We are also a small foster-based rescue but in the south so this has always been an issue. I will say that the reasons for returns do seem to be getting more nitpicky. We literally had a dog returned for shedding and a cat returned for clawing the carpet, both recently.
I do second the idea of working on Pet Retention programs.
Also something we started last year was a Finder Foster program. People are constantly calling us to take stray dogs or surrender their own pets so we give them the option of agreeing to foster the animal for a set amount of time (was 90 days, we just moved it to 120) or until it gets adopted, whichever comes first. The animal still has to pass our behavioral and veterinary assessments but this has given some people the option to receive the help they need from us while helping us with the resource we lack most (fosters). There is a penalty where they have to reimburse us for boarding costs if they suddenly can't foster anymore. The contract puts a cap on that at $500 but it seems to have been an effective deterrent. The biggest issue we have had so far is from the Finder Fosters that change their minds and decide they want to keep the animal. We just changed the agreement to allow them to do this if they reimburse us for all veterinary costs, etc associated with an animal and it doesn't have all the same perks as a typical adoption (though we still demand the animal be sterilized if it isn't already).
------------------------------
Alexandra Mounger
Executive Director
Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals, Inc.
AR
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 07-18-2024 11:32 AM
From: Susana Burgess
Subject: Increase in surrender requests
Hello! I run a dog rescue in CT, a somewhat rural area where we do not have strays.
Recently we have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of inquiries for owner surrenders and also almost daily reports / social media posts of "found dogs". Please understand this is not a southern state where strays are part of your everyday life.
We firmly believe those "found" animals are being abandoned by their owners due to the lack of options. We are a small foster based rescue and there are several like us in this area, all always full. Local Animal Control agencies do not take in owner surrender, only criminal / court / legal cases and strays (and strays only if a citizen has the dog. They don;t go out in the field trapping dogs).
My question is: Where do we go from here?? What is a way to stop this train?
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Rehoming
------------------------------
Susana Burgess
All Paws on Deck
------------------------------