Animal Welfare Professionals

Good day,

I work for a no-kill shelter outside of St. Louis, MO. A few years ago we implemented a FeLv adoption program and now we are looking to revamp it. I am curious as to other organizations' adoption policies in regards to FeLv and what, if anything, your organization covers for the adopter.

Our current program covers all costs of medical care relating to FeLv if they come to our shelter/clinic. We are running into situations where adopters are taking the cats to their own vet, or an emergency vet, and then billing the shelter and it has increased the amount of money spent on the FeLv program. 

#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms

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Amanda Duncan (she/her)
Open Door Animal Sanctuary
MO
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We have clients sign a document that only expenses at our medical center are covered and we will not cover medical expenses elsewhere. We do this for all adoptions with medically covered conditions.

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Laura Arendt
North Shore Animal League
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We give FELV adopters a 30 day "warranty" where they have 30 days to contact us if any medical issues arise.  We call it their medical health guarantee! After that 30-day mark, if issues arise, it is their responsibility to pay and go to their own personal vet. FELV adoptions and medically complex cats receive a 30-day warranty while other cats get a 14 day. 

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Sallie Edwards
Board Member
Ten Lives Club
NY
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Hey Amanda! 

 So we're a municipal shelter here in Texas. We have condos in our lobby we have dedicated to FIV or FeLV positive feline friends. We had a generous benefactor in our community who LOVES these types of cats after adopting two outdoor community cats, and both of them had each of these. They donated 5k and redid our condos, then the following year donated an additional 5k and we started a specific fund " The 5'o clock fund" in memory of our benefactor's cat. With this fund, we pay all adoption fees, provide them with a 30 day certificate to a specific vet where they can do a full blood work panel on us to have a baseline for their new friend and then we send them a $150-200 order from Chewy to their doorstep with specific items we think would help cats with these illnesses. Specific water bowls, beds, food, etc.

Half the people do not even do the free blood work provided to them. 

If it's not, I would make it part of their adoption contract that the bills will only be covered at XYZ vet, any other vet will be at adopters own cost. Have them initial the line specifically and sign the bottom of the contract. They may get mad but it's right there. Maybe even HIGHLIGHT that line on the FeLV adoptions. 

Good luck!

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Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws
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