spay and neuter services. Counsel and access to veterinary care. Are the five with fences better pet owners? Your first priority is to make sure the pets you place are not reproducing. Should i adopt a dog from an organization? Challenge yourself to find five dog owners you know who have a fence and five you know who do not. Emergency rooms would become more appealing because of their flexibility! The methods have plenty of critics. Mabeline was distraught when her outdoor cat went missing. If you are following best practices, adopted pets will be spayed or neutered and will not reproduce. You are far more likely to guarantee a good home when you have a close connection to adopters! If pets at home are not vaccinated, find out why. The adoption program outlined in this document relies on strong standards of care, effective operations and an investment in your human resources, including staff and volunteers. They are less likely to see you as a resource. Imagine families could only schedule doctor’ s appointments when everyone in the home could be present. There is also no evidence that certain breeds of dogs will be adopted for the wrong reasons, like animal fighting. Unless an adopter wants help physically introducing dogs, skip this requirement. Use this time to find out about the adopter’ s veterinary history. Support homes long-term instead of investigating them once. Alert adopters to the fact that pet policies and requirements may exist and trust them to take it from there. Remember the time before you knew what all the letters in fvrcp and dhpp stood for? All of these needs can be met without a fence. In this 2,000‑word guide, we break down the statutes, regulations, and best practices that ensure a safe, ethical adoption for pets and adopters alike. But past history doesn’t always predict future behavior. Instead of saying no , spend time explaining how cats can live longer, healthier lives indoo. Requirements like fenced-in yards only decrease the pool of adopters for homeless pets. Can a dog be adopted if he doesnt own a house? What does the presence of a fence really tell you about an adopter? Advance planning and time off from work or school might be necessary. · we need to work together to engage our communities, end discriminatory practices, help families bring shelter pets into their homes, and save more animals’ lives in so doing. Patients would be angry at doctors for not trusting them. Instead, offer guidance on how to successfully and gradually introduce new pets to resident pets at home. Find out why declawing is being considered and introduce adopters to effective alternatives like nail caps, scratching posts, and scratching deterrents such as sticky paws. Restrictions such as “ no children under 5” or “ no puppies or kittens for seniors,” do not protect animals. Instead of forcing the issue, which wastes time and goodwill, make it a part of your adoption conversation. Your job is to p. Use persuasion to address declawing, not punishment. Enforcing breed-specific adoption policies c. Many cat owners believe that it’ s better for cats to go outside. See full list on humanepro. org They do offend potential adopters and greatly reduce opportunities for pets. Embarking on adoption laws and regulations is more than an emotional decision—it’s a legal journey. Policies that prevent or regulate adoptions for specific breeds or types of dogs don’t protect dogs or people. Provide tips on how to introduce a new pet , but don’t require a “meet and greet” unless the adopter requests one. Talk to adopters about vaccines and medical procedures provided to animals in your care. Use the following examples to identify and remove barriers in your current policies and develop a better approach. Whats it like to adopt a pet? Adoption policies should not include automatic “no’s” or “must-haves. ” these are giant barriers that limit options for animals and drive a wedge between you and potential adopters. Let’s debunk some of the common misconceptions. It makes sense to want everyone in a household to be on the same page. · when we hold reduced or fee-waived adoption events, members of our community, donors, volunteers, or others in our tribe question the quality of those homes because they assume the adopter is poor and therefore incapable of being a good pet owner. Counsel on socialization. Support spay and neuter for pets at home, without requiring it. Veterinarians are life savers for pets and should be part of adoption conversations.

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