Animal Welfare Professionals

I'm interested in finding out what shelters/rescues are putting in their adoption contracts concerning future spay/neuter of very young puppies (roughly 9 weeks - 5 mos) and if/how you enforce those spay/neuter requirements in the contracts. We consider spay/neuter a very important part of our mission and want to do all we can to enforce the spay/neuter portion of our puppy contract. 

The rescue I volunteer for will only adopt young puppies out with a spay/neuter addendum to our regular adoption contract. We also attach a several hundred dollar spay/neuter fee to the normal adoption fee. The spay/neuter fee is refunded when we receive proof of spay/neuter by the date listed in the signed contract. We've had a couple of puppy adopters basically tell us recently, "I don't care what I signed, I'm not getting my dog spay/neutered until I think it's the right time - not by the date in the contract." These folks are fine with forfeiting their spay/neuter fee.  In addition to forfeiting the spay/neuter fee our contract states we have the right to take the dog back if the adopter doesn't comply.

We're trying to determine how we want to move forward with our spay/neuter puppy contracts ... spay/neuter at 8 weeks so the adopter has no chance to break the contract; raise the spay/neuter fee to increase the likelihood of them complying with the contract they signed - knowing that the increased fee could price some people out of adopting; or just stop bringing young puppies into the rescue.

Please share what your group is doing to try and ensure everyone complies with their spay/neuter contracts and how you enforce the contracts if they don't comply. Have you taken any adopters to court? Have you taken any dogs back from adopters who haven't complied?

#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms

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Gigi Zoltek
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We basically do the same thing as your organization, although we have them write a separate $125 check for the guarantee. We are getting more responses from the adopters that their vet won't S/N until the dog has her first heat, or is 1 yr old at least, etc. Once in awhile we request confirmation from the vet but not always. We don't take their $125, though, as technically we could. We also provide a $50 voucher for S/N and depending on what the adopter or vet has told us, we will still honor if it goes past the date on the contract. As far as I know, our shelter hasn't gone out to take the dog back, as again, technically we could per the contract. There are two of us who do the follow-up on the contracts and admittedly, we need to do that sooner. Plus it can take several calls, emails or texts to get some to respond.

It can take 2-3 months to get a vet appointment in our rural area, so that is also an issue. Maybe at the time of adoption, we should have them make the vet appointment while at our shelter and then schedule calls prior to the appointment date. 

Unfortunately, I obviously don't know the answer. We do try to alter them before they are adopted, but we get so many puppies and people are anxious to adopt them, that we still do several foster-to-adopt contracts. I'd love to hear what other shelters are doing.

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Karen Olson
Volunteer Caregiver & apparently Fundraiser Coordinator
Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS)
Thompson Falls, MT
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If they are open to information, share the Association of Shelter Veterinarians' Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters with your local vets. Shelter care versus in home care is different due to the number of animals housed and the whole s/n timelines. If we have to wait for 6 months to s/n, then the animals are either staying in the shelter way too long during the prime developmental period of their lives or we end up dealing with more kittens/puppies when adopters don't follow through with s/n from home. You can have them Google: ASV Guidelines 2023.  https://www.sheltervet.org/resources/guidelines-for-standards-of-care 

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Renee Milner
Nonprofit Board Member
Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea
TN
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2023 06:26 AM
From: Karen Olson
Subject: Enforcing Spay/Neuter Adoption Contracts

We basically do the same thing as your organization, although we have them write a separate $125 check for the guarantee. We are getting more responses from the adopters that their vet won't S/N until the dog has her first heat, or is 1 yr old at least, etc. Once in awhile we request confirmation from the vet but not always. We don't take their $125, though, as technically we could. We also provide a $50 voucher for S/N and depending on what the adopter or vet has told us, we will still honor if it goes past the date on the contract. As far as I know, our shelter hasn't gone out to take the dog back, as again, technically we could per the contract. There are two of us who do the follow-up on the contracts and admittedly, we need to do that sooner. Plus it can take several calls, emails or texts to get some to respond.

It can take 2-3 months to get a vet appointment in our rural area, so that is also an issue. Maybe at the time of adoption, we should have them make the vet appointment while at our shelter and then schedule calls prior to the appointment date. 

