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How Not To Adopt a Pet: Removing Barriers to Pet Adoption

Several years ago, a friend of mine wanted to adopt a specific breed. She reached out to a number of breed-specific rescues who all told her the same thing: Sorry, you don’t have a fenced-in yard.

So, what did she do? She contacted a reputable breeder in her state and purchased a pup.

Did I mention she’s a vet tech? And she can bring her dog to work? She’s single, owns her own townhouse that, no, doesn’t have a backyard, but in literally every regard would’ve been the perfect person to rescue any pup.

Thank goodness every rescue doesn’t have that policy. We adopted both Emmett and Lucas while living in a condo that, yes, we owned but had no direct access outdoors.

How Not to Adopt a Pet: Removing barriers to animal adoption via OhMyDogBlog.com

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In another instance, very recently, I was somehow added to a threaded discussion on Facebook about electric fences. The original poster was an adoption coordinator or counselor for a foster-based rescue I think. She asked whether or not rescues allowed dogs to be adopted into a home with an electric fence. The answer, of course, was a resounding no way. There were probably close to 50 comments before I left the thread, all stating that an electric fence precludes someone in every case because they’re dangerous, they let wild animals in, they rely on shock, etc., etc., etc.

Now, I’m not a fan myself for a host of reasons, but. I know many incredible pet parents who have electric fences for a variety of reasons. In one case, a vet who took phenomenal care of Emmett in his aging years has one in addition to a fence because her dog was an escape artist and she needed a second line of defense. And, at least here in the Midwest, HOAs stipulate all kinds of crazy things, including whether or not you can have a fence and what it looks like. If someone’s only option is an electric fence, and no shelter or rescue will adopt to them, it’s not stopping them from getting a dog! They can, like a cousin did, get a pup from a rehome situation posted on cragislist, or from a dog printed in the newspaper, or, like my friend did, from a breeder.

Anyone who wants a dog will get a dog.

So, why do rescues make it so hard to adopt a pet?

I’m talking specifically about barriers to adoption, which speaks to a much, much larger issue I touch on in a minute. I realize that, sure, rescues and shelters have to create criteria for adoptions. They need to conduct some research into the person wanting to adopt to make sure that their animals are going into a good home… but who defines good?

In my time volunteering in all sorts of rescues in a number of states, I’ve seen criteria that included:

  • must have a fenced-in yard
  • out-of-state adoptions can’t already have a pet in the home (from a breed-specific rescue that does transport)
  • no electric fences
  • must own your own home or provide a letter from you landlord stating you can have a pet
  • submit to a home visit
  • submit references
  • be home during the day

I’ve read news stories about fantastic potential adopters being denied for all sorts of reasons, like:

That list could go on, but the bottom line for each point is that they’re making assumptions about the kind of person you are based on subjective criteria, which prevents some good people from adopting animals. And, as I said, that doesn’t prevent them from getting animals because, let’s be honest, you can get a dog or cat from just about anywhere at anytime. We found fosters Molly and Petey dumped in the bayou. We found Newt, essentially, in a parking lot. We found Ripley through friends who had a pregnant cat give birth in their barn.

The other thing about that list is that those are barriers that apply to only a certain percentage of the population.

I’m going to insert a big pause here and jump topics to animal shelter volunteers.

Bear with me because it all comes full circle…

There’s been a ton of research into volunteerism across all kinds of industries, but there have been several recent publications surrounding volunteerism in animal shelters. One of the main questions, of course, is how to retain volunteers for the long haul. However, for the purposes of our discussion, I want to take a look at demographic data that seems consistent:

A national sample of 426 animal welfare volunteers was given modified versions of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007) annual “Volunteering in the United States” survey and of the VFI [Volunteer Functions Inventory]. Results suggest that the typical animal welfare volunteer is female, White, pet-owning, heterosexual, employed, childless, married or partnered, Democrat-leaning, between the ages of 40 and 59, has an income between $50,000 and $99,999, and is Protestant. (source)

OK.

So, here’s the thing: Animal rescue across the board is a middle class white lady thing. Statistically, of course, which doesn’t matter at the individual level where I know lots of animal welfare advocates and volunteers who are not middle class nor white nor ladies. But, by and large, that’s the demographic nationwide.

{{If you haven’t yet read Bronwen Dickey’s Pit Bull, please do. It covers this issue in greater depth than I can here with a lot of the nuance and history accounted for and analyzed. Plus, it’s just a fantastic book.}}

When you take a look at the list of pet adoption barriers, well, the reality is that generally speaking lots of them wouldn’t apply to middle class white families. That’s not to say I think animal welfare intentionally excludes people based on race or the demographic factors related to race (for which I highly, highly recommend digging into in this book. So good and informative, even though she doesn’t tackle animal welfare head-on). Of course it’s not the case for every single person and family in America, but it is statistically the case for many people and families in America.

