"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
. ..

"Sheelagh o" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 2 Sep, 08:57, "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER
wrote:
"Sherry" wrote in message

ups.com...





On Sep 2, 12:15 am, "Sheelagh o"
wrote:
I have noticed over several months that many of our American friends
are
involved in Petsmart adoption days @ Petsmart. Would I be right in
assuming
that rescue dogs & cats are available for adoption on Saturdays &
Sundays?
How does this work? Does it mean that each shelter gets the chance to
put up
their most needy for adoption, or their most easy to home animals?
Also, how
do you all feel about this? ( I remember recently that Wendy went to
pick
some up after their trip to Petsmart, this is why I am asking the
question.)

This is how our Petsmart adoptions work; keep in mind I'm not sure
whether all
stores have the same policies.
Petsmart simply gives the store space rent-free to a local rescue org.
They bring animals in
from the shelter, and from foster homes, on weekends for "adoptions".
During the week, and
any other time, there's an area of cages in the stores for a few cats
chosen to stay there. It's
called "multi-cat". They are cared for by the rescue volunteers or
staff. Petsmart donates food and
litter.
Petsmart does not sell cats, or dogs. The adoptions are through the
rescue agency. The same strict
screening applies to potential adoptors the same as if they were
adopting from the regular shelter location.
Adoption fees apply, usuall around $70-$100. The animals are already
neutered and are vet-checked
and current on their vaccinations.

It is a wonderful opportunity for these animals to get far more
exposure than they would advertised from
foster homes, or in the shelter.

Our Petsmart also donates bags of litter that may have damaged
packaging, and the same for food, for foster families
to use at home.

That's how it works here, too. We have both PetSmart and PetSense, and
they
have similar arrangements. Both have been excellent sources for
adoptions
from our local Alley Cats Allies. Kittens and adoptable cats are
fostered
first to socialize them, then are available from Adopt-a-Thons that are
held
twice a month through either PetSmart and PetSense. Adoptive "parents"
sign
an agreement to return the cats if they are unable to keep them, and
they
agree not to have them declawed. All cats are spay/neutered and
vetted/innoculated *before* adoption. That's how I became a "sponsor
mom"
to two kittens this summer -- I did not adopt or foster them, but I paid
for
their veterinary bills so they could be fostered and then placed through
the
Adopt-a-Thons. Carmen was quickly adopted, but Chelsea has not yet been
adopted. I wish they could have been adopted as a pair, but Carmen is
in a
home where she is already "queen of the household," and Chelsea will be
fostered until an adoptive home can be found.

MaryL- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Oh that is really nice Mary. I'm sorry that they couldn't be homed
together too. It's a shame, but better one is homed than neither for
waiting for a home that might come along. This sponsoring sounds like
the ideal Christmas gift for the mother who has everything she ever
wanted (within reason that is!!)....

If you read my reply to sherry, you will note that I did mean to say
adopt, rather than buy. It is an excellent idea, so I am asking if
anyone knows of any stumbling block that we might come across, please
do feel free to point it out? The more prepared we are when presenting
our case, the easier it will be for us to get them to agree with us.
As far as I am aware, there is no law preventing adoptions in shop, so
as long as we can get round that obstacle, things should go in our
favour.

We also have similar adoption schemes to the one that you describe. We
find that children are the most generous believe it or not. They make
a covenant to donate x amount every month from their accounts, & we
send them letters from the cats & up to date photos every quarter as
well. The wonderful thing is, that the kids write back to their chosen
cat's. it's really sweet. I have just volunteered to respond to
letters recently. I never had the confidence until now to try & give
it a go, but I figure with a spell checker, & a few kids to point out
my bad grammar, I should be able to to this without too many hitches,
lol )

Thank you for your story Mary & for the pointers, guides &
explanations as well. They really are helpful
Best Wishes,
Sheelagh "o"


I don't know of any disadvantages (assuming you check out legal
arrangements/restrictions, as you stated). In fact, a good way for you to
present the idea to a pet supply store is to point out that there is
actually a financial benefit to them. We advertise our Adopt-a-Thons
through e-mail, flyers, etc., and they bring in a sizable number of
people -- including people who just want to look instead of adopt. Those
same people then wander around the store and often make a number of
purchases.

It is important for you to be well organized. Each cat or kitten should
be brought in a separate carrier, except for those that are normally kept
together. Our local rescue group has portable wire cages that are used
for this purpose instead of the traditional carriers so people can get a
good look at all of the cats. All cats and kittens brought in must be
vetted and innoculated *before* bringing them to the Adopt-a-Thons -- you
don't want to take any chances of spreading disease. They also must be
socialized in a foster home first -- you also don't want any scratches or
bites. We always have several people from the local rescue group on hand
and bring chairs for them to sit in. Each of them will have a kitten or
two out of the cage and in their laps if there is not too much activity
going on, and this gives prospective "parents" an opportunity to pet and
cuddle with the cats. That is a very good way to attact attention -- but
they *must* be very calm cats or kittens because we *also* do not want to
take any risk that the cat will become frightened and try to run away. It
would be a good idea to place the cats in a harness with lead when they
are out of the carriers.

We *never* simply send a cat home from the Adopt-a-Thon, and we also do
not make a definitive decision regarding the question of whether we will
approve the adoption. Instead, we have paperwork available, conduct an
informal discussion with questions about experience and how the person
intends to care for his or her new furbaby, and a potential adopter can
place a temporary "hold" on a specific pet (or pets). The paperwork
includes references (especially from vets). We do a preliminary
assessment of suitability, later check all references, and then do a more
complete assessment later in the home of the foster parents when all
parties can be brought together in a more normal atmosphere. We have had
a great deal of success, but it is not intended as an "instant" process --
we want good homes, not future tragedies.

MaryL


One final point: It is *very* important to *charge* a minimal amount for
expenses (vetting and boarding). The amount charged usually does cover the
actual expenses, but it is important (1) to discourage those who will not
provide necessary care for their new furbabies and (2) to provide a
continuing source of income to rescue still others. At least in the US,
there is another reason -- some people would adopt these little ones to be
used for other larger animals. That won't happen if an adequate fee is
assessed (but this is an adoption fee and not selling, as I said earlier,
because actual costs are considerably higher). On a related note, I only
paid $25.00 to the shelter when I adopted Duffy. That's because they had a
standard fee of $75.00, but Duffy had previously been neutered an adopted
(then returned -- an idiotic decision). I have often told people that that
is the best $25.00 "investment" I could ever have made! Duffy is so
wonderful that I later sent checks to the shelter in his honor.

MaryL