Unfortunately, I obviously don't know the answer. We do try to alter them before they are adopted, but we get so many puppies and people are anxious to adopt them, that we still do several foster-to-adopt contracts. I'd love to hear what other shelters are doing.

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Karen Olson
Volunteer Caregiver & apparently Fundraiser Coordinator
Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS)
Thompson Falls, MT
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Our shelter, NYCACC  s/n every animal adopted. It's the policy. However, if the pet is sick the adopter must leave a deposit. Also I never heard of waiting a year for fixing a pet. The shelter and the aspca here in NYC can s/n at 3 months. Allowing a female to go into heat can affect her health down the line.

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Iris Lugo
Fosterer
Acc
NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2023 06:26 AM
From: Karen Olson
Subject: Enforcing Spay/Neuter Adoption Contracts

We basically do the same thing as your organization, although we have them write a separate $125 check for the guarantee. We are getting more responses from the adopters that their vet won't S/N until the dog has her first heat, or is 1 yr old at least, etc. Once in awhile we request confirmation from the vet but not always. We don't take their $125, though, as technically we could. We also provide a $50 voucher for S/N and depending on what the adopter or vet has told us, we will still honor if it goes past the date on the contract. As far as I know, our shelter hasn't gone out to take the dog back, as again, technically we could per the contract. There are two of us who do the follow-up on the contracts and admittedly, we need to do that sooner. Plus it can take several calls, emails or texts to get some to respond.

It can take 2-3 months to get a vet appointment in our rural area, so that is also an issue. Maybe at the time of adoption, we should have them make the vet appointment while at our shelter and then schedule calls prior to the appointment date. 

Unfortunately, I obviously don't know the answer. We do try to alter them before they are adopted, but we get so many puppies and people are anxious to adopt them, that we still do several foster-to-adopt contracts. I'd love to hear what other shelters are doing.

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Karen Olson
Volunteer Caregiver & apparently Fundraiser Coordinator
Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS)
Thompson Falls, MT
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Our organization used to something very similar. We called it "Foster to Adopt." Basically the animal was not old enough to be spayed/neutered so we would let the adopter take the animal home. However, the paperwork they signed said that the animal was not theirs. It was still under ownership of our organization until the day of spay/neuter when after surgery the final adoption fees and paperwork were signed. However, even this became an issue for some people after years of this system working. Just this year we have started waiting until all of our animals are of age to be adopted out. We spay/neuter before they can go home. It has put a higher need and demand for more fosters if we want to take in more adult rescues, but we are finding we have an amazing community!

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Michelle Schutz
Humane Education Manager
Virginia Beach SPCA
VA
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 for surgery is less than 8 weeks with the vet we use. Very seldom is there a problem that we cannot work through. No cat goes out before it is tested and fixed. A seperate vet does our cats and scheduling is by the week so no lag time.

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Rochelle Hamp
Executive Director
Headwaters Animal Shelter
MN
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Adopting with vouchers should only be used as a stop gap measure until new spay/neuter capacity is developed in your area.  The United Spay Alliance website has some great resources to help build capacity in your area- feel free to check out their site.  If dogs are being transferred in, see if they can come s/n'd before transport, if the s/n option is not accessible right now in your area.   https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/

In the 90's a study was done and reported on by Peter Marsh and a statistically significant number of animals did not get spayed/neutered.  So depending on the organizations, size and resources,  compliance and tracking is incredibly important.  

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Stacy LeBaron
Head Cat
The Community Cats Podcast
Warren VT
978-239-2090
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I do not think my last post came through  completely. Dogs/puppies awaiting vet appointments go out on Foster to Adopt contracts. We retain control of ownership. Our lag time for dog vet appts. varies. We want the dogs to be able to get into  homes and begin bonding, training etc. (especially the puppies). If a female is in heat we may hold back letting those go out until heat is over to prevent oops litters. (depends on home situation). We have a seperate vet for our cats and generally there is no scheduling lag time. All cats are vetted before being put into homes. We spay/neuter at 3#/3mos on cats. Dogs- Our vet prefers 16 weeks on females/3 months on males. I understand the 3 months necessary for the rabies vaccine.

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Rochelle Hamp
Executive Director
Headwaters Animal Shelter
MN
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