How to Find Homes for Pets

8/14/2019 How to Find Homes for Pets

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How to Find Homes

for Homeless Pets


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About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is working with you and with humane

groups all across the country to bring about a time when there are no

more homeless pets.

The sanctuary at Angel Canyon, in the Golden Circle o southern Utah, is

home, on any given day, to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals rom

all over the country. Many o them need just a ew weeks o special care

beore theyre ready to go to good new homes. Others, who are older and

sicker, or who have suered extra trauma, nd a home and a haven here,

and are given loving care or the rest o their lives.

In our home state, Best Friends manages a model No More Homeless Pets

campaign with shelters and humane groups, with the aim o reaching a

time when every healthy dog and cat thats ever born in Utah is guaran-

teed a caring home.

And Best Friends reaches across the nation, helping humane groups, indi-

vidual people, and entire communities to set up spay/neuter, shelter, os-

ter, and adoption programs in their own neighborhoods, cities, and states.

The work o Best Friends is supported entirely through the donations o

our members. Through the generous hearts and hands o people like you,

were getting close to the day when there will be No More Homeless Pets.

Thank you or being part o this work o love.

Best Friends Animal Society

5001 Angel Canyon Road

Kanab, UT 84741

Phone: (435) 644-2001

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.bestriends.org


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How to Find Homes or Homeless Pets

Best Friends Animal Society www.bestriends.org

Table o ContentsWhat to do when youve ound a stray ...............4

How to get the word out ......................................5

How to prepare the pet or adoption ...................7

How to screen potential adopters ........................8

Interviewing the potential adopter ......................8

Meeting the potential adopter ...........................11

Finalizing the adoption .....................................11

Some nal words...............................................12

Sample orms ....................................................13

IntroductionHas something happened in your lie and you can

no longer take care o your pet? Or perhaps you

have ound a stray cat or dog and need to nd

him/her a home. Maybe a riend or relative has

died, leaving one or more pets to be placed in anew home. You want to be able to do something

to help nd a new and loving permanent home,

rather than turning the pet over to the local shelter

or humane society, where the animal may be put

down.

We hope the suggestions in this booklet will help

you achieve your goal. First, well talk about what

to do i youve ound a stray. (I you locate the

pets owner, you may not even need to nd a new

home!)

I you do need to nd a new home or the pet,

well show you how to get the word out. Well

talk about how to create an eective fyer, how

to take a good photograph o the pet, and how to

write imaginative text (to capture the attention o

a prospective adopter) or a fyer or a classied

ad in the newspaper. And we will show you how

to take advantage o the networks already estab-

lished to advertise your animal.

We then discuss the preparation o the pet: makingsure that the animals vaccinations are up-to-date

and that he/she is healthy, bathed and groomed.

We also walk you through the very important

screening process. (We assume you dont want to

just give the pet away without making sure that

he/she is going to a good, responsible home.) We

suggest questions to ask to nd out i the prospec-

tive adopter will provide a suitable home.

We provide inormation on how to nalize theadoption. At the end o the booklet, youll nd ex-

amples o an adoption contract, a medical record,

and an adoption screeners worksheet.

Finally, we oer some words o encouragement in

your quest to nd a good new home.

Something to consider

I you, or someone you know, is consider-

ing giving up a pet because o a behavior

problem or other issue that youd like to

discuss, you may want to contact us. A

trained Best Friends Network coordinatormay be able to oer advice or assistance

that will enable you to work things out so

that you can keep your pet. You can talk

to a Network coordinator by calling (435)

644-2001, ext. 123, or sending an e-mail to

[email protected].


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What to Do When YouveFound a Stray

1. Check or a tag or microchip.

I youve ound a stray, do the obvious rst check or a tag! I there is a tag, and the owners

name is on it, call and arrange or a pickup, and

know you have done your good deed or the day.

I the tag gives the name o a veterinarians clinic,

call during business hours and get the name and

phone number o the owner using the code num-

ber on the tag. Then ollow up to return the dog or

cat. I the animal has no tag, there may still be a

way to identiy the stray i he/she has been micro-

chipped. A veterinarian can help you nd out.

I theres no tag or microchip, put a temporary tag

on the animal with your name and phone number.

You can use a luggage label or even tape the inor-

mation around the collar with some duct tape.

2. Notiy your local shelter that youhave ound a stray animal.

There are dierent laws in each city regarding

stray animals. In some communities, nders o

lost animals are legally required to either surren-

der the animal to the animal shelter or to report tothe shelter that they have a stray animal. Check

with your local animal control or animal services

department in your city to nd out what your legal

obligations are.

Even i youre not legally required to notiy the

shelter, youll still want to let them know that you

have a stray. I the owners o the animal are look-

ing or their pet, they will most likely start by call-

ing the shelter, so its very important that the shel-

ter knows that you have ound the pet. Also, someshelters have bulletin boards on which people can

list lost and ound pets, so its a good idea to post

a photo o the pet at the shelter.

I you have some hesitation about trying to nd the

owner, keep in mind that just because an animal is

injured, scared, or without identication does not

mean that he has a bad home. Your stray mighthave lost his identication; he might have been lost

or a long time; he may even be a rescued animal

who was scared when he was adopted.

I you must take the animal to the shelter, and

you wish to do everything you can or the animal,

be sure to claim last rights. Claiming last rights

gives you adoption privileges i the animal is not

claimed within a given time period and is due to

be put down. It is a good idea to call the shelter

daily to let the sta know that you are interestedin the animals welare.

. Make every eort to fnd the owner.

Besides notiying your local shelter, youll want to

check lost-and-ound ads in the local newspapers.

Try placing an ad in the lost-and-ound section

yoursel. Another good strategy is to post fyers in

the vicinity where the animal was ound.

A typical ad describes the type o animal, the lo-

cation where he/she was ound, and the coloringand other distinct characteristics o the animal.

You want to leave out some crucial characteristic,

though, so that when someone calls claiming to

be the owner, you can veriy that the animal really

belongs to him/her. This helps guard against turn-

ing strays over to bunchers (see page 6 or an


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explanation o what bunchers are). For example,

you could leave out the gender o the animal, or

the act that she has white socks on her ront eet

or a really bushy tail. Dont orget to give your

phone number and times you can be reached.

. Be wary o dishonest callers.

When someone answers your ad, make sure the

person gives you a detailed description o the ani-

mal. To ensure that you have ound the animals

real owner, here are a ew additional tips:

Ask the caller to bring a photo o the animal to

the meeting place.

Ask or their veterinarians phone number, and

make a ollow-up call.

Watch how the animal reacts to the caller in

person. I you are not satised, ask or more

proo o ownership.

Remember to get the owners phone number

and address.

Ask them to bring their photo ID.

How to Get the Word OutI you do need to nd a new home or a pet, youll

want to advertise as widely as you can, in as many

places as possible. Creating a fyer is a great way

to start. Heres what to put on the fyer:

Describe the appearance, size, and age o

the animal.

Include the pets name and a good photograph

o the pet (see the sidebar at right).

I the pet is spayed or neutered, include that

inormation.

Describe his/her nature and appealing qualities.

Dene any limitations the pet might have

(e.g., not good with cats or small children).

Dont orget your phone number and the times

you can be reached.

Tips on Taking Good AnimalPhotographsSince photos really help people make a con-

nection to an animal, youll want to use a

good-quality photograph. Color is best. (Iyou dont have a color printer, copy places

like Kinkos can print the fyers or you.)

When you

take the pho-

tographs, use

a background

that is in con-

trast to the ani-

mal, to high-

light his/herbest eatures.

Keep the pho-

to simple and

clear, with ew

background

distractions,

though you

might want to use a person, a hand or some

other means to show the scale o the pet.

Beoresnapping

the photos,

take the

time to get

the pet as

calm and

relaxed as

possible, so

the photos

dont show

an animalwho looks

anxious

or scared.

Ideally, the

photo you choose or the fyer should have the

eyes o the animal in ocus.


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Depending on the situation in your area, you

might want to add No Bunchers to your fyer.

Bunchers are people who pose as prospective

adopters, pretending to be loving and concerned.

The pets they obtain are then sold to dealers

who in turn sell the pets to research laboratories.(Theres more inormation on this subject in the

section on screening adopters.)

When youve made copies o the fyer, post them

throughout your community, wherever a good pro-

spective adopter might see them. Ask to put them

up at veterinarians oces, pet supply stores, and

the workplaces o your amily and riends. Places

like health ood stores, supermarkets, libraries,

churches, and health clubs oten have community

bulletin boards where anyone can post fyers.

But dont stop with posting fyers. There are many

other ways to spread the word:

1. Contact as many shelters and rescue groups

as possible. Most agencies will be overloaded, but

they might allow you to bring your pet to one o

their adoption days. They might be able to put you

in contact with someone who is looking or the

kind o pet you are trying to place, or they could

have some other suggestions. You can nd local

shelters and rescues by calling 1-888-PETS-911or visiting www.pets911.com.

2. Contact breed rescue groups i youre try-

ing to place a specifc breed. I you have a pug

or a Persian cat, or example, there may be rescue

groups or clubs that have lists o people looking

to adopt that particular breed. Some breed rescue

groups might even be willing to place a mix, as

long as the animal is close to purebred. To locate a

purebred rescue group near you, send an e-mail to

us at [email protected]. Place a classifed ad in your local paper.

When you write the ad, be creative! (See the

sample ads on the next page.) Try to make the ani-

mal as appealing as possible, but tell the truth. I

youre trying to place a dog who absolutely cant

be around cats, put that in the ad. Run the ad as

many times as you can aord you are looking to

reach a wide audience.

Its a good idea to mention in the ad that an

adoption ee will be required. The bunchers wementioned earlier gravitate toward ads that oer

pets Free to a good home. Asking or a ee will

discourage these people rom ollowing up on

your ad. I you eel uneasy about asking or a ee,

you can always donate the money to your avorite

charity.

4. Post your pet on adoption websites. There

are general adoption websites, as well as spe-

cic sites or certain types o animals (or ex-

ample, FIV-positive cats, disabled pets, or seniordogs). Petnder (www.petnder.org) is a good

example o a general adoption website. The

Best Friends Network can give you the web ad-

dresses o other adoption sites. Send an e-mail to

[email protected].

5. Use any and all o your community contacts.

Ask riends and amily to mention the animal in

their church or community newsletter; send an

e-mail about the pet through your oce memo

system; or share some fyers with members o

clubs or associations to which you belong.

6. Dont underestimate word o mouth! Tell

anyone and everyone about the pet who needs

a home, and ask riends and amily to help with

spreading the word. You never know your

athers neighbors daughter could be looking or

just the pet you have to oer.


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7. Get the pet out there. (This works especially

well with dogs.) The more your pet interacts with

people, the more likely he/she will charm the

right person. I youre trying to place a dog, take

him/her on walks, to pet supply stores, to the local

park. Put a colorul bandana on the dog that says,Adopt me.

How to Prepare the Petor AdoptionFirst and oremost,

spay or neuter the

pet or the stray

you are trying to

place. Without

this procedure,

no reputable hu-

mane rescue group

will help you. Pet

overpopulation is

an overwhelming

problem and we

all need to do what

we can to preventmore unwanted

animals rom being

born. I you want

inormation on low-cost clinics in your area, call

SPAY/USA at 1-800-248-SPAY. You can also visit

their website, www.spayusa.org, or the PETS 911

website, www.pets911.com.

Next, make sure the animal is up-to-date on vac-

cinations. Prepare a complete medical record that

you can give to the adopter. (Theres a sample

on page 14.) I youre trying to nd a home or a

stray, youll need to bring the animal to a vet or

a thorough checkup. Low-cost assistance may be

available through local humane groups.

You should also prepare a general history o the

pet. Include as much inormation as possible

about the pets likes and dislikes, current ood

preerences and avorite treats, relationship to

other animals, and preerred types o toys. All this

inormation will help the adopter get acquainted

with the pet and make the transition easier on theanimal.

To show the pets best side, groom and bathe him

or her beore taking your fyer photos and beore

showing the pet to a prospective adopter. I it is

relevant, talk to a trainer about your pets dis-

position. The help o an experienced and caring

Sample Classifed AdsBetty Lou has a new pair o shoes and she

is ready to walk right into your heart! Betty is

a two-year-old spayed emale terrier mix. She

loves to dance, prance and play. She is a doll!

She is good with cats as well. Call Kelly or

Doug at 555-3576 ater 7 p.m. weekdays or allday Sunday. Adoption ee required.

. . . .

Joe Cocker is coming to town and wants to

sing or you. Joe is a three-year-old neutered

male cockapoo with a great personality. Loves

kids and dogs, but isnt as keen on cats! He

has had all his shots. Call Morris ater 6 p.m.

at 555-4674. Adoption ee required.

. . . .

Persian cat with attitude. Martha thinks she

rules the world! She is gorgeous, and knows

it. She loves to sit on laps and be petted. She

would preer a home where she is the only cat.

Adoption ee required. See her at the Petco on

Broadway, Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. 4 p.m.

Ask or Beth.

. . . .

SHAMBU is the kind o companion that

we all long to have. Loyal, playul, tender

and kind best describes this beautiul orange

tabby. He is 3 years old, neutered, and has hadall his shots. He preers an adults-only home.

Call Jeremy at 555-2189 beore 11 a.m. any

day. Donation or my avorite animal charity

required. No bunchers.


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proessional can oten help you resolve quirky or

destructive behavior, making it easier to place the

pet in a new home.

How to ScreenPotential AdoptersWhen someone responds to your fyer or ad,

youll want to interview them over the phone be-

ore introducing them to the animal. By doing so,

you can eliminate unsuitable potential adopters

early on. The ollowing are some guidelines or

helping you nd the best possible new home or

your pet or rescued animal.

First, i the caller is a child or a teenager, ask to

speak to an adult. I the caller sounds young, butisnt a child, ask or his or her age. In our experi-

ence, young people tend to move around a lot

going to college, entering the military, looking or

work which means that they change their living

situations oten. You are looking or a permanent

new home, so a young person may not be the best

bet or your pet. However, there are always excep-

tions to any rule. I you eel the caller can oer

a lasting home despite his/her age, then take it to

the next stage and conduct the interview.

Interviewing thePotential AdopterThe ollowing is a list o questions to ask the pro-

spective adopter. You might want to take notes

as you talk to the person. (Theres an adoption

screeners worksheet on page 15 that you might

nd useul.) From the answers to these questions,

you can start to build a prole o the person. Try

to ask the questions in a conversational style, so it

doesnt sound like youre conducting an interview.

To start, you might say: This dog/cat is very spe-

cial to me, and I am looking or just the right home

or him/her. Would you mind i I asked you a ew

questions about yoursel and your home?

Is the pet or you or someone else?I the dog or cat is or someone else, then tell

the caller that you need to speak directly to the

prospective adopter. A git o a live animal or

another person can be a terrible mistake. I the pet

is or a child, tell the person that the dog or cat

needs to be seen as a amily pet, not exclusively

the childs pet. The parents must be willing to take

on the responsibility or the day-to-day care o the

animal or the rest o his/her lie. Children can be

involved in the animals care, but their attention

span is oten sporadic. Many pets are turned in to

shelters because the children have lost interest.

Do you have other pets at home?Would you tell me about them?

Their answers can help you to determine whether

the pet you are placing will t into this household.

For example, i you are trying to place a dog who

hates cats, and they have cats, this is obviously not

a good choice.

I they dont have pets now, ask these questions:

Have you had pets beore? I so, whathappened to them?

Responses to these questions can reveal a lot

about the persons level o responsibility. One


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negative incident in the past shouldnt immedi-

ately rule that person out; accidents can happen to

even the most caring people. But, i they tell you

that their last three dogs came to an untimely end

because they were run over, poisoned, stolen, etc.,

you are not looking at a responsible home. Onthe other hand, i they tell you o the many pets

they had until a ripe old age, its a sign that these

people are willing to make the commitment to a

pet or lie.

Do you have children? I so, how oldare they?

Children can be either a blessing or a curse to a

pet! Many o the dogs and cats that we take here

at the sanctuary have been involved in negativeincidents with children. Small children oten do

not know how to dierentiate between a live ani-

mal and a stued one. And even the most vigilant

parent cant be watching the child all the time. We

oten advise against puppies or kittens or amilies

with children under six. We have had experience

with small children being hurt by puppies or kit-

tens, because they treated them roughly or didnt

know when to leave them alone. And then the

animal, however reluctantly, is taken to the shelter.

This will be your own judgment call with the petyou are placing.

O course, i the animal you are placing has had

any kind o biting or nipping incident around chil-

dren, it would be irresponsible to place that ani-

mal in a home with children. Even i the prospec-

tive adopters have no young children, they need to

be aware o the history o the animal, since adults-

only homes may receive visits rom grandchildren

or neighbor kids.

On the other hand, an adult cat or dog who is usedto being around small children can make a won-

derul amily pet. A larger animal is less vulner-

able to being hurt by children, and an adult animal

is usually more tolerant o a toddlers inquiring

hands pulling at his/her tail or ears.

The child/animal bond is very special and can be

o tremendous value in producing a compassion-

ate, caring person who will bring those qualities

into his/her whole lie. So the decision to take on

a amily pet needs to be made with great care. We

have a number o resources in the pet-care sec-tion o our website that can educate people about

whats involved in having a pet: http://www.best

riends.org/theanimals/petcare/.

Do you live in a house, a mobilehome, or an apartment?

Its not necessarily a negative thing i they live in

an apartment. Many dogs and all cats do very well

in apartments. The proximity encourages close

companionship and bonding.

I you rent, does your lease allow pets?May I have your landlords number?

I the people are renting, you will need to ensure

that they have permission in writing to have a pet.

You will also need to determine i there are any


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How to Find Homes or Homeless Pets 10


size restrictions (especially or dogs, since some

landlords restrict the size o dogs.) Its not air to

the pet you are placing to put him/her in a situa-

tion where he/she is at risk. We have known peo-

ple who try to sneak a pet by the landlord, only to

be ound out. And guess who has to go!

Can I come to your home, to seewhere the animal will be living?

I they are unwilling to let you visit, you should

cross them o your list. I they are willing, we

strongly recommend that you do make the visit,

or your own peace o mind. Seeing the other pets

(i any) in the household will tell you a lot about

the level o care your pet will receive.

Also, you might notice something that needs to betaken care o beore the adoption takes place. For

example, lets say you are placing a dog who is an

escape artist and the persons ence has large holes

in it. Some discussion about repairs could solve

the problem, but make sure the repairs are done

beore the animal goes to live there. Promises are

just that promises until the job is done.

How many hours would the animal be

alone during the day?The number o hours that an animal will be alone

during the day needs to be taken into account.

Young dogs and cats can get very lonely and

bored and consequently very destructive i

theyre alone a lot. Many adoptions do not work

out because prospective adopters were unaware o

their pets social needs.

Dogs have an especially hard time being alone or

long periods o time. They are pack animals, so

they need companionship rom either the amilyor another pet. A lonely, bored dog or puppy can

chew through the couch, rip up the carpet, destroy

the table legs just or something to do!

Prospective adopters should be encouraged to

make provisions or a young dog i the amily is

away every day or long hours. There are dog-

walking and doggie daycare services in most cit-

ies. Perhaps a neighbor or a local retired person

could spend some time with the animal. Locking a

dog outside all day can present a target or thieves,

particularly in a big city. An ideal situation is to

have a companion animal as a buddy and a dog-gie door into a dog-prooed area o the house with

lots o toys to chew on.

Cats do not appear to need the pack in the same

way as dogs, but anyone who has had more than

one cat knows what a dierence companionship

o their own kind makes to a cat.

I youre trying to fnd a home ora dog:

Does your home have a yard and is itcompletely enced?

Youll want to make sure that the yard is com-

pletely enced, with no gaps, so the dog cant

escape. I the prospective adopters do not have a

enced yard, ask i the dog will be chained up out-

side. This is a cruel ate or any dog, and we are

sure you would not want yours to end up this way.

Dont automatically write o prospective adopters

i they dont have a enced yard, however. Manypeople who dont have enced yards (such as

apartment dwellers) are that much more conscien-

tious about taking their dogs or walks. And some

dogs who have a nice enced yard are outdoor

dogs, let to end or themselves most o the time.

Will the dog get regular exercise?

Dogs need to get o their home tur at least once

a day, to sni and explore and get some exercise.

I the animal youre trying to place is a young,

energetic dog, you might want to nd out i the

prospective adopters are realistic about how much

exercise the dog needs. Letting the dog out in the

yard a ew times a day is oten not enough.


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I youre trying to fnd a home ora cat:

Will the cat be an indoor or outdoorcat?

Cats who go outside live, on average, or about

two to three years. They are vulnerable to trac

accidents, attacks by dogs, and accidental or de-

liberate poisonings. A cat who stays indoors can

live up to 20 years. Cats do very well as indoor

pets, but some people like to add a cat enclosure

(sometimes called a cattery) onto the house, or

screen in a porch so that their cats can enjoy the

open air and yet remain protected. I the personwants more inormation about building a cattery,

you can reer him or her to the cat care section o

our website, under Living with Your Cat:

www.bestriends.org/theanimals/petcare/cats.cm

Would you consider declawing a cat?

Best Friends regards declawing as a cruel and un-

necessary procedure. Most people just need to be

inormed about how to accommodate a cats need

to scratch: getting a scratching post that is the cor-rect height (as tall as the cat when ully extended),

clipping the cats claws regularly, and giving the

cat lots o toys or play and stimulation. I you

come across a prospective adopter who wants a

declawed cat, you could mention that local shel-

ters or rescue groups oten have cats who have

already been declawed.

Meeting the Potential AdopterOnce you have the answers to these questions,

you will have a pretty good idea about whether

the prospective adopter will provide a good home

or the pet you are placing. O course, it is al-

ways possible that the answers you received arenot truthul. Some people may tell you what they

think you want to hear, rather than how it actually

is. You will need to use your instincts. The next

step is to meet the people, see their home, and in-

troduce the animal.

You have some choices about where to introduce

the animal. The prospective adopters could come

over to your place, you could take the pet to

theirs, or you could meet on neutral ground, like

a park or a vets oce. We do advise you not togive up the pet until you have checked the home

and living situation. But, i the prospective adopt-

ers have another dog and you are placing a dog,

a park setting could be a good place to arrange a

rst meeting. Wherever the meeting takes places,

you will want to observe closely how they relate

to the pet, and how the pet relates to them.

Hopeully, you will be as impressed with them in

person as you were on the phone. I there are any

doubts in your mind, you can either talk to themabout your doubts or simply decide not to adopt

to them. Dont eel uncomortable about having

doubts its ne to be concerned about your pets

well-being, and any reasonable person under-

stands this. Ater all, it is better to be sae than

sorry. To make a graceul exit without conronta-

tion, you could mention that there are other people

interested in seeing the pet and that you will get

back to them.

Finalizing the AdoptionI you decide to go ahead with the adoption, you

may want to use a contract like the one on page

13. A contract can be a saety net or both you and

the adopter. Make two copies o the contract and

both o you can sign them. Leave one with the

adopter and take one with you.