As I said, I don’t think this is a purposeful problem but rather a set of arbitrary exclusions enacted by many rescues over time that then precluded animal adoptions from being a democratic process.

And, as I also said, those barriers to adoption will never prevent a person from acquiring an animal. They’ll just prevent more shelter animals from finding their way into loving homes that, sure, might not have a fence or might not have a food or vet budget determined by the rescue.

I’ve encountered versions of this discussion around two other topics: the cost of adoptions and the cost of pet care. I have a post on the cost of pet care coming soon, but in my post on the cost of adoptions and the corresponding discussion on Facebook, it was clear that many people do believe there should be an income requirement for pet adoptions. That’s galling to me because it’s basically saying that poor people shouldn’t adopt pets. Ugh. Same goes for those pet food discussions. If someone can’t afford to feed XYZ premium food, then can they truly afford to take care of the pet? so the argument goes. Double ugh.

Matching pets with a suitable home and family is vitally important.

Every shelter, rescue, foster, whatever must have guidelines, of course. A more flexible approach doesn’t mean no barriers whatsoever; it simply means taking into account more types of people and lives.

By the way, whether or not the reasons for denial are just, rescues are privately held organizations that can adopt to whomever they deem fit. However, I’ve recently left two Facebook groups centered around animal adoptions because the threads were so disheartening–not just the electric fence question, but the question about dog food, and the question about apartment dwellers, and the question about reference checks all ended with resounding cries of “exclude them!”

All I can think, though, is this:

A good home, even an imperfect one, is a better home than a shelter.

I’d love to know what you think. I know many of you work or volunteer in animal welfare in some capacity. I have a million tabs saved in my Chrome with anecdotes, policies, research, and so on, but I’d love to hear from those of you with boots on the ground, so to speak. Have you encountered any of these barriers to pet adoption? Do you have experience being prevented from adopting? Or does your volunteer experience track with this? Please share your experience in the comments so we can all learn more about this crazy important topic together!

ADDITIONAL READING:

Pets for Christmas: Should you gift a dog or a cat?

I’ve been researching a post about adoption barriers, and I have a whole huge situation–with footnotes!–coming on that in the new year. For now, though, one thing I’ve encountered over and over again in my research: Limiting adoptions for the holidays throws up yet another adoption barrier not founded in data.

I am fully aware that this isn’t a popular opinion, so stick with me, guys, because I’m going to break it down.

Should you give a dog or cat as a Christmas gift_

I’m sure you’ve seen the headlines:

  • Pets Aren’t Presents
  • 5 Reasons Not to Give Pets as Christmas Gifts
  • Why You Should Avoid Giving Pets as Gifts

As so on. There’s even a massive online campaign from my least favorite, most hated animal group, PETA, that includes a social and blog push for “pets aren’t presents.”

Before we look at the numbers, let’s set three expectations:

First, we’re not talking about giving a puppy to, say, your mailman or your child’s classroom teacher. This isn’t a surprise for your Great Aunt Gladys (unless she explicitly told you all she wants is a kitten). This is a pet gift within your own household. And, honestly, the numbers bear this out anyways… people aren’t giving pets as presents to random people on your list anyways.

Second, every single one of the “don’t give pets as holiday gifts” articles I’ve read included the same theme: Giving a pet as a present brings an animal into an unprepared household. Since every  article includes this same warning–the recipient won’t be prepared–I’m wondering who they think gives the pet. I’m not sure if this is a scenario that assumes you give the pet as the gift and then wash your hands of it, but if we’re talking pets adopted into the same household (see the point above), it’s an expectation on the giver’s part to, you know, give the pet’s supplies along with the pet. Since more often than not this pets-as-presents debate focuses on parents giving their kids a pet for Christmas, well, the parents buy the supplies anyway.

Third, I’m focused solely on dogs and cats. Unfortunately, as with just about every animal welfare topic, there’s little reliable data on small animals, and I’m striving to avoid assumptions or anecdotes in favor of data.

OK, so we’re talking about a dog or cat given as a gift within the household and a responsible adult is involved in the decision. 

