Member Log In

Pets for Patriots

Companion pet adoption for United States military veterans and service members

  • Adopt a pet
    • How it works
    • Veteran benefits
    • Program availability
    • Proof of service
    • Eligible pets
    • Pre-qual application
  • Be a veterinary partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Be a shelter partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Eligible pets
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Donate Now
    • Donate online
    • Ways to give
    • Spread the word
  • More
    • About us
      • Vision
      • Mission
      • Our team
      • Board of Directors
      • Financial accountability
      • Year in review
      • Program availability
    • Making an impact
      • Forget Me Not
      • The Wet Nose Blog
      • Partner News
      • Donor News
      • Home at last
      • Welcome Home
      • Hotel to Home
    • Friends & Partners
      • Veterinarian partners
      • Shelter partners
      • Sponsors
      • Banfield
      • VIP Petcare
      • Community partners
    • Resources
      • Donor FAQ
      • Veteran FAQ
      • Shelter FAQ
      • Veterinarian FAQ
      • Other resources
    • Connect with us
      • In the news
      • Free wallpaper
      • Contact us

Partner News

Home › Partner News › Going from ‘no’ to ‘yes:’ how to remove roadblocks to pet adoption

Going from ‘no’ to ‘yes:’ how to remove roadblocks to pet adoption

September 26, 2019Noteworthy

Going from 'no' to 'yes:' how to remove roadblocks to pet adoption
Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good

Does your shelter unintentionally put up roadblocks to pet adoption?

A shelter is meant as a safe, temporary refuge for our society’s most vulnerable animals: those who are stray, lost, neglected, abused, and surrendered. Once stabilized these animals belong in a home, not a shelter.

Still, too many animal welfare organizations hold would-be adopters to standards that are onerous at best, absurd at worst.

Extensive applications with invasive and often irrelevant questions can deter even the most determined pet adopter.

The result? Those adopters will simply go elsewhere. And your shelter will still have that dog or cat waiting for the perfect home that does not exist.

This article explores recommendations for getting rid of roadblocks to pet adoption so that more animals can find loving homes.

Come on in

Increasingly, people go to an organization’s website as the first place to ‘window shop’ adoption candidates. But once they have narrowed their search they want to see the actual pets.

During public hours your shelter should welcome as many adopters to visit animals as is safe, practical, and feasible. This may mean having more staff or volunteers on hand during peak visitation times.

Make it as easy, pleasant, and productive for shelter visitors to meet available pets. Do not put any obstacles in the way of people coming to your shelter.

Some shelters require an application or appointment to merely see available pets.

This does not improve the quality of adopters coming to your shelter; it merely limits them.

Don’t fence me in

Fences may make good neighbors, but they do not necessarily make good adopters – or well-exercised pets.

It should not matter if an applicant has a fenced-in yard. Simply putting a dog in a yard is not a guarantee that he will get any more physical activity than through other means.

Instead, speak with potential adopters about how they plan to ensure their new pet will get adequate exercise.

For example, a high energy dog who lives in an apartment can be satisfied with multiple long walks or trips to the dog park.

To crate or not to crate

Do not require that a pet adopted through your organization be crated at home.

Unless you plan to micromanage every aspect of each pet’s post adoption life, leave it to the adopter to find the best way to create a proper home environment for their new pet.

If there are behavioral, medical, or other legitimate reasons why a pet needs to be crated discuss these with the adopter, but do not require it.

Who let the cats out?

Just like all living creatures, cats need to get outdoors. It is in their nature to want to explore.

While many studies have shown that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives, that does not mean a cat can never step foot outside.

Speak with potential adopters about safe ways to manage their cats’ outdoor excursions, such as using a cat harness. Discuss ways to enrich the lives of indoor cats as well.

However, do not require applicants to commit to never taking their cat outside as a condition of adoption.

Lose the labels

There is a still small, yet growing trend to remove breed labels from pets’ online and in-shelter bios.

