Room for Improvement : 10 Ways to be A Better Rescue

1. If your going to post pets up for adoption on a website like petfinder.com make sure you include a detailed description of the pet AND how someone should apply.

Why? Not everyone will go searching for hours on every single rescues page looking for what to do. Some will just decide it's easier to buy a dog at the mall! Yuck!

2. Take GOOD pictures. Seeing pets in good condition (not being held) and in several different ways and in good lighting makes a difference.

Why? I skipped all the posts that had no picture because I can't gauge the personality, size, color, or breed mix. I don't want to drive to New River, AZ just to look at a dog that I might not like. This explains why pound dogs don't get adopted because the pound doesn't normally take pictures or post descriptions. Also, black dogs need lots more attention in the picture dept. It's a well known fact that black dogs get adopted WAY less than other dogs. Tie a bright bandanna around the pet's neck and lead them outside and engage in a fun game to bring out their personality and snap away!

3. Yes, you posted on petfinder.com but I still need to go to your website. Is it easy to navigate? Can I find the email addresses quickly? Is the application in PDF or Word form? Does the site look professional (not fancy-professional)? Do you have success stories and policies that I can read?

Why? Petfinder.com is a stepping stone for you in adopting out a pet, not an ending point. A good pet owner will research the rescue. If the page doesn't look professional then your efforts will look a little faded and superficial or slapped together. I'm not saying spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy site, but make it easy to navigate with lots of pictures so we can get a feel for the people and the organizational skills of the rescue. There's nothing worse than an unorganized rescue.

4. Call/email people back!

Why? Not calling/emailing gives people the feeling that you didn't like their application and discourages them from adopting a pet. Also, it's unprofessional. A day or so of silence is ok, but throw us a bone and let us know that you at least RECEIVED the application so we don't keep sending it to you, thinking you never got it, or calling you every other day. If you need to hire someone for just that reason then do so!

5. Fostering animals is a great way to keep expenses down, but it also leaves room for foster parents to think they "can manage" with 10 animals because they've become so attached. Limit the number of animals per foster parent and make sure the foster parent know what they are getting into BEFORE they decide to foster. It's all well and good until someone really is interested in adopting them and they have to leave.

Why? Charlie was in a house with THIRTY dogs. He is a very shy animal. The foster mom lived in an HOA neighborhood with a three dog limit so Charlie NEVER got walked. He didn't even know what a leash was. And when I adopted him on accident she was very upset because she got so attached to him. I felt bad, but, Charlie was in a house with THIRTY dogs. That's WAAAYYY too many for such a shy little dog. I bet she would be surprised at how his personality has blossomed at being an only dog.

6. Although the application may seem like something you don't need to pay attention to, or just "paperwork", it's actually very important for both parties involved. It let's the adoptee know how serious a rescue you are by the types of questions asked (AKA how much you care) and it let's the adopter get to know the potential adoptee better by the types of answers they give. It gives you a chance to go back over the paperwork if you're a busy rescue to remind you of this person. The more questions you ask the better (but don't go overboard).

Why? I filled out an application that was just a page long with boring questions like my address, name and phone number. The best one I answered was three pages long included necessary information like my address etc, but also had questions like: Had I ever owned a pet before? Why did I want a pet now? Had I ever given a pet away? Why? It was just long enough for me to give informative answers that showed I cared, but not long enough to make me think they didn't want ANYBODY to adopt their animals. Some applications just give you a feeling that they distrust everybody.

7. Home visits. As much as they may be a pain in the butt to organize it's very important. It's actually the only bad thing the rescue I adopted Charlie from did; they never gave a home visit. They just assumed where I lived was ok.

Why? How do you know they have a two acre block fenced yard? How do you know they have a doggie door installed? How do you know they only have one other dog who's 2 years old and perfect? How do you know their kid is perfect with animals? You don't. So be smart and do a probation period with at least two home visits. One at 2 weeks and one at 1 month.

8. Learn to realize that some animals may never find a home. As sad as it may be, just know that the life you gave them is probably 100X better than how they came to you and that whatever happens they are grateful.

9. Don't adopt an animal out to anyone who won't care for the animal better than you did.

10. Listen to your instincts. Even if you can't find a legitimate reason why this person should not have this animal, but you just have a bad feeling then listen to it. Make something up about why the animal can't go to them. That alone could save it's life. Nothing is foolproof. All the questions and applications in the world can't tell you as much as your instincts can.