Imagine you found a stray puppy or kitty

[Inchworm]

Imagine, also, that you fell in love with the critter but could NOT keep the animal.

What questions would you ask someone before you let them take the critter in to their home?

:shrug:

[Connonym]

1. kids, kids' ages, other pets, other pet history, vet's name

experience with pets, what would they feed pet, would they agree to have the pet appropriately neutered. I would also call the vet and verify that they do bring their pets in there although I don't know if there are confidentiality reasons they wouldn't be able to talk about that.

[Inchworm]

2. Why kids?

Would that be a plus or a minus?

:hi:

[Connonym]

7. kids to make sure they're old enough

depending on the personality of the animal and small children's tendency to poke and prod animals it's probably not a good idea to be put in a home with small kids unless you know for sure the animal is very good tempered. It would be a really bad scenario if the kid yanked a tail or something and got bitten or scratched.

[Inchworm]

10. 5yrs old - 8?

What age is safe?

:)

[Connonym]

14. I guess that would depend on the maturity of the kids but

5 maybe if it's a quiet child. 8 should be old enough to know how to treat an animal but, again, depends on the kids.

[China_cat]

9. They can't tell you what they do to the animals

but the vet's office can tell you whether some provides 'appropriate' care for their animals. And I know that my vet either gives a great recommendation or a neutral one. The neutral one usually means that he isn't all that impressed with the owners.

[Heidi]

3. I'll go with the "found kitty" scenario.

1. What are your feelings about declawing?
2. Have you ever relinquished a pet to a shelter?
3. How much of its time would this kitty spend alone?
4. Who is your veterinarian?
5. Can you provide references for previous kitty adoptions?
6. What other animals and people live in your home? How do they feel about having an additional kitty around?
7. What would you be feeding the kitty?
8. Why do you want to adopt this kitty?
9. Come and meet kitty. Let's see how you two get along.

[Inchworm]

4. All good questions

I see you have "Have you ever relinquished a pet to a shelter?" twice. I didn't consider that question until you mentioned. Very good!

Good mornin :)

:hi:

[Heidi]

5. That was my stupidity.

:P I edited.

Mornin', sunshine! :hi:

[Inchworm]

6. But.. but... butt

It plays well into the questions I'm preparing.

:)

[Connonym]

8. I wouldn't automatically disqualify someone if they had to do that once

depending on the circumstances behind their relinquishing the pet. Other animal lovers may disagree with me on this but I think there can be valid reasons. Obviously you'd want to find out the reason and determine for yourself if you agree with their rationale. When my house was foreclosed I had to move in with family and had to give my cats to my ex husband because I wasn't allowed to bring them with me. I chose between homelessness for me or a happy new home for my cats. As hard as it was I believe I did the right thing in the circumstances.

[Heidi]

16. It's still an important question because it can open a discussion

about the "why" of it. You're a good person Connonym and I'm sure you're a great cat mom, too, and that's one of the things that can come out when the question is asked. :hi:

[Coyote_Bandit]

17. I agree

Sometimes when folks surrender animals they have little choice and would prefer to keep and care for the animal. Sometimes it is in the animals best interest to be re-homed. Folks should not be penalized for making those difficult choices. The only time surrender or re-homing an animal should be held against anyone is when that person had the ability to care for the animal in an environment suitable for the animal and failed to do so.

I took in a couple of homeless birds several years back. Later I learned that one of the birds had been attacked and bitten by a dog. The bird had severe anxiety issues because I have two small dogs. This particular bird was very articulate and outgoing. After some effort I was able to locate and place the bird in a home with a woman who has since been able to use him as a therapy bird. He lives in her home and travels with her to perform at schools, detention centers and nursing homes. No doubt it is better for the bird to be away from such an anxiety producing situation. I still have the second bird but fear that he too will eventually need to be re-homed. I enjoy the bird and would prefer to keep him. However I have elderly family members who are spending an increasing amount of time in my home. Dad has respiratory problems that are irritated by bird dander and bird litter/shavings. Currently, I board the bird when Dad is in my home. That is not a good long term solution.

[Vanje]

21. Accept that I may NOT be the best home for my dog.

Zeke moved from my house to his PERFECT home.
Border Collie Zeke LOVES to work sheep. He is too slow and a tad timid to be competitive at sheepdog trials.
I had other dogs to work with, so Zeke frequently had to watch me take other dogs to his beloved sheep.

A kindly co-worker has sheep. Her dogs are very well kept, but too old to work anymore.
She needs a dog. Off ya go, Zeke!
He never looked back.
He has 2 masters who think they cant live without him. He sleeps on a bed, and has 400 sheep that he dos'nt have to share with another dog.

[Coyote_Bandit]

22. That's one lucky dog

and a good solution for all. Thanks for allowing Zeke the pleasure he seeks.

[Vanje]

23. I enjoy hearing from my co-worker

What clever, or brave thing Zeke did for her this week.

[Inchworm]

18. So would you leave questions open to debate?

"have you ever relinquished an animal?"

yes
no

I should pay attention to the gray areas between each yes/no question?

BTW: I'm totally picking your brain - thanks

:yourock:

[Heidi]

19. Ask the question, Inchworm. It opens a dialogue.

There are good reasons for relinquishing an animal to a shelter, and there are other reasons that can throw some light on whether a person might not be the most responsible protector of a cat or dog. In the end, you'll have to use your own judgment, but it's important to have the discussion. :)

[China_cat]

24. Sometimes the wrong animal ends up in a family.

The most responsible family will be the one who recognizes that fact and tries to make amends.

[China_cat]

11. Our rescue organization

also includes questions about if an animal ever left your home and under what conditions. (To include those that have died naturally or been euthanized.)

And one asking if everyone in the household agrees to having a new pet come in. (This may sound mickey mouse, but if you have one person in the home not wanting the animal to be there, it can cause a lot of stress in the family and the animal is usually the one to suffer for it the most)

[Inchworm]

12. Thats what I'm compiling

Questions to ask potential adoptors.

I pretty much have a list but was bouncing the idea across the lounge in case I missed anything. Im also doing that devil's advocate thing in my replies :)

:hi:

[China_cat]

13. I updated it.

[Heidi]

15. Excellent.

And I have to say, declawing would be a deal-breaker for me. It's cruel. :thumbsdown:

[Inchworm]

20. So far here are the questions...

Why do you want to adopt this pet?

Do you have kids?
If so, What are their ages? Discuss

Do you have experience with pets?

Do you have other pets currently?
If so, how has your other pet’s life been?

What other animals and people live in your home?

How do they feel about having an additional pet around?

Can you provide references for previous pet adoptions?

How much of its time would this pet spend alone?

What would you feed the pet?

What is your vet's name?

Has an animal ever left your home? Why

Have you ever relinquished a pet to a shelter? Discuss

What are your feelings about declawing?

All good questions. Most are open for discussion. I guess hardcore yes/no disqualification isn't really possible. In the end its still up to the vibe I'd get off the potential adopter.

Thanks for the ideas guys. You rock.

:)