Seems simple enough, but somehow the popular opinion has decided people give pets willy-nilly to unsuspecting friends and family who know nothing about pets, who don’t have the budget for it, who haven’t pet-proofed their home. And then it turned into skyrocketing relinquishment numbers post-holiday (which the data shows that’s a far cry from the truth… more on that in a minute). Honestly, who’s giving dogs and cats out to everyone on their list?

All that aside, this happens so often in animal adoption: feelings seem to hold more weight than data. So, let’s look at the data.

My preference is always to find peer-reviewed literature, and there’s not a ton, but there’s this: “Should Dogs and Cats be Given as Gifts?” published in the open-access journal Animals in 2013. You can access the full study here, but here’s what the authors state in the intro (bold emphasis added by me):

Common arguments include statements such as: pet ownership shouldn’t be an impulse decision; the recipient should consent to pet ownership and be involved in the selection of a pet that fits his or her lifestyle; it’s a long-term commitment; pet ownership is costly; the holidays are a bad time to bring home a new animal. This message may be driven by concerns of inappropriate homing and return to the shelter. Often, organizations that support these arguments cite anecdotal evidence that returns of pets from unhappy gift receivers occurs frequently. However, the available data do not support these concerns.

They went on to clarify the purpose of their study:

While there is strong existing evidence to show that dogs and cats obtained as gifts are not at a higher risk of relinquishment than dogs and cats obtained in other ways, the myth that dogs and cats should not be given as gifts still persists.

They concluded:

The lack of associations between receiving a dog or cat as a gift and its impact on self-perceived love/attachment and whether or not respondents still had the dog or cat in the home is evidence supporting the notion that pets given as gifts are not at higher risk for abandonment. Further, denying potential adopters the right to obtain dogs and cats as gifts may unnecessarily impede the overarching goal of increasing the rate of live-releases of dogs and cats from our nations’ shelter system.

Ultimately, the outcomes for animals given as gifts are the same outcomes of the general pet population. 

As far as anecdotal evidence, ASPCA Pro published a case study of a shelter in Charleston, SC, that launched a “Home for the Holidays” program. In that case, the president of the shelter reported that 40 pets have been given as gifts through their program and none have been returned.

In the ASPCA’s official position statement on pets as gifts, they write:

Recently, the ASPCA conducted a survey to learn more about people who acquire pets as gifts. In the survey, 96% of the people who received pets as gifts thought it either increased or had no impact on their love or attachment to that pet. The vast majority of these pets are still in the home (86%). The survey also revealed no difference in attachment based on the gift being a surprise or known in advance.  Several studies conducted in the 1990’s and 2000 (Patronek, 1996, Scarlett, 1999 New, 1999, New 2000) found that pets acquired as gifts are less likely to be relinquished than pets acquired by the individual.

And, across the ocean, the conversation is changing on pet adoptions through the RSPCA. Here’s an article that examined data and conducted interviews and concluded, again, that pets can be wonderful gifts as long as it’s not a surprise to an unsuspecting friend or family member. Check out their relinquishment rates graph, too, which further shows that the data just doesn’t bear out on the supposed increase in post-holiday pet relinquishment in the UK.

Finally, in this piece from CBS News, the journalist juxtaposes a shelter’s reluctance to adopt pets during the holiday against the data and the HSUS’ position, as well, ultimately concluding that more progressive shelters are likely to allow or even encourage adoptions during the holidays.

BTW, one of the shelters quoted says they try to counsel against adopting pets as gifts but understand that the person can ultimately just leave and go buy a pet to gift… so, who wins in that scenario?

This myth seems to be simply another barrier to pet adoption. Common assumptions that aren’t backed by research prevent pets from finding their families throughout the entire year, but hopefully this myth can be dismantled so that more pups can spend Christmas morning in a home!

Bottom line:

  1. Don’t give a pet to someone not in your household. Duh.
  2. Make sure an adult is involved in the decision. Also, duh.
  3. Pets make wonderful gifts and giving an adoptable dog or cat a home for the holidays is absolutely lovely–IF numbers 1 and 2 are strictly followed!

So, what do you think? Have you heard that pets shouldn’t be given as gifts? Have you ever received a pet as a gift?

Choosing a Pet: Is adoption right for my family?

Is your family thinking about growing with a furry, feathery, or scaly member?Families find pets in a bunch of different ways: online sites like neighborhood listservs, family members, breeders, animal shelters, or even on the side of the road.We believe that all animals deserve to live in a loving home with a family who cares for them and meets their needs–regardless of where the animal came from. But, if your family is ready to take the plunge into pet-parenting, adopting a pet from an animal shelter is our preferred way to go. Why?Well, for one thing, there are millions of animals in shelters across the country, ready for their family to come and find them. While we don’t have any issues at all with purchasing a pet through a reputable breeder, there’s no shortage of purebred dogs in shelters, either.When you adopt from a shelter rather than, say, taking a dog listed free online or handed over from a family member, you’re getting some of the pet’s health care taken care of prior to bringing him or her home–super important if you’re trying to keep costs low or if you have other animals or kids in the home.But! We’re getting ahead of ourselves, so let’s dive in!Choosing a Pet_ Is adoption right for my family_ 10 things to consider first...

Here are 10 things to consider before adding an adopted pet to your family:

  1. Do you have the time for a new pet? Pets need attention every single day, even pets like fish. Are you able to commit the time it takes every day to keep a pet happy and healthy? A great place to start is with a visit to a veterinarian! Ask what it takes each day to keep a specific type of pet happy and healthy, and decide if your family can commit.
  2. Are your children really ready for a pet? They might claim they’ll walk the dog, scoop the litter box, change the tank filter, and exercise the guinea pigs, but you know it’ll eventually fall on you. So, the real question becomes: Can your kids be held accountable and responsible for behaving appropriately around the pet?
  3. Do you have money set aside? Here’s the thing: Adopting a pet is actually a great way to save money because they come fully vetted and spayed or neutered. However, food, gear, tanks, toys, litter, vaccinations, monthly medications like heartworm pills, vet visits, bedding… it all adds up.
  4. Is your home pet-proofed? If you adopt a dog, is your yard safely fenced-in? If you adopt a hamster, do you have somewhere like a bathtub where he can get daily exercise? If you adopt a bird, is there a quiet corner for his cage, plus space to stretch his wings? If you’re thinking about a baby animal–of any species–are you set up to prevent bathroom accidents and chewing problems? If not, can you take all the steps before bringing home your new pet?
  5. What are you looking for in a pet? Does your family want a hiking partner? Or a furry to cuddle with on the couch? Are you hoping to teach your kids responsibility? Or provide them with something interesting to watch and observe each day? Determine what your family’s desires are for a pet, which leads us to…
  6. What species should you adopt? Dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, lizards, and more: You can find any kind of feathered, furry, or scaly friend at your local animal shelter. Depending on what your family is looking for will determine the species you choose. If you want a bud to take adventuring, a dog is a great choice. If you want your kids to learn about caring for animals, a fish tank with a daily feeding chart is a great place to start. Your local veterinarian or the staff at your shelter can help you figure this out based on your needs, and they can even match you to the right animal for your family!
  7. Can you commit to meeting the pet’s needs? Time, attention, and money–we’ve discussed those. But what about training? And getting home from work in time for feedings? There are so many needs beyond the basic food, water, and shelter. Make sure your family understands a specific animal’s needs and is ready to commit. A vet or shelter staff are great people to get those details!
  8. Should you adopt a young animal or an older animal? Puppies and kittens are wildly appealing. They’re cute! They’re fluffy! They’re silly! Your kids will go gaga! But… they need to be potty trained and, well, trained altogether. They chew stuff up. Teethe. Have accidents. Make lots of mistakes while they’re learning. That’s perfect for families who understand what they’re getting into and are excited for the challenge, but not so perfect for super-busy families who are in and out of the house all day. After you’ve determined the species you’d like to adopt, think about the pace of life you lead to think through the best age for you, your kids, and the incoming pet. An adoption councilor at your shelter can help you pinpoint the right lifestage for your family!
  9. Who will care for your pet when your family travels? Family vacations, holidays, weekend soccer camps… you’ll need to arrange pet care. Do you have a family member or neighbor you trust who is also available around the holidays? Will you have to hire a pro? Is that cost factored into your budget? It’s not difficult to find professional pet sitters, and boarding facilities, but if you’re adopting an exotic animal, is there someone in your area who cares for those types of animals?
  10. Do you LOVE love? OK, that’s a trick question! Of course you do! Here’s the thing: Adopting a shelter animal guarantees a lotta love will enter your household. While the other nine points are super important considerations, the reality is that the love a pet brings to your family make all the rest worthwhile–IF you go into choosing a pet with the right frame of mind!

OK, your turn!

Are you currently looking to adopt a pet? What are your family’s considerations? Or, if you have a pet, how did you decide who to add and when? Do your kiddos take on any of the pet care responsibilities? Share in the comments below!

How to Love a Cat

A cat is easy to love.

They’re cute. They’re so cute with soft, fluffy fur and big, beautiful eyes.

They’re funny. They’re fun to watch because of how funny they can be: leaping, twisting, turning, crouching, wiggling, pouncing… all at invisible prey.

