"Why is there such an extensive application to adopt a pet from an animal shelter? After all, they are just all strays and would be better off in any home instead of being locked up in a shelter, or worse, euthanized."
Let's examine question and subsequent statement shall we?
First of all not every animal found in a shelter or rescue is a stray.
Many pets found in a shelter are owner surrendered animals that cannot be cared for in their original homes. People surrender their animals to a shelter or rescue in hopes that they can find new homes for them. Circumstances for surrender range from housing issues to lack of funding, and in some cases, simple lack of time to spend with the pet. In most cases surrendering owners are very distraught over having to give up their beloved pet but just want what's best for the animal.
Secondly, pets that do become strays do so for various reasons. That could be anything from their having gotten separated from their owners and lost, to someone dumping them on the side of the road. Some animals are born into being strays; many cats begin their lives feral, but are born from a tame animal, most likely once a family pet. Even strays brought into the shelter are usually socialized to some degree, and can become wonderful pets given the chance.
Pre-owned or stray, every animal deserves the chance at the best life possible. Pet shelters and rescue do everything in their power to insure they get the life that they deserve, and to make this possible, owner screening is a must.
Reputable shelters and rescue do require and extensive application for adopting pets. That application contains information about what kind of pet you are wishing to adopt, how many people and other animals are in your home, and if those pets are being provided with the proper care both daily and medically. Aside from immunizations and well check, some pets have medical conditions, just like humans, that must be addressed and treated.
At a rescue or shelter, every effort is made to insure to match the correct animal with the family or individual applying for the adoption. If a person who already has cats in their home, chooses to adopt a dog that does not like cats, an application for that particular dog will probably not be approved.
Vet checks are required on prospective pet owners to insure that animals already in their care are being properly monitored and treated by a veterinarian. If a person already has animals in the home and does not vet them, chances are they will not vet any new animals they take home. If an adoptive person or family gets a good report from their current pet, the adoption, in most cases, is good to go.
Medical care is required for pets in order to keep them healthy and have some assurance of a normal, healthy life.
There is always a possibility that a person applying has too many animals, in which case hoarding is a possibility, and that's never a good scenario for either the pets or the person with the hoarding tendency. Most hoarders take in too many pets with good intentions, but the situation can easily get out of control, resulting in situations unhealthy for both people and pets.
Pet adoption applications are ultimately in place to insure the welfare of not only the adoptive pet, but the individual or family adopting. It is a screening process necessary to insure that everyone involved is in the best possible situation.
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Questions or comments? Contact me at gilatodd@yahoo.com
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