The Pet Adoption Process

What to expect when adopting your new Pet!

Once you have weighed the pros and cons of owning a pet or adding another to your family, the adoption process that follows can seem overwhelming or confusing for a first time adoptee. Pets911.com would like to ease the anxiety and help by giving you a step by step process for what to expect, what to look for and how to make the best decision for you and the animal.

Research what type of dog is best for your family.

Are you active? Do you love the outdoors? Do you live in an apartment, or have a small yard? Do you have children, other pets or active teenagers?

All these factors, and more, will help to determine which dog breed will fit onto your family the best. There are lots of websites, literature and shelter employees that have tons of information on breed specific characteristics, needs and preferences. Some shelters or rescuers will not adopt a dog out to a family if its breed specific characteristics are not conducive to the families lifestyle or environment. It is important to have these ideas set up before you walk around a shelter filled with adorable faces, that way you wont make a decision based 100% on emotion, but a balanced, educated decision that will lead to a more successful companionship.

Look for your ideal pet in your local animal rescues and on the internet.

With sites like Pets911.com, you can type in all the qualifications that you want in your new pet and search your local shelters for the perfect match. If you are going directly to an animal shelter, it is a good idea to check the organization’s website to see if the pets are listed or pictured. If not, a simple call can help to clarify if any animals they are currently housing would match the specifics that you are looking for. If they do not currently have what you want, ask to be added to a “keep in mind list.” Many organizations will keep requests on hand so if they get a certain type of animal in, they can give you a call. This isn’t always the case, but it doesn’t hurt to ask, leave a message or send an email.

Once you’ve found the dog or cat you are looking for, see how you get along.

It is important to have several interactions with an animal before you decide to take it home as your new pet. This is especially important when you have a multiple person or pet household. First thing, is to have some one-on-one time with the animal you’re interested in. If they are in a kennel, see if you are permitted to hang out with them in there, or see if you can enter the yard where they are playing. Make sure to watch for the animal’s mannerism towards yourself, shelter employees or volunteers, other animals and the general public. Many animals will act quite differently in an animal shelter or rescue environment then they will at home. If you are visiting a foster home, the animal may be extremely attached to his/her foster parents, and may show you no interest or even get protective. It is important to take their environment in consideration as it relates to their behavior.

On the same note, if an animal is showing aggression at the shelter, you can often expect for that animal to show aggression when taken other places. Many animals at shelters or rescues are there for some harsh reasons. If you are interested in rehabilitating an abused animal or can dedicate the time necessary to do so, keep this in mind while looking. If you are not interested in doing that, pay close attention to the animal’s behavior while in the animal rescue and use this as an indicator for what’s to come.

If you have other pets at home that the new animal will be sharing space with (a new dog with a dog at home, or a new cat with a cat at home, or mixed species) arrange for the animals to meet in a neutral area first. Some animal shelters will have an enclosed yard for just this purpose. It is important to have a shelter worker or volunteer who is familiar with the shelter animal to be present in order to help interpret the actions of the animals. It is also helpful to bring a friend or colleague that may know about animal behavior to help out. This process is necessary before the animals meet on your current pet’s home turf. Animals are instinctually protective of their space and it is important that the animals aren’t forced to meet for the first time in an environment where aggression or dominance might be prevalent.

If you decide to bring the new animal home for good, it is important to create a space of his/her very own. Have a pet bed for each animal, separate litter boxes, separate food bowls and multiple water bowls. If your current pet has a favorite space to sleep, do not force them to share it with the new pet, but allow each animal to find its own place to call home.

If all is well, can you take the new pet home?

If all the above has gone smoothly and you have finally decided on the animal of your dreams, the next step is to begin the adoption process. Each organization has a different adoption process so it is important to check with the organization you are adopting from. By talking about this process up front, you will know what is expected from you and what you can expect from them.

First step, in most cases, is to fill out an pet adoption application. Some organizations will have you do this before meeting or spending time with an animal, others will wait till you have decided and then move forward. This application usually covers the basics like home address, phone number, city, etc. Other parts will often go into depth about previous animal ownership, your home environment, your work schedule, will children have access to the animal, what are your plans for pet health, and some will ask for references from a vet, employer or family/friends. After your application has been reviewed, some organizations will do an in-person interview, others may require a home visit.

After this process is completed to both parties satisfaction, an adoption contract is often presented as a final step in the process. This contract can include information such as, a required vet visit or vaccinations, a required spay or neuter if applicable, a certain diet, continuation of medical treatments or prescriptions, or a return to organization clause if the owner no longer wishes to keep animal. This is a legally binding contract, so it is important to read through it thoroughly and ask for clarification on any section where you may need it.

In order to adopt the animal, an adoption fee will apply. This fee may depend on what medical services the animal has received. Some animal shelters/rescues have flat fees and others have donation minimums. The adoption fee or adoption donation is NOT tax deductible. When donating to a 501c3, in order for the amount to be tax deductible, an individual must not receive any goods or services in return. Since you are receiving a wonderful gift (a new pet) for the amount in which you are paying, it is not considered a donation. If however, you choose to give a monetary donation in addition to the fee, then the amount you have donated (not including the adoption fee) is tax deductible as long as that organization has 501c3 status. To find out more about this, ask your accountant, visit the IRS website or ask the animal shelter/rescue staff.