They’re champion snugglers. How can you do anything but love a fur ball who curls up in one sunny window or on one couch cushion and sleep for five, six, seven hours at a stretch? And then there’s the actual stretching! Cats are yoga masters, and their back bends, forward folds, and–yep–even their down dogs spark smiles and inspire relaxation.

A cat is easy to love.

How to love a cat | OhMyDogBlog.com

But for us humans, we want to be loved back.

There’s the rub… it’s, well, it’s in the rubbing. And the petting and the hugging and the grubby fingers combing that soft, fluffy fur.

See, dogs are easy. They very often–and often to their detriment–work super hard to keep us happy. Cats, on the other hand, expect us to work super hard to keep them happy.

And it’s worth it to work that hard for a cat. Nothing beats a tiny little fuzz ball rubbing your ankles with her chin, purring away. Nothing beats a curled up, zonked out cat on your lap (unless you have to go to the bathroom, but even then… stay still… enjoy it). Nothing beats meeting a cat on her terms to achieve training goals.

Because you have to work so hard, the reward is so great.

Newt is a difficult cat. Or, at least, she is on the surface.

Newt’s reality is that she’s finicky. She likes things a certain way. She likes being pet a certain way and fed a certain way and cuddled a certain way.

So, how do you love a cat?

You love a cat by taking the time to learn what those certain ways are… and then appreciating them for what they are.

You love a cat by accepting that your cat might not like being picked up… and then by not picking her up.

You love a cat by striving not to bend her to your wants and needs and desires, but rather by figuring out what her wants and needs and desires are and finding ways to help her achieve those.

A cat is easy to love.

We humans? We’re a little bit harder.

But that extra effort is worth the purrs.

This last week of September is “Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet” Week. I’m not hugely fond of that terminology, to be honest, because I think it stigmatizes perfectly adoptable animals. However, I’m fully aware that black cats like Newt and, really, most shelter cats have a super hard go of things. There are far too many homeless cats of all ages, sizes, and health conditions, and they deserve loving homes. Whether they’re considered “less adoptable” or, in my opinion, perfectly adoptable, they deserve a home.

If you’re looking to add a pet, consider a cat like Newt who would be considered “less adoptable” because you will benefit so greatly from her love.

One life matters #AdoptaShelterPet

“It’s just a dog.”

“There are so many starving kids. You should take care of humans before animals.”

“Why bother neutering them? Or feeding them? Feral cats should fend for themselves.”

“Shelter dogs have problems. That’s why they’re in the shelter in the first place.”

If you’re even on the periphery of animal welfare, I’m sure you’ve heard sentiments like that. Heck, you’ve probably heard worse than that. None of it, of course, is true.

The truth is: One life matters.

One Life Matters #AdoptaShelterPet

The life of a shelter dog or of a stray cat is no less valuable than any other, and until we have a bit culture shift to acknowledge that, shelter pets will continue to languish – and die – in shelters and pounds across the country.

Emmett spent two years in shelters. First, in a high-kill county pound, then – lucky him – because someone fell in love with him, he got placed in a no-kill shelter where we found him. Lucas found himself in a similarly lucky situation. Found rooting through the trash in a North Carolina backyard, he was taken to a shelter that had a transfer program. He found himself not in the gas chamber but on a transport to a DC shelter where we found him a couple months later.

{{Excuse me while I climb up my soapbox.}}

There are so many dogs like Emmett and Lucas and stray cats like Newt and backyard-bred dogs like Cooper whose lives are no less valuable than any other, but because of a culture that says “they’re just animals,” so many of those pets will never find a family. They’ll live out what little time they have in a shelter, not knowing the love, warmth, and companionship that comes from a home. As a society, we need to realize that loving life – ALL life – makes us better humans. Any opportunity to utilize our compassion and empathy for someone in need makes us better people, even if that someone is a pet. But there seems to be a gap in our culture that devalues animals. And we’re much poorer for it.

October is “Adopt a Shelter Pet” month.

If you’re here reading, you’re probably one who values animal life, but this month is an opportunity for those of us who pour love and compassion into valuing animals to educate our friends and family. Dispel those myths about shelter dogs and cats, seniors who need homes, FIV+ cats, and all those puppies and kittens born – through no fault of their own – to people unwilling or unable to care for them.

Adopt a shelter pet.

Because one life matters.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by BlogPaws. I am being compensated to support Adopt a Shelter Pet Month with an educational post, but OhMyDog! only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BlogPaws is not responsible for the content of this article.