Hello, Diane! I appreciate the care your rescue puts into ensuring the best outcomes for your cats. Your point about the adoption contract and ensuring cats always come back to your care is such an important one I hadn't thought about.
I want to apologize if the post or the article came across as smug in any way! I can absolutely see how it could come off that way, but that wasn't my intention. I had just always heard the argument on how negative gifting a pet is and was intrigued. I'm genuinely curious about different policies and perspectives from those with much more experience than me and didn't mean to suggest that any one approach is superior. I know there are so many variables! This is exactly why I love discussions that help us learn from each other's experiences and choices.
Thank you for taking the time to give your input!
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Kelly Sheehan
Communications & Development Manager
Heaven Can Wait Animal Society
NV
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2024 03:24 AM
From: Diane Metz
Subject: Pets as gifts - Horrible idea or missed opportunity?
Good morning, friends Our rescue does not allow someone to adopt a cat for another ever. Our adoption contract binds the adopter, not the person who has been "gifted" one of our cats. Most importantly our contract requires that our cats always come back to us if they can't be kept, at any time in the future. We are not concerned with increased returns. Just the opposite. I have to say, that this post and this article both take a fairly smug perspective on those of us who do not allow gifting of our animals. We are not quaintly backward, we've made a reasoned choice with the help of our attorney on what's right for our rescue.
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Diane Metz
Board of Directors, Volunteer, and Foster Mom
Orange Street Cats, Inc.
Albany NY
Original Message:
Sent: 12-19-2024 11:29 AM
From: Kelly Sheehan
Subject: Pets as gifts - Horrible idea or missed opportunity?
I have always known it to be a horrible idea to give pets as gifts during the holidays. It always made sense for chickens, ducks, and bunnies around Easter because exotics can bring unrealized challenges. But it also made sense that dogs and cats around the holidays may be "unwanted" and surrendered again later. However, studies in this blog from the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement suggest otherwise! https://theaawa.org/lets-wrap-up-this-pets-as-gifts-stuff/
Is giving pets as gifts being awful just a myth and is this an opportunity shelters and rescues are really missing out on?
My questions for the community... feel free to answer just one or two if you'd like!
- What's your shelter or rescue's stance on adopting pets as gifts? Have you considered revising your policies to reflect recent research?
- If shelters put "holiday safeguards" in place, like pre-adoption counseling or ensuring the recipient truly is ready for a pet, would this ease anxiety?
- Have you done gift adoptions and what has your experience been?
- What messaging strategies can shelters use to dispel myths with their supporters while promoting responsible gift adoptions if they wanted to embrace this as an opportunity?
- I especially liked the info about sentiment of receiving a pet from a loved one can build bonds between the pet and recipient! What do you think?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
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Kelly Sheehan
Communications & Development Manager
Heaven Can Wait Animal Society
NV
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