Some of these Guidelines were given to me by the Humane society a few years ago, some are my own. I have never been able to bring myself to actually find a home for an animal, I do not trust anyone to take proper care of them, but if you must here are a few guidelines you should follow.
Get all the information on the person you can. Get their phone number, address, where they work. Visit their home if possible. Make certain the home is clean, and that they have a fenced yard if the animal is a dog, unless it's a smaller dog they plan to leash walk or is litter box trained. If its a cat, make sure their cats are inside only. If they let their other cats outside, odds are they'll eventually let the kitty you adopt to them outside too.
If they own pets, or have owned them, get the name of their vet. Call the vet, and get the
following information:
Do they bring their pets in for regular checkups?
Do they keep
their pets’ vaccinations up to date? On this, nowadays there is new thought to vaccinations and some only vaccinate every three years for health reasons. If the vet tells you they're not "up to date" but you find they vaccinate every three years, ask them
why. I personally would feel comfortable adopting to someone who did their research enough to check out possible health problems caused by vaccines, and had them done at safe intervals.
Did they seek the proper treatment if their pet was ill?
Have they ever had an animal euthanized because of misbehavior or because they did not
want to pay for treatment?
Are their pets spayed or neutered?
They will need to call their vet or perhaps sign forms releasing this information to you. If
they refuse to do this, do not allow them to adopt the pet.
Never give a pet away for free. Always make them pay something. A person is more likely to take care of a pet they paid for than one they got for free. if the pet needs to be spayed or neutered, they may be able to prepay this expense with a vet or purchase a certificate at a local animal shelter. Or they could reimburse you for vaccinations. make sure that you have some proof of payment before you give them the animal. If they are not willing to pay anything, do not allow them to adopt. If they aren’t willing to pay anything for the pet, it is unlikely that they will be willing to pay vet bills, etc. if the need ever arises.At the very least, annual checkups and vaccinations for ANY animal are going to be needed eventually. If they consider an adoption fee too much of an expense, it is highly unlikely they will be willing to pay for routine veterinary care.
Do not adopt to someone that will only accept a very young kitten or puppy. The majority of the animals in my area that are abandoned or in shelters are around 6 months to one year. Many people adopt a puppy or kitten because it is “cute”. It grows up, and is not so cute anymore(in their opinion). They decide it is too much trouble and get rid of it.
Ask if they have kids. Many people will ask if the pet is good with kids. In my opinion,
You should ask if the kids are good with pets. I have seen many people have their animal
euthanized because it bit or scratched their child. Often, it is the child that is the problem.
It is only a natural reaction for a dog or cat to defend itself if is being choked or having its
ears or tail pulled. In the past, I used to feel it was safer not to adopt to families with children. being that I have two myself and I
have seen it is difficult to adopt even with well behaved older kids, I have changed my mind on this issue.
The important things to look at: The children's behavior and the parent's attitude. Meet with the famliy. The children should be
well behaved. They should not mishandle the pet, not treat him or her as a "toy". The parents should be responsible and NOT expect the pet to put up with mishandling. they should be attentive to how the child handles the pet.
Use your own judgment in adopting to families with kids.
Do not allow someone that wants to “use” the animal for something. Pets should be companions, not watchdogs. vermin control, a fashion accessory or something to “teach a child responsibility”. Always state that you will take the pet back if it doesn’t work out. better for you to take it back and have to find another home for it than for it to be dumped at an animal shelter and euthanized.
These guidelines are intended mainly for people that have found a stray than cannot keep, etc. I do not advocate giving away a pet simply because you are bored of it. Animals are not toys or accessories, they are living beings, and they deserve respect and care. If you are moving somewhere that does not allow pets, consider this: if you had a child, would you put your child up for adoption to move to a place that did not allow children? I hope not.
Links
Guidelines for Finding a Responsible Home for Your Pet
Free To Good Home
