The Animal Shelter's Pet Adoption Contract Agreement

People may comment that the process of adopting a pet is like adopting a child. Anyone who's actually tried to adopt a child knows this is not the case. However, because bringing any new life into your home requires responsibility, animal shelters and rescue groups do have some policies that new owners are required to comply with.

Common requirements are that the pet be spayed or neutered. Another is that a child can't be soul caretaker of the pet. Yet another is a do not declaw policy for cats. A policy for some pets, usually dogs, is that they should not be placed in homes with young children. One that has generated great interest recently, and apparently one that is not well understood is the safe haven return policy.

The Spay / Neuter Policy: Every year millions of animals are turned into shelters and every day, animal shelters learn of new horror stories of animals are being abused or mistreated. The shelter's goal is to do everything possible to prevent that adopted pets or any offspring do not end up back in the shelter or worse. Too many pets and not enough homes are the reason most shelters require all pets to be spayed and neutered before they go home.

The No Children as Soul Caretaker Policy: Owners not realizing the responsibility it takes to care for a pet is a very common reason pets end up in shelters. This is a frequent problem with adults who did not realize the responsibility they were taking on; this is also a problem with adults who expect their kids to do all the work. Many shelters require that new owners realize this and a child is not permitted to be to soul caregiver to the pet. A child may help care for a pet but adults are at very least required to make sure the job gets done and be happy that the pet is living with them.

The Do Not Declaw Policy: Many owners are only happy if a pet is well behaved. This includes that cats not claw the furniture. Many owners do not realize that cats need to be given a place they can scratch to keep their nails short and in good condition. Many also see declawing as their only option as they do not know how to train their cat and they have the false impression that declawing is a simple surgery. They do not realize that this procedure involves the removal of toe segments and often does not heal right, leaving the cat in a lifetime of pain. Declawed cats often stop using the litter box because it hurts to stand on kitty litter and will resort to biting as their first line of defense. It should be noted that it is possible to adopt well behaved cats who have already been declawed and have fortunately healed right from animal shelters. For cats who have their claws, the no declaw policly prevents the surgical creation of more problem cats who bite and won't use a litter box.

The No Kids Policy: If a pet is labeled "no kids" or "not good with kids" it means the pet is not recommended to be placed in a home with young kids. The age of the kids can vary on a case by case basis. There are various reasons for this policy. One reason is the sensitivity test. Some dogs are particularly sensitive, often in the paws, and must be handled with extra care. This is often seen in little dogs (and many have trouble understanding why a small dog would not be good for kids). Sometimes it will be because a dog was abused by kids. Whatever the reason, it means the shelter or rescue group is not fully comfortable placing the pet in a home with small kids and potential adopters will be told what the reason is for an individual dog. This is one way the group prevents possible accidental bite occurrences, a reassurance you will not likely get if buying from a store.

When a pet is not recommended for homes with young kids, this is not a no future pregnancy clause (as some misunderstand it), and doesn't mean the pet has to be returned in the event of a future pregnancy. It is something to reduce the pet's stress when moving into a new home. It is possible for a dog or other pet to calm down and do better around kids in the future. It is also something to inform the owner of possible problems the pet may have when interacting with kids. If problems do arise with a new baby, the owner can opt to return the pet through the adoption return policy.

The Adoption Contract's Return Policy or Safe Haven Policy: After an adoption is complete, animal shelter workers can't go into every home to make sure dogs, cats, and other animals are being well taken care of. The main thing they will rely on as a substitute to oversee a pet's future care is an adoption contract. For many important reasons, and like any contract, this should be read thoroughly. On most standard pet adoption agreements, you will be signing a form that states the pet must be returned to the organization if the new home does not work out. Some breeders require this agreement too. Shelters realize that there are situations, through no fault of anyone, pet or owner, that may mean a pet can't stay in it's new home. For that reason and many others, they want to be sure the pet has a place to go in case things don't work out. They also want the chance to fix the situation, to see if they can provide enough help so the owner can keep the pet. They may offer training tips, suggestions the adoptive parent might not have thought of, and any other info that may help, such as how to get along with other pets in the home.

If the current adopter still can't keep the pet but would like to help find a pet a new home, and can keep the pet in their home for a little while longer with no problems, shelters and rescue groups will often allow them to foster the pet until a new home is found as well as give the opportunity to work things out. However, when and if a new home is found for the pet, shelters and rescue groups also want to do everything possible to be sure a pet's new home meets the requirements and will likely require that prospective owners to go through the adoption process and sign the forms, to again be sure the pet's new owners realize the responsibility, and again know the pet has a safe place to go if things don't work out.

Without this type of return policy, many owners feel the pet has no place to go. They also loose the chance to hear vital info that may resolve the situation. Some may feel guilty returning the pet to the same shelter and may turn them into a kill shelter when they came from a no-kill situation. They may also feel desperate and place the pet in a situation that is less than ideal. Many owners also have the false impression that pets can live on the street and will opt for dumping them there, vulnerable to be hit by cars, taken in by abusive owners, injury from wild animals, and disease. These are things shelters and rescue groups deal with on a regular basis. The return policy is meant to reassure owners that the pet always has a place to go.

If pet stores had this type of return policy, it would greatly reduce the number of homeless pets. It would also prevent many pets from ending up in abusive situations or on the streets. It would also greatly lower shelter deaths.

These are standard agreements that animal shelters, rescue groups, and even some breeders will have you sign. Be sure to read the forms. Sometimes there are additional requirements for some special pets with special needs which are fairly self-explanatory. One is which other types of animals a particular pet doesn't get along with well. This is to prevent injury. Other pets may have special medical needs or food allergies. Following these agreements are vital to the pet's well being.

Resource links offer further info about shelter adoption, tips for rehoming a pet, and how pet overpopulation affects everyone.

If not in agreement with adoption policies or if you believe a shelter or rescue group has wronged you, please think of all the other homeless pets under their care before doing anything that might bring them bad publicity and reduce the other pets' chances of finding a new home. If a situation deserves justice, bring it to the authorities. A shelter should not be pressured by the media to shut down if there is no reason for it.