Animal Welfare Professionals

We are updating our adoption contract to inform adopters that, if they are unable to keep the animal, they can try to find the animal a good home on their own.  We also want to let them know they can contact us for assistance, but if it has been more than 60 days, we have the right to reassess the animal to determine if we will take it back.  Does anyone have good language around this type of thing?

Thanks!

K

We take ours back at any time for any reason, so assessing for coming back isn't an issue. Our contract says "______7. While I hope to provide my pet a lifetime home, I recognize that my circumstances may change. In the event that I can no longer care for this animal, I will return him/her to the DPVHS. If I am able to find another home for my pet, I will contact the DPVHS to update microchip registration and other records in order to protect the animal in his/her new home." 

I like the way you phrase that.

Our adoption contract has similar language. We always take our animals back.

We always take back our pets also, but I have seen that language in other shelter/rescue contracts.  Sorry I cannot give you an example right now. 

We always take our pets back.  If we didn't, then we would have no idea where this animal might end up

We've removed the language that addresses return other than if they want to exchange due to incompatibility within 15 days.  After a reasonable "honeymoon" phase returns are considered "surrenders" and worked through our system just as any other surrender except that we do prioritize those cats.   We focus on our post adoption relationship with the adopter to cultivate a relationship where they feel comfortable contacting us in the future should something arise in their life where rehoming is necessary.  We feel secure in this approach especially because microchips are the safety net if they end up at another shelter or veterinarian.