No Yard, No Problem: Rethinking Rescue Requirements

Have you ever had a difficult experience while trying to adopt a pet? 

When my mom and I visited a local shelter years ago to meet some adoptable dogs, the staff seemed cold and disinterested, to my surprise and disappointment. 

One staff member told me it's ‘very difficult’ to adopt an animal from them because they would rather care for it indefinitely than place it in the ‘wrong’ home. They asked about our employment and income, expressing concern about how we would afford a new dog. I explained that I was a veterinary assistant and could ensure that all of the dog's needs would be met, especially with my employee discount. I thought this would reassure them, but they asked, "How will you care for the pet when you stop working at the clinic?" 

Only after providing further information about my mom's economic status - single-family home, fenced-in backyard, higher earner than myself, mostly worked from home, and that the dog was for her and I’d come along just to help- did the staff's attitude change. They warmed up immediately and began to actually help us select a pet.

I couldn't help but wonder - if the shelter is already warning interested adopters that adopting from them is "hard," what kind of tone does this set for the adoption process? If veterinary professionals wouldn't make a "good fit" to adopt a pet, who would? If they would prefer to keep the animals in the shelter rather than place them in the "wrong" home, have they lost the plot?

Gatekeeping pet parenthood only prolongs the suffering of pets waiting for loving homes while shelter staff or volunteers decide whether a family is "suitable."

Burdensome adoption barriers- like requirements for a fenced-in backyard, landlord checks, full family meet-and-greets, or a minimum income- can make it difficult for shelters and rescues to engage their communities.

Though well intended, they are, by design, exclusive and discriminatory, particularly affecting poor individuals and other marginalized groups who want to open their homes to a pet. They create a feeling of distrust and may even encourage applicants to misrepresent themselves to be approved or turn to other less reputable means to get a pet.

Unnecessary policies also obstruct adoption and foster placement processes, leading to a slowdown in the entire system. As a result, animals stay in shelters for extended periods, reducing available space for new animals in need.

The truth is that many of these policies are outdated but still perpetuated based on how things have always been. 

It's time to rethink how we can match more pets to more modern families. Instead of creating barriers based on fear of what could happen, what if shelters embraced policies based on success?

Here are three ways rescues and shelter dogs can update their policies to help more pets find loving homes. 

Embrace guidelines that support renters

Renters account for approximately 34% of the U.S. population, and 44 million housing units in the U.S. are currently being rented. 

Many organizations have strict fenced yard requirements, which may demand a six or eight-foot-high fence, making millions of renters ineligible for pet adoptions. However, the truth is that living in an apartment is less stressful for pets than being in a shelter or surviving alone on the streets. 

“I looked at a few rescues that required a fenced-in yard. I didn’t even send an application because I knew I would be rejected living in an apartment. It didn’t feel great looking at dogs that needed homes and knowing I was so far away from home ownership. 

I would like to say to shelters and rescues that require single-family homes with fenced-in yards to conduct interviews instead of putting that as a requirement on the application. Backyards do not guarantee enrichment and exercise for the dog.

I understand some working breeds need space but if a family or person is willing to make a commitment to adopting a dog and giving them a better life than a shelter, they should at least be given a chance more than a yes or no answer on an application.”

- Shelby Susnick, @booplethesnoot 

Instead of excluding renters or following up with their landlord, build trust by believing in them and providing guidance to ensure their new dog’s needs are being met in their apartment. Eliminating this can free up time and resources for overburdened shelter staff and build trust between shelters and potential adopters.

If you're worried about pet policies at your apartment, Figo created a template that current or future pet parents can send to their landlord. Check it out here.

Remove veterinary history checks

There are countless reasons why prospective adopters may not have a verified veterinary history. Rather than assuming the worst, take the opportunity to educate them about the basics of veterinary care and provide access to low-cost resources.

Implementing a follow-up program to stay connected with adopters can ensure they receive the necessary assistance. Keeping in touch can make a difference in saving another life and nurturing more informed pet parents – a win-win!

Waive adoption fees

According to the ASPCA, the outdated belief that “free” pets are less valued and, therefore, more likely to be abused or returned to the shelter is a myth. Similarly, the belief that if someone cannot afford the adoption fee, they can’t afford to care for the pet is more rooted in privilege than reality. 

“The study showed that 19% of the adopters reported they could not afford the regular adoption fee. An EHS fee-waived adopter described herself as "a woefully underemployed single mother who budgets and saves for monthly cat care, so the fee-waived event made a big difference for me."

However, the research also showed that even among those who could afford to pay the adoption fee, 30% said they would prefer a free cat. On top of that, Slater's research discovered that fee-waived adopters were much more likely to make a donation to EHS than non-fee-waived adopters.” - ASPCA.

A study by Maddie's Fund discovered that when adoption fees are waived, pets are just as likely to find loving, long-term homes. Their research reveals that an impressive 95% of cats and 93% of dogs adopted through programs with these reduced fees remained happily with their families when surveyed 6 to 12 months after adoption.

Additionally, data from Lifeline Animal Project in Atlanta supports that lowering adoption fees does not compromise the quality of adoption applicants. Since adopting a policy of fee-waived and open adoptions in 2014, the organization has reported no increase in return rates or cases of animal abuse.

Concerns about funding when offering pets for free are understandable, yet many may not realize that shelters and rescues primarily depend on donations, fundraising efforts, and government support, rather than adoption fees, to sustain their operations. Plus, reducing or waiving adoption fees can lead to quicker adoptions, which not only increases turnover and revenue but also decreases the per-pet cost of care. Additionally, individuals who adopt pets without a fee are often more likely to contribute a donation.

Ultimately, the quicker an animal finds a home, the better their chances of leading a happy, healthy life—allowing the shelter to save even more dogs and cats with the additional space.

Get your community talking

• Speak up if you feel turned off from a rescue or shelter during the adoption process! Tell them how their policies are affecting pet-loving families in your community.

• If you adopt a fee-waived pet, try donate what you can.

• Host a community fundraiser- it can be as simple as making a post online!

• Encourage local shelters to consider open adoptions, replacing blanket policies and restrictions with a conversation-based approach to engaging with potential adopters.

• Adopt from animal shelters and rescue groups that welcome everyone and promote inclusive values.

Ebony R is the founder of Atlanta Dog Mom, a community founded to bring together diverse dog moms to connect, learn, and encourage each other to be the best dog moms we can be. In real life, she enjoys deep-diving of various topics, studying veterinary nursing, and doing queer things in the streets of Atlanta with a small group of friends.