Animal Welfare Professionals

Greetings,

We are looking at ways to reduce our adoption return rates and are wondering if others measure this? We are currently at 7%-8% any help in establishing a baseline based on your experience would be much appreciated!

Our return rate has held at 7-10% for 15 years, 10 as a rescue foster based, and 5 as a shelter.  The greatest number coming in November, before the holidays.  It is sad that if they are not really bonded, that is the time they think that they don't want to deal with finding holiday boarding, or care-takers, and so they get turned back to us.  However, December is a great month for adoptions.  

Hi Shelter Boy,

We measure this across our region and average 6-7%, and I believe that is pretty similar across the country. We always work to improve our adoption process and make sure we are allowing adopters to get as much information as they need before deciding to adopt.

With that said, we changed our views and reactions to adoption returns a couple of years ago. We will give a full refund if the animal is returned within 30 days and we let the adopters know that up front. We let them know that we are here to support them and to call us if they want advice with any issues, and it's OK if things don't turn out as they expected. Our position on adoption returns has been very successful and people are grateful that we handle the way we do.

So, consider that adoption returns may not be "bad" if we are truly wanting what is best for our customers and our animals.

A 7-8% return rate is a good return rate. As others have said, sometimes its not a perfect fit between adopter and pet - which is completely normal. Unless something horrible happened, it's not a reflection of your adoption process, the pet or the adopter. Flexibility, being supportive and talking to the person returning the pet is super helpful. You can then match them to a pet that is better suited for them, AND you will know more about the pet so you can better place them the next time. 

BUT in terms of reducing returns, what are you considering? Does your organization use Maddie's Pet Assistant? Or some other type of follow-up? Do you place pets that you have questions about in foster so that you can learn more about them and better match them to someone? 

Sheila