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  • 1.  Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-20-2025 12:40 PM

    Adoption Applications questions!!

    I just took over the role of reviewing apps that come in, and my organization has "always done it this way" :

    -call vet and ask about if the applicant's current animal is up to date on vaccines, gets heartworm/flea/tick, is spayed/neutered

    -Call 3 references

    -provide proof of pet friendly rental situation (if applicable)

    -interview applicant

    -send pics of fenced in yard/gate/latch if applicable

    -send pics of home if further info is needed

    Inside the application it asks about:

    -do you have a fence

    -if so what kind/height/latch/gate

    -list names of previous pets and what happened to them

    -do you have a swimming pool

    -can you afford a pet

    • and MORE!!

    My goal in my new role is to encourage reducing barriers to adoption, limit judgement in animal welfare, and get animals out of the shelter and into loving homes through a quick and effective process.

    I would like to present this goal and some backed up research as to why we need to simplify the process, trust people more, and we will have better adoption outcomes. Any advice, experience from your end, or research you have to support this PLEASE send my way! Thank you!!

    If you'd like to share your adoption application, I would love to see it and compare!


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms

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    Karee
    Foster/Volunteer
    VA
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  • 2.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-21-2025 07:17 AM

    Here is the issue that I see in streamlining the app. People lie. Yes, it's not nice to say that, but unfortunately it's true.  My number one question is why do you want a dog/cat?  When the response is my daughter/son wants a dog.  Kids making ownership decisions is not good. In a couple of months they are in to something else. Renters don't check with their landlord. When they find out that there's a monthly dog fee, the dog comes back.  I believe that the main purpose of an app is the right dog/cat to the right home.  When a dog leaves, then comes back it is more anxious that if staying in the shelter. With the over abundance of pets in shelters and rescues I believe that it's even more important to check out applicants.



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    Linda Moore
    Pet's Second Chance for Life Inc, DBA PSC Welsh Corgi Rescue
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  • 3.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-21-2025 08:17 AM

    Yes. Unfortunately, people lie.  Therefore, we all have trust issues.  

    As far as kids go.  A kid growing up with a dog or cat can actually help the kid. Speaking from experience. It is our job to educate the parents on what is expected of the adults. It is the parents who are adopting the dog.  But, there are kids who need a dog or cat to help them in ways a human can not.  We offer dog sleepovers after a meet and greet and a training session with the whole family.  We have a copy of their DL's and a signed statement of the sleepover.  We make it clear, crystal clear about not allowing the dog to run loose or free roam.  It doesn't matter if the dog is s/n or has a microchip. It is not to be allowed to do so.  Fence or no fence. There are still good people out there without fences who take care of their pets and treat them like family. We had this in our application in the beginning and quickly took it out.  It was a barrier for people who had pets for years who lived to very old age.  The people took the time to train and bond with the pet.  

    We have a simple application. If the people are renting, we call the landlord or the potential adopters are required to check this information. We do not want anyone to be evicted because they brought home a dog or cat.  Also for this, there is Emotional Support Animals.  A letter from any medical professional can write a letter stating the need for an ESA for the person. ESA 's have the right to public housing.  There is a thread on here about that. 

    References.  We stopped checking those a long time ago. We all know we can ask someone to be a reference and say what we want them to say.  We only check with the veterinarian. We have found that most adopters have lost pets in the past due to old age.  Therefore, they might not have the same veterinarian or haven't went to one in years.   

    We have also found out that we have to watch out for attacking cats in the home.  Most cats don't like to travel. While the existing dog in the home will come with the potential adopters for a meet and greet, cats are just that.  Cats. Funny story. We adopted a dog to someone who had 2 cats. We were told one cat likes to play with the dogs by attacking them from behind.  16 hours later, the dog came back to us.  Traumatized by the attacking cat. lol I can't make this up.  Good news on this dog. She was adopted again with no cats in the home.  She is happy, living her best life, and absolutely loves, and adores her new human Mom.

