Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Increase in returns

    Posted 03-18-2019 08:01 AM

    A year ago we began a more open conversational approach to adoptions.  We have increased adoptions but we have also increased our return rate.  A part of our adoption paperwork says that if they are unable to keep the pet the are to return to us.  This has always been a part of the paperwork.  Is this something others have encountered?  


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms


  • 2.  RE: Increase in returns

    Posted 03-18-2019 08:47 AM

    this is an aside, but consider using Maddie's Pet Assistant to follow up with your adopters - hopefully get in front of any potential issues 

    MPA FAQ: https://www.maddiesfund.org/mpa-faq.htm

    -Amber, Project Manager


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms


  • 3.  RE: Increase in returns

    Posted 03-18-2019 03:51 PM

    You may be seeing more returns because people are feeling more trust toward your shelter and are comfortable returning the pets to you instead of taking them elsewhere. If your previous adoption process produced less trust, you may have actually been discouraging people from working with you further; they may have felt they'd be judged if they brought a pet back. It's like that phenomenon where public shelters find intake increases when they improve their public relations and start telling the public they're working to save more lives: the community starts thinking the shelter is a safe place to take their pets. 


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms


  • 4.  RE: Increase in returns

    Posted 03-20-2019 05:10 AM

    We use Maddie's Pet Assistant to follow up with our adopters and it is very helpful. But we are seeing a slight uptick in our returns that I am going to blame on the weather. With the brutal cold and snow, it's been hard to get dogs out to exercise and also to even think about driving to training classes. I'm dealing with one right now who is using our pictures to give the dog away which is a strict violation of the contract they signed. They can not give the dog away to anyone without our approval and they certainly can't sell it. I'm hoping the warmer weather will help.

    We are looking at using volunteers to begin making phone calls to ask how things are going. It's in the discussion phase right now. Does anyone use phone calls in addition to Maddie's Assistant emails? 


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms