Animal Welfare Professionals

 View Only

  • 1.  Adoption returns , what's your protocol?

    Posted 03-21-2024 08:59 PM

    Hi all! I would like to know more about how your rescues prevent adoption return. Meaning when someone adopts your pet and then they have to return them. We have had 2 so far. I want to to know what kind of protocols y'all have in place and if they help have less returns.

    1 of our returns was because one of rescues was still semi feral and same for the other. So in turn they needed more experienced cat adoptees and they did not have them. 

    We gave a full refund and picked up the cats. 

    cats on stairs


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms

    ------------------------------
    [Kimberly] [Grieser]
    [Founder and President]
    [Stray Kitty Rescue]
    [Philadelphia] [PA][https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/pa/philadelphia/stray-kitty-rescue-pa1220/][https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089161606329]
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Adoption returns , what's your protocol?

    Posted 03-22-2024 01:50 PM

    We usually have someone on our behavior team come talk to the adopter if behavior is the issue and see if the adopter is willing to implement some changes in their home and to work with the cat. If its the fact they cant afford medical or food, we have some programs in place that help offset medical costs if possible and a pet food pantry program. We have a couple rehoming sites linked on our website so they can try that first before coming to us as well as a behavior hotline and email that people can call or email us behavior questions to try and fix issues while in the home. We also started our community cat program last summer and that has helped a lot with in between behavior cats so they can go back to their outdoor homes where they usually have care takers but the cats generally wouldn't do well inside a home. this helped because we would have cats that aren't bad enough behavior wise to be euthanized but would have needed a lot of extra work in a home because they aren't domesticated. 



    ------------------------------
    Laurel Nelson
    Cat Welfare Supervisor
    Nebraska Humane Society
    NE
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Adoption returns , what's your protocol?

    Posted 03-23-2024 05:47 AM

    We have a pretty thorough adoption counseling process when the pet goes home. Now, that doesn't mean adopters always listen to the full thing and our recommendations ;) but they have the papers and disclaimers with them. I don't love the word "disclaimers" as those can apply to something as simple as suggestions for a very active dog or fairly shy cat. Doesn't necessarily mean we're disclosing something BIG. But we try to cover anything we've noticed with that pet. 

    Then, we do follow-up check-ins with our adopters. So one of our staff calls them 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months after adoption to see how it is going. We have "caught" a lot of situations that could turn into returns with those calls. If someone expresses they are having a significant issue and concern, we will check in with them more frequently.

    For example, we recently had a cat who was peeing outside the litterbox at the 3 day check in. We asked for more details and provided some suggested changes and then called them again the following week (instead of waiting for the "3 week" call) to see how it was going (better!).



    ------------------------------
    Erin Dams
    Community Relations Coordinator
    Roanoke Valley SPCA
    Roanoke VA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Adoption returns , what's your protocol?

    Posted 03-24-2024 09:56 AM

    We do similar procedures in the pre- adopt and post adopt stages. We also do a 2 week "Foster to Adopt"  trial in the home before concluding  the adoption. Adopters can return the pet and try another. If they do not desire to try another, then they are refunded all but $25 of the fee. If they bypass the the trial option and chose adoption instead, they have one week to return the animal, but get no refund. 99%  opt for the trial. We work with folks and may extend the trial period on a case by case basis to allow a little more time for whatever minor issue to settle. Foster to Adopt is also used when animal is awaiting  spay/ neuter appointment or is under medical care for minor issues. Animal stays in that status until these things concluded.



    ------------------------------
    Rochelle Hamp
    Executive Director
    Headwaters Animal Shelter
    MN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content