       



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    Kim Jackson
    AKC CGC Evaluator
    President/Founder For The Puppies Foundation Inc.
    Corinth, MS
    kimj@forthepuppiesfoundation.org
    www.forthepuppiesfoundation.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-21-2025 07:51 AM

    Hi Karee,

    Check out Adopters Welcome here: https://humanepro.org/page/adopters-welcome-manual

    I think it will be very helpful!



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    Kathleen Griffin
    Licking County Humane Society
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  • 5.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 07-05-2025 04:39 PM

    I highly recommend reviewing the Adopters Welcome packet and information! The data truly does show that creating barriers to adoption does not improve return rates (based on percentages), it simply lowers your life-saving numbers and, sadly, is often discriminatory. If you have concerns about adopters, it shows that post-adoption support helps a lot more than pre-adoption barriers; I recommend putting some of that effort into follow up calls (or texts or emails) instead where you can help support and educate your adopters as they get to know their new furry family member. 

    We recently implemented Petszel (a post-adoption support app) at my shelter, and it's been a GREAT addition to help with adoption followup/support without requiring our staff to call people constantly. And it's a free app for both shelters AND adopters! 

    --------

    If you want to hear about a specific situation where this worked - I ran Adoptions with my previous (foster-based) cat rescue, and we had similar barriers. I made a couple simple changes that were essentially compromises between me and others who wanted stricter guidelines. We had an over **100%** increase in adoptions from 2018 (before my changes) to 2019 (the first year I made those changes), and NO percentage increase in returns. The changes I was able to start with were:

    • Vet calls - Confirmed the person (and their listed pets) was a client at their vet but did not require any other specific data.
    • Landlord checks - Added a waiver where the person had to fill out and sign off that they checked their rental requirements and could have X pet(s).  No landlord calls.
    • We had a couple "automatic denial" questions related to pet care (outdoor cats, declawing, etc) where I started calling and talking to the people about their answers instead of flat-out denying them via email. The biggest thing I learned here is that A LOT of people did not understand what declawing a cat means (like they thought it meant nail trims!).  By calling and talking to people, explaining our policies and why, etc, etc, we cut our "automatic denials" by MORE than 50%. Many of those were great adopters, some who I am still in contact with today!!

    I hope this is helpful for you :)
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    Erin Dams
    Operations Director
    Roanoke Valley SPCA
    Roanoke VA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 07-06-2025 05:45 AM

    Thank you for the info on Petszel!  Sounds like a great resource- I am checking it out for our shelter. :)



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    Amber Dennison
    Board of Directors, President
    Humane Society of the Ohio Valley
    Marietta, OH
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-21-2025 01:21 PM

    Hi Karee,

    Kudos to you for being a change maker!!!

    I've been looking at research on this lately, as we have some relevant findings from our recent National Foster Survey that we're hoping to publish (technically they're on foster onboarding but they could easily be applied to adoption). Also some links to studies that may be helpful:

    2024 National Foster Survey Report

    2022 National Foster Survey Report

    Some of the relevant research and guidance:

    Also check out the research and information on CARE's website.

    Email me anytime: duer@maddiesfund.org



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    Kelly Duer
    Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-22-2025 06:04 AM

    Hi Karee,

    We are an all Volunteer Rescue. Our adoption process is very conversation based. The adult dog application is very simplified, its purpose is to get enough info to springboard the convo. For instance, the fence/no fence issue....If they do not have a fence-we will discuss their plan for exercise. If the adopter is a person that has some pretty serious physical limitations (you can discern theses things with careful questions) and they want to adopt a very active dog that needs lots of activity, unless they can afford doggie day care and are planning on that, we would kindly direct them to another dog. If they have a fence-depending on the dog, we may discuss how secure it is. For adult dogs, I think the main factors for success are: having an adoption team or person that knows the dogs (in the case of a large shelter-they will need to speak to everyone that handles the dogs and read up on the intake history). They must understand how to interview people without being "judgey". If you start off by telling adopters that your #1 goal is to make a good match, not just pawn off dogs, and that you are concerned with their happiness, the adopted dogs' happiness, any animals they already have happiness, then your questioning makes sense and they know why you are asking these questions.  We also have a very good dog/dog intro process and I use that experience to teach adopters about dog body language and some of the very common mistakes and assumptions most people make about behavior. If you make people feel like they are being judged, they WILL lie to you.  We deal with A LOT of puppies. Even though the return rate is actually very low, we decided to have a separate application for puppies. The main reason for this is: If you are trying to have a convo about the proper care of a puppy and they are holding or can see the puppy, not ONE WORD of what you are saying will be heard. Puppy fever means they will say anything to take that puppy home. So, we have done 3 things: 1:Our Puppy application is much more robust with ALL the things we want to discuss and for them to consider prior to adopting. 2:We do not do same day adoptions on puppies unless we actually personally know the adopter. They need to fill out the app, we will have the follow up convo based on their answers and then if it looks good, proceed. 3: we just signed up for Petszel. Follow up is critical to help stop problems before they get out of hand. Can't give any feedback on that yet. Heres the link to our adoption page https://willistonanimalgroup.org/adopt You can look at the apps by "pretending" to adopt. Just don't hit submit at the end. 

