What to consider before adopting a shelter animalAnimal placement from the animal shelter: questions and answers
If you want to take in a pet, it is always best to look in an animal shelter first. There are numerous animals waiting for a new loving home. The animal shelter staff know the dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and other animals very well. They will take your ideas into account and introduce you to the animals that are a good match for you. Placing an animal at an animal shelter may seem a little more complicated than buying an animal online or from a pet shop. However, animal shelters act in the best interests - after all, it is important that you and your pet both feel comfortable in the long term. We answer the most frequently asked questions about animal shelters and animal placement.
How does a placement at an animal shelter work?
If you are quite sure that you would like to adopt a pet permanently and you know what type of animal would suit you or you would like advice, contact your local animal shelter. The shelter may want you to complete a preliminary questionnaire. This is not about screening you. The team wants to find the perfect animal for you and prevent it from being returned because you are not compatible. Then there is an initial appointment at the animal shelter. This is where you exchange ideas and look at possible animals with the staff. The team will inform you about the special features of the animals in your care and ask questions about the conditions in your home. Once you have found the right animal, you can get to know each other. You will then clarify the further placement process: depending on the type of animal and the animal, there will be further meetings at the animal shelter, walks or a visit to your home to check whether everything fits or whether the experts can help you prepare your home. After that, hopefully nothing will stand in the way of the adoption, which will be sealed with a contract. If, for various reasons, it is not a good fit, an animal shelter may also cancel the placement.
How much does an animal cost in a shelter?
The animal shelters charge a nominal fee for each placement. This depends on the animal and the shelter, but does not reflect the value of the animal. The animal shelter calculates the costs it has incurred for food, care, medical care and vaccinations or neutering.
Why do animal shelters charge a nominal fee?
The adoption fee covers part of the costs incurred by the shelter in looking after your future pet and all other animals and animal welfare issues. This is because it had the animal vet checked and vaccinated beforehand. The employees have fed, lovingly cared for and groomed it or possibly even nursed it around the clock. Animal shelters finance a large part of this from their own funds or mainly from donations. That is why this nominal fee at least makes a contribution so that animal shelters can continue their important work and continue to take in and place animals in the future.
Why does mediation fail?
Animal shelters naturally want to place their animals as quickly as possible. But even if every space in the shelter is needed, they are not satisfied until they have found a loving and permanent home for an animal. Sometimes they may get the impression that the animal and owner are simply not a good match. You should not take this personally. After all, the team makes decisions in the interests of everyone involved. It won't help you either if you get an animal and give it back after a few weeks or months. This could even traumatize the animal. Perhaps the animal shelter staff will suggest a conspecific or another animal species that might suit you better instead. Or you may find out together that it is not (yet) possible in your current living situation to keep and care for a pet in an animal-friendly way. This could be the case if you don't have enough space or free time or if you misjudge the effort involved in keeping a particular species. If someone does not get the pet they want, there are certainly good reasons for this. Ultimately, the animal is the most important thing.
Why are the requirements of animal shelters so high?
The animal shelter will only place an animal if it has the impression that it will be released into a forever home. If it were to end up back at the shelter soon, this could have traumatic consequences for the animal. As the animal shelter staff have a lot of experience in their day-to-day work, they use this to find the best solution for people and animals. If they have concerns, they also refuse to place the animal, thus responsibly preventing animals that have been placed from returning to the shelter. Animal shelters would not be so full of animals if commercial dealers were just as thorough in their advice and checks and, if in doubt, did not sell an animal. As this often fails to happen, people only find out after buying the animal that they had imagined it would be kept differently or more simply - and give it back.
Can I take an animal directly from the shelter?
This varies from species to species. In the case of dogs, it is certainly always necessary to find out together with the animal shelter staff during several introductory appointments and walks whether people and animals are a good match. Depending on the animal and owner, some animal shelters recommend or even require attendance at a dog school. In the case of cats or small animals, you may be able to take them home from the shelter more quickly. This depends on whether you have completed a preliminary questionnaire and arranged a placement appointment, for example, but also on your knowledge and whether you can credibly convey in the interview that you can accommodate and keep them in an animal-friendly manner. Many animal shelters request photos of homes, enclosures and aviaries or visit potential owners. Most animal shelters will not allow you to take an animal home immediately and without prior registration.
In which animal shelter can I take dogs for a walk?
Most animal shelters cannot manage to walk all the dogs every day with the help of their staff alone. It is therefore a great help to them when volunteers support them. After all, it is extremely important for the animals to get out and about every day and experience new things. Find out from your local animal shelter what requirements they have for dog walkers and whether and when walks with the dogs are possible. Many animal shelters are also happy to welcome helpers who regularly pet cats, provide manual support or clean enclosures.
