Comments on: Landlord Smamlord! http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2011/03/landlord-smamlord/ Shelters' Edge Blog: We're talking about saving animals' lives here. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:11:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Rebecca Rodgers http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2011/03/landlord-smamlord/comment-page-1/#comment-22229 Rebecca Rodgers Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:14:53 +0000 http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/?p=4978#comment-22229 I like the IDEA of landlord checks but the reality of it is that it just hinders adoptions. Like someone else said here - it's a control thing. I think having the local apartments on file to do a quick policy check is one way of handling it but really if you treat your adoptors like responsible people to begin with then you'll come out better in the end. After all they CAME to the shelter to begin with - shows that they are pretty responsible from the get go. I like the IDEA of landlord checks but the reality of it is that it just hinders adoptions. Like someone else said here – it’s a control thing.

I think having the local apartments on file to do a quick policy check is one way of handling it but really if you treat your adoptors like responsible people to begin with then you’ll come out better in the end.

After all they CAME to the shelter to begin with – shows that they are pretty responsible from the get go.

]]> By: Karen Riggs-Saberton http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2011/03/landlord-smamlord/comment-page-1/#comment-22186 Karen Riggs-Saberton Sun, 20 Mar 2011 04:04:57 +0000 http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/?p=4978#comment-22186 Our local Humane Society shelter almost did not let my mom adopt a guinea pig because my dad was not with her. They wanted "everyone from the home". The adoption went through after I spoke with the placement counceler, she knew me and I knew her from volunteering there - and this would be my mom's third or fourth guinea pig - all expired only by old age, and all carefully loved and cared for by my mom and dad both. Should I add my Mom is 70? And they celebrated their 50th wedding aniversary last year? I think if my mom thinks she want to take home a guinea pig I think she can do it? I agree with an easy-returns policy; sometimes things do change; then it is in the interest of all to be able to lovingly find a new home for one's best friend. Our local Humane Society shelter almost did not let my mom adopt a guinea pig because my dad was not with her. They wanted “everyone from the home”. The adoption went through after I spoke with the placement counceler, she knew me and I knew her from volunteering there – and this would be my mom’s third or fourth guinea pig – all expired only by old age, and all carefully loved and cared for by my mom and dad both.
Should I add my Mom is 70? And they celebrated their 50th wedding aniversary last year? I think if my mom thinks she want to take home a guinea pig I think she can do it?
I agree with an easy-returns policy; sometimes things do change; then it is in the interest of all to be able to lovingly find a new home for one’s best friend.

]]> By: Kat Hodges http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2011/03/landlord-smamlord/comment-page-1/#comment-22116 Kat Hodges Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:17:21 +0000 http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/?p=4978#comment-22116 I feel that landlord checks falls into the same category as home-visits performed by many rescues. It's an issue of control. We all take animals into our programs, provide them with food, water, medical attention, and- most importantly- a second chance for love. When someone wants to adopt an animal that we've invested time, money, and love in, it's hard to let go without feeling like we have control over that animals' future well-being. Unfortunately, no amount of landlord checks, home checks, 20-page questionnaires, or even lie-detector tests will truly give us control. I believe that "letting go" of the need for absolute control is a big step towards saving more lives. The time you spend doing landlord checks and home-visits would be much better performing adoptions and taking animals into your program. Having an open return policy is also key, so that if adopters DO have to relinquish the animal it has a much higher chance of coming back to your organization. Adopters who return an animal because it wasn't the right fit are very likely to choose another animal from your organization. How fantastic to have built a relationship with that adopter! Susan & Leslie- I love the method of treating people like ADULTS! I've spoken with many adopters who have tried adopting from shelters that make them jump through hoops in order to adopt, only to be turned down. These people feel as though they're "not worthy" of adopting an animal. It disappoints me that while grasping for a level of control that doesn't exist, many programs end up pushing adopters towards buying from a breeder. That's the last thing we all want! I feel that landlord checks falls into the same category as home-visits performed by many rescues. It’s an issue of control. We all take animals into our programs, provide them with food, water, medical attention, and- most importantly- a second chance for love. When someone wants to adopt an animal that we’ve invested time, money, and love in, it’s hard to let go without feeling like we have control over that animals’ future well-being. Unfortunately, no amount of landlord checks, home checks, 20-page questionnaires, or even lie-detector tests will truly give us control. I believe that “letting go” of the need for absolute control is a big step towards saving more lives. The time you spend doing landlord checks and home-visits would be much better performing adoptions and taking animals into your program.

Having an open return policy is also key, so that if adopters DO have to relinquish the animal it has a much higher chance of coming back to your organization. Adopters who return an animal because it wasn’t the right fit are very likely to choose another animal from your organization. How fantastic to have built a relationship with that adopter!

Susan & Leslie- I love the method of treating people like ADULTS! I’ve spoken with many adopters who have tried adopting from shelters that make them jump through hoops in order to adopt, only to be turned down. These people feel as though they’re “not worthy” of adopting an animal. It disappoints me that while grasping for a level of control that doesn’t exist, many programs end up pushing adopters towards buying from a breeder. That’s the last thing we all want!

]]> By: Nikki Harris http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2011/03/landlord-smamlord/comment-page-1/#comment-22115 Nikki Harris Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:01:25 +0000 http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/?p=4978#comment-22115 We do not require landlord checks; however, some of our volunteers are still sticklers about them. We are working on it though! One of the things we have found helpful for the customers (and staff and volunteer counselors)is to compile a collection of almost all the apartments in Omaha and their pet policies. We check the information for the customer, but we do not call the apartment to "tell on" the customer. Most people are happy that we tell them the requirements, but we don't feel it's our job to make sure they follow up on the requirements. Before we eliminated landlord checks, I adopted a dog to my brother and his wife, but their rental town home did not allow dogs. They told the manager it was my dog and they were dog sitting. They later bought a home with a huge fenced yard. Their dogs(they have 3 now)are well-cared for and very much loved. Had I not broken the "rules" for them, they wouldn't have Sammy. It was then that I saw how the rules can prevent pets from getting great homes! We do not require landlord checks; however, some of our volunteers are still sticklers about them. We are working on it though! One of the things we have found helpful for the customers (and staff and volunteer counselors)is to compile a collection of almost all the apartments in Omaha and their pet policies. We check the information for the customer, but we do not call the apartment to “tell on” the customer. Most people are happy that we tell them the requirements, but we don’t feel it’s our job to make sure they follow up on the requirements.

Before we eliminated landlord checks, I adopted a dog to my brother and his wife, but their rental town home did not allow dogs. They told the manager it was my dog and they were dog sitting. They later bought a home with a huge fenced yard. Their dogs(they have 3 now)are well-cared for and very much loved. Had I not broken the “rules” for them, they wouldn’t have Sammy. It was then that I saw how the rules can prevent pets from getting great homes!

]]> By: Emily Weiss http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2011/03/landlord-smamlord/comment-page-1/#comment-22110 Emily Weiss Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:01:08 +0000 http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/?p=4978#comment-22110 Susan and Leslie - What great suggestions for helping staff gain confidence, understanding and buy in to the process! Thank you so much for taking the time to write. Susan and Leslie – What great suggestions for helping staff gain confidence, understanding and buy in to the process! Thank you so much for taking the time to write.

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