Place a Homeless Animal Yourself

PLACE A HOMELESS ANIMAL YOURSELF

Homeless domestic animals abound. The more people willing to take the initiative to make sure they’re neutered and be willing to see them through to quality homes, the more precious lives can be saved.

1. Preparation & Free Publicity

The description (and, if possible, a photo) of the animal may be posted on local bulletin boards at libraries, supermarkets, churches, veterinarians’ offices and pet supply stores. Include as much of the following information in your description as possible: a) Sex, age, breed (if known) b) Physical description (color, marking, eye color, etc.) c) Health status – date neutered, what shots the animal has had, and any medical problems the new owner should be aware of. d) Personality traits e) Any preferences or habits of which a new owner should be aware of about the pet.

*All of the above information need not be in your advertisement, but have the information on hand when people call so that you will know what to tell them when they ask questions.

2. Advertising

If you can’t find a home for the animal among your trusted friends, relatives, or neighbors, you’ll probably need to plan an ad for your pet. Ads in local papers are relatively inexpensive and well worth the investment. Remember, it’s easier to “check out” potential adopters when they’re from your vicinity. A good sample ad could read:

ADORABLE CAT – Adult male, neutered, orange tabby, named “Ralph.” Affectionate, needs loving home. To adopt, please call: ______

Note: Please don’t use the word “free” in your ad – you’re trying to find a home for a living animal – not discarding a piece of furniture. “Free” implies that you are indiscriminate about who the animal goes to.

3. Screening - Don’t just hand an innocent animal over to anyone – be selective!

Once advertisements have been placed in the paper and on bulletin boards, you should anticipate phone calls. It is very important to make yourself available to receive calls or to arrange for someone to take phone calls and messages for you. Screening prospective adopters is a critical step in finding an animal a good home. People who respond to your ads may sound wonderfully friendly, but may have entirely inappropriate homes for your animal. There are even those people who are planning to sell animals to a laboratory for research purposes. (By the way, these are the people who are looking for “free” pets!) Do not give your address to anyone until you are sure he or she is trustworthy. One way to find out is to make sure they are willing to give you their names, addresses and phone numbers, and will let you visit them.

Inquire about the “pet history” of the prospective adopter. Those who have just lost a pet due to old age (older than 10 years of age) are usually a good bet. On the other hand, those who dumped their last pet at the local SPCA, whose pet “ran away” or died at a young age due to an unknown disease are not good bets. Whatever happened to the person’s last animal is probably what will ultimately happen to yours, if you give it to this person. Get his/her name, address and phone number and don’t be afraid to call the vet and check out the reference. Any worthwhile adopter will not resent or refuse this information. (If he or she does, he or she is probably hiding something, and you should not turn your pet over to him or her.) Prospective adopters who never had a pet before can give character references. They may provide an excellent home; however, new pet owners need a little extra support from you during the beginning of their adoption. Their lack of experience will make them anxious when problems arise. You should be willing to help them adjust as much as possible.

You may have to interview several people before making a choice. Explain to each person that you will call him or her back promptly, and that you need to talk to others before making your decision. If they’re sincere, they will understand that you are – and you will have time to think through your decision and check out the potential adopters. Then call each person back and inform him or her of your decision. (Those who do not get your animal, but who seem like good adopters, may be referred to Stray Cat Blues, Inc., where there are always cats and kittens waiting for adoption; they may be interested in adopting one of them.)

4. Placement

It is recommended that you take the animal to its new home. This will benefit both human and animal in many respects. Be prepared to spend some time in the new home introducing the animal and assisting the adopter. When you place the animal in its new home, you should transfer the pet’s veterinary records for the new adopters. Pet care booklets (such as from the vet) might also be helpful to the owner, especially if he or she has not had a pet before.

5. Follow-up

Contact the new adopter by phone, or visit, within the first weeks of placement. There are usually minor adjustment problems, so be prepared to assist the new adopter. Be calm and supportive – sometimes this is enough. You should reassure him or her that most problems resolve themselves within the first month after adoption. Some common problems are: a) Refusal to eat or drink b) Depression and social withdrawal c) Inappropriate urination or defecation d) Vomiting (usually from eating too fast) e) Aggressive behavior

Older animals will usually exhibit more adjustment problems that will be of longer duration. If any of these behaviors become life-threatening to the animal (such as refusal to eat, for more than 4 days), urge the adopter to seek veterinary advice or help.

Many adjustment problems are psychological – animals have feelings and emotions and suffer stress as we do. (It’s like a child being taken out of its familiar home and family and placed with a new family and new surroundings.) However, with lots of patience and love, the animal will soon feel at home in its new surroundings.

*It is very important that you are willing to take the animal back, if need be, and find it another home.

Summary

Every litter takes away potential homes for animals already in desperate need of permanent placement. Altering and spaying of all cats and dogs is the only humane way to end the tremendous suffering and death caused by their overpopulation. We as a society allowed this horrible problem to evolve. Those of us who care about animals must do all we can to end it. If you need financial assistance with altering/spaying – please call Stray Cat Blues, Inc., at 215- 631-1851