Dog Adoption in United States – The Complete Process

Usually, the most difficult or most challenging part of adopting a dog is the adoption process. The process is pretty easy once you get to know what to expect. If you are one of those individuals who think that the dog adoption process is too tedious, or that there would be very expensive fees then you’re not alone. But don’t worry, we have come up with this article to set the records straight once and for all!

Firstly, when trying to choose where to get a pet from, convenience should be the main criteria. This is to be done because both buying and adopting comes with a set of pet statistics, advantages and disadvantages. When everything is in, buying a creature is no simpler than deciding to embrace. Read below and find out more about the adoption process!

What’s the process?

Regardless of where you go, embracing a pet from a dog adoption center or an animal rescue usually comprises of 4 fundamental advances. The steps are:

• Filling up the adoption questionnaire
• Having a meeting with a haven or rescue representative
• Attending the meet and greet, and
• Finalizing the adoption

The animal reception steps referenced above are not unchangeable. A few offices and associations may have an extra advance or two, for example, a personal investigation or a home visit.  Just as the number of steps involved is not the same for every facility, the order of the steps can also vary greatly. For in some shelters, you may be allowed to meet available animals before you provide your details. While in some rescues, the volunteers may want to screen your eligibility first before you meet the available pets.

In the following paragraphs, we’ll provide you a more detailed brief on each of the 4 steps of the dog adoption process, plus 2 additional ones. Simply read on and appreciate the creature’s adoption ride!

Filling out the Dog Adoption Questionnaire

You may think that filling out the dog adoption questionnaire is too time-consuming and too intrusive. Especially, when you’re not sure if you will be able to find a pet or animal that you’ll take home with you. There may be some questions that may be a little uncomfortable to answer. But filling in at least some important details like your name, living situation, age, and address allows shelters and volunteers to check their records if you have previously adopted a pet from them.

• When coming into the facility to fill out the dog adoption questionnaire, make sure to bring in at least two valid IDs. This might be needed depending on their dog adoption procedure protocol.
• You can also request to complete the questionnaire at a later date or simply fill in the parts which are required to save time.

A friendly note: Lying isn’t an alternative when rounding out the selection survey. Try not to state whatever you don’t have.  Since the subtleties you give would help the shelter volunteers and shelter staff prescribes a good pet for you.

Acing the Interview

Woohoo! It’s the interview!

Once the shelter or rescue has scheduled you for an interview, consider yourself one step closer to coming home with your new lovable family member! They can also decide to do an interview right then and thereafter you filled out the dog adoption questionnaire

In this step, the reception advocate will decide your appropriateness for the sort or type of creature you might be keen on. There are times when the meeting is part of the meet and greet process, so the advocate can perceive how you associate with the creature. They also help furthermore by answering questions on the off chance that you have any.

Do not feel pressured to be perfect. Keep in mind, each progression of the reception procedure is set up to assist you with finding the ideal pet for the perfectly blemished you!

The Meet and Greet

A meet and greet are required if the adopter has another dog currently in the home. The meet and greet would happen either at the shelter or at your place. If you were put on the spot to go for a meet and greet when you dropped by your local shelter or rescue, then just take note of the following:

• You should prepare a set of questions and use this time as an opportunity to ask questions about the animal(s) you may be interested in.
• You have to be prepared to take plenty of notes as you’ll be asking questions.
• Be respectful of shelter staff and rescue volunteers. They may not have enough time to answer all your questions.
• Relax and just be you. You would want the animals to like you and not be afraid of you.
• Be nice to the animals. If you’re unsure to approach one in a friendly manner then ask a volunteer or staff to introduce you.
• And of course, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t find a pet or animal you’d love to go home with.

There is never a 100% success rate, but these meetings on the neutral ground are an effective way of gauging the animal’s reactions.

The Background Check

The shelters and rescues just won’t let an animal hop in with a stranger and that’s why they perform some sort of background check. Some facilities may also ask for character references. It is to consider, that all this is just a part of the protocol and should not be taken something personal.

The shelter or rescue does this to guarantee that they don’t inadvertently give a creature to a known basic entitlements wrongdoer. This also helps them to ensure that they don’t permit somebody who doesn’t have the way to receive an extremely high support pet. To grasp the record verification, it’s beneficial for you!

The Home Visit and Ocular Inspection

Depending on the shelter or rescue and type of animal you’re planning to adopt, the dog adoption process may involve an ocular inspection and a home visit. This step is different from the background check.

A few people may find the home visit excessively nosy and may do without receiving from salvage or haven which requires this. Adopting a new family member means making space in your home, making room in your heart, and setting aside some time for the pet. If an ocular inspection or a home visit is a lot for you, you might need to rethink it. You should also think about the situation that you are in reality prepared to give another animal access to your life.

Some of the steps or procedures in the ocular inspection are:

Veterinarian Verification

If the potential adopters currently have other animals in the home, then a vet is called to verify that the animal is altered and up-to-date. Certain requirements are DA2PP & Rabies for a dog and FVRCP & Rabies for a cat.

Family Meet and Greet

This is a highly recommended step and all the family members must be present to meet the new animal being chosen. This is to ensure that the selected animal is the appropriate fit for the future family’s lifestyle and all family members.

Landlord Verification

If the potential adopter rents their home/apartment then the landlord must be contacted. It is for the verification that they can have an animal in their home/apartment.

Age Requirement

All potential adopters must be over 21 years of age. If they live with their parents, the parents must be contacted during the dog adoption process to ensure they are allowing a pet into their home.

Take the visual review and home visit as positive parts of the dog adoption! Use this as an actual time to ask the shelter staff or the rescue volunteer what you should do to prepare your home. If they feel that you care and want the animal to feel comfortable then that can be a bonus point for you!

Finalizing the Adoption

This is it! You’ve gone through all the other steps and the only thing that’s left is to finalize the dog adoption! This seriously calls for a celebration!

Setting our excitement aside, concluding the selection has its arrangement of entanglements and confusion. Adopting an animal is not free and the adoption fee is considered by many as too expensive (it’s NOT, considering everything).

• When you’ve discovered your new animal child and everything has been esteemed to conclude everything, the following activity is administrative work.
• Receiving a creature implies you are assuming liability for that creature’s prosperity and activities. It is an agreement, and indeed, contracts accompany desk work and charges!
• The fees are not that much. On average, it may range between $20 to $500 depending upon the kind of animal you’ll be adopting, the breed, age, history, and other factors.
• The reception charges are an unimportant portion of the absolute expense for all the beneficial things you will get for nothing.

So how would we seal the dog adoption process? Just pay the expenses, sign everything which should be marked and set a date to get the creature if you may require more time to set up your home or where the creature might be remaining.

Conclusion

Nowadays, future animal parents are wary of adopting from shelters and rescues because of misconceptions surrounding the actual process of animal adoption. This way of reasoning has prompted individuals to decide to purchase at pet shops. What’s more regrettable? They go to irresponsible breeders and animal traders just to make the way toward getting a pet significantly simpler. But is deciding to purchase a creature simpler or less expensive than embracing?

Being a good dog parent starts with going through the dog adoption process right. We hope that this guide will help you in bringing you an adorable pet child home.

Care to share some of your thoughts? Please feel free to leave a comment down below or join other animal lovers on Facebook.