    Sincerely,

    Cheri Jenkins

    Vice President, Williston Animal Group, Williston Florida



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    Cheri Jenkins
    board member
    Williston Animal Group
    FL
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  • 9.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-23-2025 04:17 AM

    Hi @Karee Anderson our adoption application is very similar to what you are currently working with. The application may be time consuming but I feel it helps, somewhat, ensure the animal is going to a home that will take care of them properly. As important as it is to get the animals out of shelters, it is just as important or maybe more important to try to ensure they are adopted by someone who will keep them long term. Our local animal services only asks for a persons name and address with no application at all. Recently a dog was adopted to a homeless man who said he lived on a boat, which was later found to be untrue. Several people in our community saw this gentleman pulling the dog with his bicycle. When offered food for the dog he refused. He told people he didn't even like the dog and he adopted him because the shelter was having a free adoption event. Volunteers from the shelter got involved and when they approached the man he said he gave the dog away. Luckily, for this particular dog, the person he gave him to contacted animal services and she adopted the dog. But for over a week no one knew where this dog was or if he was being fed, etc. I understand an application will not eliminate bad adoptions & yes people will lie, but if someone isn't willing to fill out an application and wait a few days for the dog, cat, rabbit that tells me they are not thinking long term. 



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    Lisa Burn
    Co-founder/VP
    Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
    Myakka City, FL
    https://farmhousesanctuary.org
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  • 10.  RE: Adoption applications HELP!

    Posted 06-23-2025 09:24 AM

    Karee, I love that you are thinking about removing obstacles! I have been processing apps for adoption for many years for multiple organizations and for whatever reason rescues cannot get out of their own way.  Our organization covers most of what you have mentioned in the adoption app.  Rather than have hard and fast rules to fences, apartments, yards, etc we match the dog to the home.  Many very good home owners and dog owners do not have fences.  So make sure that the dog they are interested in is not a flight risk! And they understand the power of the leash.  Same with apartments.. .must have leash.  I think it is important to have references but keep in mind they will not put down a reference that is going to speak poorly of them.  Some of the items I take into consideration are the following: how long with the dog be alone?  if they are in an apartment is the dog a barker? Are they going to be able to walk them regularly?  Are there children, other pets, or cats in the house?  I have them send vet records if they are previous owners or call the vet... but keep in mind in some area there is very little risk for certain diseases.. for instance in Texas we do not have lyme.. .so lyme vaccines are rare.  In ME they do not have heartworms so frequently dogs are not on preventative.  In Texas we have sooooo many dogs that i try to consider the dog current conditions... For instance, have they been in boarding or a shelter for months? And let's say the adopter is not "perfect". but they have a huge capacity to love the animal.   The dog is going to be way better off in the new location vs a kennel for 20 hours a day.  Our organzation adopts anywhere from 30-60 dogs a month.  They are not all perfect. We transport alot of dogs out of state, but we have a very good success rate. ( And we only have 3 people managing apps).  I would be happy to discuss more if you would like.  Unfortunately there are a lot of opinions about the "right" way to do things in rescue.  Lots of passion! Sometimes people are not nice in their passion but remember it is about the dog. 



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    Holly Dean
    Adoption Coordinator, Records organizer, Intake
    Waiting Under the Willow Foundation
    TX
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