This so-called ‘no labels’ movement instead focuses on other, more important characteristics. Is the animal child friendly? Is this a high energy pet who needs an active household or one who prefers a quieter home? Does the animal enjoy the company of other pets?

There are other reasons not to type pets by breed. Educated guesses about a pet’s breed are notoriously inaccurate.

Sadly, a lot of municipalities, communities, and residences enforce breed bans. And many adopters discriminate against certain breeds. Breed labeling a dog or cat is a major roadblock to pet adoption.

If you label a Boxer mix as a Pit Bull-type dog because it “looks like” one, you may be denying that dog a wonderful home with someone who lives in a residence that bans Pit Bulls.

Other roadblocks to pet adoption

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has a thought-provoking piece on how to create ‘adopters welcome’ policies.

The HSUS article includes recommendations that are likely controversial to many animal welfare professionals. However, this does not make them less worthy of consideration.

For example, HSUS suggests removing ‘meet and greet’ requirements for adopters who have resident pets. They cite a study showing no change in outcome when meet and greets were not required.

And see this case study from ASPCA Pro about a shelter that ditched the standard application and interview process. They not only increased adoptions, but improved relationships with their community by becoming a valued resource.

How does your organization remove roadblocks to pet adoption?

PreviousNext

New Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Latest Partner News

    It is our goal to be a resource for our valued partners up to date on what’s happening in our community and with our program.

  • Noteworthy

    View third party studies, articles, and news involving animal and veterans welfare.

  • Partner Spotlight

    See some of our featured partners and learn more about the amazing work they are doing.

  • Program Updates

    Stay up-to-date on changes/clarifications to our program, policies, and more.

Petco Foundation

img-onefourthpage-250xnomax

GET YOUR PET

Online community connecting people who want to adopt with pets who need a home. Pets bypass the shelter entirely. Think of it as a person-to-person Petfinder.

Learn more at getyourpet.com

DOGS PLAYING FOR LIFE

This is a wonderful program that offers free on-site, hands on, instructional training to shelters around the country so they can develop dog play groups. The concept is that it helps dogs become better socialized, reduces stress, and in turn makes them more adoptable. Free to qualifying shelters, which must be breed agnostic and open admission.

Learn more at dogsplayingforlife.com

img-onefourthpage-250xnomax

TREAT ME RIGHT

All natural, organic, human grade, and unique dog and cat treats that raise funds for animal welfare groups to help homeless pets.

Learn more at treatmeright.org

img-onefourthpage-250xnomax

RESCUE REBUILD

Animal shelter renovation program using volunteers from across the country to complete repairs and renovations to shelters, and increase pet adoption.

Learn more at rescuerebuild.greatergood.org

Join the Conversation

Stay Connected

Join the conversation, read recent adoption stories, view featured pets needing new homes and more.

Twitter

@petsforpatriots

Follow Us

Instagram

@petsforpatriots

Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 years of service to our nation. And in 2012 he was one of our early adopters - literally and figuratively - when he rescued then 2 year-old Ellie.

Ellie is now 13 and the pint-sized pup is still living large with Clark and his family, who recently gave us this heartfelt shoutout:

"Wanted to thank you for the many years of support your team has provided! It has helped out immensely over the years! Thank you all for what you have done and for what you continue to do."

Sounds like a mission accomplished to us!

Thanks to our partners @ranchocoastal - one of our earliest shelter partners - for this enduring match, and for continuing to waive adoption fees for veterans in our program.

#gotchadayanniversary #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #militaryfamily #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #usmarinecorps #petsforvets
Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just th Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just threw a lifeline to Kali, a stunning Cane Corso mix. This big, beautiful girl was in the care of our partners @norfolkanimals which gives veterans we serve 50% off adoption fees.

Click to the next photo to see their freedom ride pic!

#canecorsoofinstagram #canecorso #bigdogs #bigdogsofinstagram #bigdogstrong #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #weratedogs #navyveteran #navy #usn #usnavy #norfolkva
CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in t CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, including the addition of an older cat who joined her after the loss of a beloved pet.

Click the link in our bio to read their tale!

Thanks @sdhumanesociety for helping us make this purr-fect story possible and for waiving adoption fees for veterans in our program. ❤️

#sdhumanesociety #femaleveteran #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #cats_of_instagram #cutecat #cutecats #cutecatsofinstagram #nalacat #adoptasheltercat #adoptaseniorpet #oldcatsofinstagram #oldcats #twoisbetterthanone
You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad gives up his armchair for you. ❤️

Congratulations to nearly 9 year-old Holly Belle who's already made herself at home. She met Chuck through our partners @fredspca - which waives adoption fees for veterans we serve...oorah!

#olddogsrule #seniordogsofinstagram #adoptaseniordog #adoptaseniorpet #olddogsofinstagram #cutedogs #weratedogs #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #iserved #iadopted #petsforvets
Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world a sweet New Year, especially the men and women of the U.S. military who serve in all corners of the world in defense of our freedoms, including the freedom to practice (or not) the faith of our choosing.

L'shana tovah!

#lshanatova #lshanahtovah #roshhashana #roshhashanah #happynewyear #jewishnewyear #freedom #freedomofreligion #sweetnewyear
Meet two of our recent cat-tastic heroes: * Tim i Meet two of our recent cat-tastic heroes:

* Tim is active duty Army and just became cat dad to Iceburg - one cool cat (sorry, we couldn't resist)! Thanks to @jeffcospca for this purr-fect match and for giving veterans we serve $100 adoption fees.

* Andre is an Army National Guardsman with a heart for older pets. He met 11 year-old Camo (great name!) through our partners @nfsaws in Connecticut, which offers our veterans 50% off adoption fees.

#cats_of_instagram #adoptasheltercat #adoptashelterpet #adoptdontshop #nalacat #whitecat #calicocat #seniorpetsofig #adoptaseniorcat #armylife #army #army #armynationalguard #petsforvets #realmenlovecats
It's adoptapalooza "J" edition! * Jonasia is an A It's adoptapalooza "J" edition!

* Jonasia is an Army veteran who visited our partners @bmorehumane and added 3 year-old Josey to her family. This gorgeous hound and her adorable human sister are both so pretty in pink...twinning!

* James is an Iraq war veteran who needed the comfort of a 4-legged battle buddy. Three year-old Nami fit the bill after being in the care of our partners @lollypopfarm!

* Jacob is active duty Army and met Charlemagne at @jeffcospca where this stunning Shepherd-Retriever mix just fetched a new home!

Thanks to all of our shelter partners mentioned in this post - and across the country - who help us place animals in need with our nation's heroes.

#adoptdontshop #armyveteran #army #armystrong #houndsofinstagram #muttsrule #petsforvets #femaleveteran #iraqwar #militaryfamily #militaryfamilies #battlebuddies
Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing as his guiding philosophy. Eventually that attitude led the Marine Corps veteran to save a shelter dog who would forever change his perspective on adoption.

Click the link in our bio to read this truly inspirational tale!

#usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #marinecorpsveteran #iraqwar #combatveteran #militaryfamily #cutedogsofinstagram #weratedogs #adoptdontshop #petsforvets #muttsrule
22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue 22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue to honor the lives of thousands of souls lost that day and in the years that followed, including two as yet unnamed victims identified within the last few days.

May they all rest in heavenly repose with the knowledge that we will never waiver, we will always stand on the side of freedom, and we will never, ever forget.

#september11 #neverforget #neverforgotten #nineeleven #911 #worldtradecenter #marines #army #coastguard #navy #airforce #fdny #nypd #rip #waronterror #freedom #freedomisntfree #shanksville #pentagon
Follow Us

© 2023 Pets for Patriots, Inc. | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Contact us

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.