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When you give up the animal, collect your adop-

tion ee and remember to hand over any medical

and vaccination records, and any special ood,

bowls, toys or bedding. (Theres a sample medical

record on page 14 that you can use as a guide i

you need to write one up.)Once you have made a match, stay in touch. Call

regularly to see how things are going, particularly

at the outset. Be careul not to bug the adopters,

though. There is a time to let go and allow them to

orm their own bond with the animal. I there are

any problems with the transition, remember that

Best Friends can help with advice, training and

solutions.

Some Final Words o Adviceand EncouragementAs you go through the process o placing a home-

less pet, keep in mind that creativity, persistence,

and a positive attitude are usually rewarded. Think

about the best possible environment or the pet

and explore all the options you can think o. Try

not to get discouraged and dont give up ater just

one or two interviews. Finding a home can take

some work and some time, but i you persevere,

you are sure to nd a new person or your peteventually. I you have a time limit and it expires

with no home in sight, then consider boarding the

animal to buy some more time.

I you are trying to place your own pet in a new

home, you are this pets best option or nding a

good new home. Since you know the animal, you

can provide the most inormation to prospective

adopters and you can best determine the appropri-

ateness o a new home. Please remember that your

dog or cat has been a aithul companion to you,

so he/she deserves the best new home you can

nd. You will sleep better knowing that your pet is

happy, healthy and sae in a wonderul new home.

Whatever you do, dont just turn your pet loose

in a residential neighborhood or wild area, or

leave him/her tied up to a ence with the hope

that someone will nd the pet. Domestic animals

cannot end or themselves in a strange environ-

ment. One o the saddest sights in the world is

a dog dashing out to each car that comes along,

hoping the car contains his person. These dogs

are very hard to catch as they wait or the personwho abandoned them, and they are vulnerable to

injury, disease, starvation and death.

We hope that the advice in this publication helps

you to place your pet or an animal you have res-

cued. We understand that this may be a dicult

and stressul time or you, but we hope you will

be patient and give our suggestions time to work.

I you need additional inormation or support,

contact the Best Friends Network at bnetwork@

bestriends.org or call them at (435) 644-2001,ext. 123. Our website (www.bestriends.org) has a

variety o publications that may be helpul to you;

check the You and Your Pets and No More

Homeless Pets Resources sections.

Best Friends, other animal rescue groups, and

many concerned individuals have used the process

described here to re-home thousands o dogs and

cats. So, when youre eeling discouraged, just

remember: It can be done. It is done every single

day. With some eort, creativity and perseverance,you can do it, too. We wish you the very best!

Want to help more animals locally?Join the Best Friends Network!

The Best Friends Network is thousands o

animal lovers and organizations across the

country, all working to help animals in their

own communities to bring about a time when

there will be no more homeless pets.

To join or to learn more about the Network,

visit our website at www.bestriends.org/

nomorehomelesspets/thenetwork/.

You can also send an e-mail to bnetwork@

bestriends.org.


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Note: This is a sample contract that you can adapt to ft your particular situation.

Adoption ContractName o person adopting out the animal (reerred to as Guardian) ___________________________________

Phone_____________________ Address _________________________________________________________

Adopted Animals name_______________________ Sex_____ Age_____ Spayed/neutered? _______________

Color and description ________________________________________________________________________

Name o person adopting the animal (reerred to as Adopter) _______________________________________

Phone_____________________ Address _________________________________________________________

AS THE ADOPTER, I AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:

1. I the Adopted Animal is not already altered, I agree to have the Adopted Animal altered by this date:

__________________. I will provide proo o altering by ________________ and, i not delivered, I understand

that _________________________ reserves the right to reclaim the animal.

2. I agree to keep an identication tag attached to a properly tted collar that will remain on the Adopted Animal

at all times, whether inside or outside o the house, and to obtain all city licenses required by local authorities.

