If you run an animal rescue or shelter, volunteer at one or simply have a pet that needs to be adopted, of course you want to try and ensure that the pet goes to the right home. Although you will never be able to guarantee 100 percent that it is the perfect home -- there are ways to rule out if it's the wrong one. Here are some questions to ask and general criteria the prospective applicant should meet in order to adopt the pet.
Instructions
1. Screen the potential adopter with these important preliminary questions:
• Do they have identification showing their present address?
• If they live in an apartment, do they have the consent of their landlord for this type of pet?
• Are they at least 21 years of age? (You may want to make an exception in certain cases, but being 21 or older should be a general qualification.)
2. Consider factors such as the pet's size, temperament, energy level and accustomed lifestyle in relation to the prospective owner(s). For instance, a tiny teacup dog breed or nervous dog probably shouldn't be placed in a home with small children, a big dog may not be right for a small apartment, a young, energetic dog wouldn't be right for a less active or senior owner, a cat that's spent most of his life outdoors may have trouble becoming a strictly indoor cat.
3. Ask some important questions of the prospective adopter such as: Who will be living in the home with the pet? If there are children, what are their ages? Are there other pets in the home? If so, are there any types of animals they don't get along with? Why did they choose this pet? Do they have experience with this type of pet? What type of house do they live in? Is there a fenced yard? Will the pet be spending a lot of time outdoors? (Certain shorter-haired dog breeds, for instance, are sensitive to extreme weather conditions and won't do well spending prolonged periods outdoors). Where will the dog sleep? Do they work full time? What provisions will they make for the pet if they have to work long hours? Go out of town? Who will take the pet if something happens to them? (This is especially important if the person has an illness or is a senior).
4. Explain to the applicant that caring for a pet is a serious commitment and they should be absolutely sure they're ready to make the commitment -- that they are able and willing to spend the time and money necessary to provide training, medical treatment and proper care of the pet. If they're sure, have them fill out an application with their name, address, phone number, references (including their veterinarian) and other pertinent information. You can find application forms online.
5. Have the prospective adopter agree to a home check before you release the pet to them. They may seem like pet lovers and nice people, but you can never be assured of the living situation until you visit the home in person. You should also get them to agree to a home check a week or two later just to make sure the living situation hasn't changed and the pet is adjusting well to the new home.
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