How to screen adopters?

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The Hounds- of- Bassetville- +3

Food? Where?!?

Barked: Mon Feb 13, '12 12:25pm PST


	Hi! As some of you know, I found a sweet stray and brought her to my vet for treatment. She's doing good and I've had a couple of inquiries about her. I don't want her to end up in bad hands so I need to somehow screen people. Does anyone know what i should ask? I don't want to come off as nosy... but I want to make a good decision. Does anyone have a sample questionnaire that I could use? Also, what is the standard amount of time to wait for an owner to come forward? I've got a found ad on Craigslist, at the vets office, and one will go in the paper tomorrow.

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Milton

Im just a little- guy

Barked: Mon Feb 13, '12 1:30pm PST


	One thing you can do is look for their Facebook page if you have a first and last name. Not everyone has one, but if they do, you can tell a lot about them. When dealing with poeple online over Craigslist, I do this. I think a matching lifestyle is the most important. An active person who is runner should be matched with a high energy dog even if they live in an apartment.

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The Hounds- of- Bassetville- +3

Food? Where?!?

Barked: Mon Feb 13, '12 9:05pm PST


	That's a great idea! I didn't even think about facebook as a screening tool

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Shiver Me- Timbers- "Charlie"

BSL: Educate,- don't- discriminate.

Barked: Mon Feb 13, '12 11:49pm PST


	Vet references are always great, same with trainer references, etc. Asking them about their training methods they would use, what type of home they have - heck even a home check can help. What type of fencing, what they're looking for in a dog in terms of exercise requirements - don't tell them hers, ask them what they're looking for first, so as to better judge rather than have them lie so they can take her home. What are they doing financially for work, how long would the dog be home alone for, etc. It's never too nosy when you're ensuring the dog goes to the right home. Just begin it with, "May I ask you a few questions in regards to your lifestyle to find if you're the right match for her? I'm really hoping to find her that perfect home and family, and really don't want to put her in a situation that doesn't end well. I hope you understand."

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Lenny

Lenny -The- Wrecking Ball

Barked: Tue Feb 14, '12 6:39am PST


	I agree with Charlie. Asking what they expect energy level they desire and how they will exercise the dog, versus describing hers will help prevent someone either lying or from saying to themselves, "Oh yeah, we can handle that." when in reality they can't keep that up every day. Or maybe they do it for the first couple weeks, but then in the every day grind they don't do it as much as. Ask what are their plans for their future dog. Do they plan on doing just basic obedience? Any dog sports (great for a high energy dog!)? That can also help you gage whether the dog will get what she needs in her new home. Again, asking them to give you more then just answer questions where people can kind of guess on what you think is the 'right' answer. And of course vet references are important, and a Facebook check couldn't hurt either. Good luck finding the pretty girl a home, and god bless ya for taking her in.

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Banshee- (Foster)

Foxbear/Banshee- Hybrid!

Barked: Tue Feb 14, '12 7:25am PST


	IME, Open-ended questions are hugely important when screening adopters, because they give you more to work with. I have an adoption questionaire that granted is more for small pets/exotics/fish than dogs, and the types of questions you will see are, "Describe what you expect your daily care routine will be." I see this as preferable to, "Do you understand the care needs of x?" because it's easy to say "yes" but not actually have a clear idea. Many people have completely skewed expectations of the care, behavior, etc. of dogs of a given breed, age, or just in general. The more info the better. Questions about current/former pets are useful and revealing but can also be fudged. I know many of the rescues down here want to know, for example, if you've ever had a pet run away, be hit by a car, etc. These are all useful, but nothing verifiable, so don't rely on them alone. Respect an honest explanation of a mistake over someone who gives you evasive answers and excuses; someone who owns the responsibility that they goofed up and left the gate open earns more credit in my book than someone who makes a million excuses for why it wasn't their fault. I also strongly agree with asking for vet references, and if they're a first time pet owner, asking which vet they intend to use. An adoption agreement isn't a bad idea either.

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Titus

Cave canis- vigilo omnis

Barked: Tue Feb 14, '12 7:30am PST


	The owner might be looking for the dog at local shelters - you might put a picture of the dog up in those locations.

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The Hounds- of- Bassetville- +3

Food? Where?!?

Barked: Fri Feb 17, '12 8:41am PST


	She found a home! I talked to the man that adopted her on the phone before we met and he is a dog lover. He gave me the number to his vet clinic and I called and they gave him a good word. He and Master (what the vet has been calling her) hit it off right away.

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