3. I agree to provide the Adopted Animal with necessary inoculations at the intervals advised by my veterinarian.

4. I agree to have the Adopted Animal under my control when he/she is not within the connes o my property. A

secure enced area will be provided or dogs, including shelter rom the elements. I the Adopted Animal is a cat, I

agree to keep the cat as an indoor-only pet. The Adopted Animal will not be tied or chained.

5. I or any reason I cannot keep the Adopted Animal, I agree to notiy the Guardian o the availability o the pet

and to return the Adopted Animal upon request.

6. I agree not to abuse or neglect the Adopted Animal and I authorize the Guardian, at his/her sole discretion, to

determine whether or not the pet has been abused or neglected.

7. I understand that any ailure to perorm the oregoing agreement will constitute a breach o contract. In the

event o any such breach o contract, I authorize the Guardian to reclaim both possession and ownership o the

Adopted Animal.

8. I understand that the pet covered by this adoption contract is, as ar as can be determined by the Guardian, in

good health and that the Guardian is not responsible or any medical ees incurred ater the adoption date. However,i a health problem develops during the rst 10 days, I should notiy the Guardian so we may discuss the matter.

9. I agree to give the Guardian occasional visitation rights to ensure that the terms o this adoption agreement are

being observed.

Signature o Guardian______________________________ Date _____________________________________

Signature o Adopter_______________________________ Date _____________________________________


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Note: This is a sample medical record that you can adapt to ft your particular situation.

Medical Record

Name o pet___________________________ Breed _______________________________________

Color______________________ Markings _______________________________________________

Date o birth _____________________ Approximate ___ Exact ___

Sex: ___ Male ___ Female

Neutered or spayed? ___ Yes ___ No I yes, date o surgery ___________________________

General history _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Veterinarians name___________________________ Phone _________________________________

Date o FeLV test (eline only) ___________________ Results: ___ Pos ___ Neg

Date o FIV test (eline only) ___________________ Results: ___ Pos ___ Neg

Date o heartworm test (canine only) __________________ Results: ___ Pos ___ Neg

Date o last rabies vaccination _____________________ Tag # _______________________________

Next rabies vaccination due ______________________

Other vaccination__________________________________ Date _____________________________



Illnesses, treatments _________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Other comments ____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________


15/16



Note: This is a sample worksheet that you can adapt to ft your particular situation.

Adoption Screeners Worksheet

Date call received________________________ Date o interview ______________________________

Name and address ____________________________________________________________________

Phone numbers: Day___________________________ Evening _______________________________

Record the prospective adopters answers to these questions:

How did you hear about the pet? ________________________________________________________

What type o animal are you looking or? _________________________________________________

Who is the animal or? ________________________________________________________________

Who will be the primary caregiver? ______________________________________________________

Do you have other pets at home? ___ Yes ___ No

I yes: Please tell me about them. ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

I no, ask: Have you had pets beore? _____ I yes: What happened to them? _____________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have children? _____ I yes: How old are they? _____________________________________

Do all members o the household know about and want a new animal? ___ Yes ___ No

I no, please explain: __________________________________________________________________

Do you live in a house, a mobile home, or an apartment? _____________________________________

Do you own your home or are you renting? ________________________________________________

I renting, does your lease allow pets? ___ Yes ___ No

May I call your landlord? ___ Yes ___ No Landlords phone ____________________________

Can I come to your home, to see where the animal will be living? ___ Yes ___ No

How many hours would the animal be alone during the day? __________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

(continued)


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I youre trying to fnd a home or a dog:

Does your home have a yard and is it completely enced? ___________________________________

Will the dog get regular exercise? ______________________________________________________

I youre trying to fnd a home or a cat:

Will the cat be an indoor or outdoor cat? _________________________________________________

Would you consider declawing a cat? ___ Yes ___ No

Ater the interview, record your impressions:

Does the prospective adopter seem responsible? ____________________________________________

Flexible and compassionate? ___________________________________________________________

What is your general impression o this person? (Go with your gut eeling.) ______________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Any doubts that this will be a good home? _________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Documents

How to Find Homes for Pets