Thinking About Giving Them Away?
Over the past few years we have observed more and more organizations giving fee-waived adoptions a try. I have written several times about the research we published showing that waiving the adoption fee does not impact the bond adopters have with their cats.
ASPCApro.org has highlighted many successful adoption events and we have conducted a webinar on implementing fee-waived adoptions at your shelter.
The Charleston Animal Society, one of our ASPCA Partnership agencies, is one of the many shelters to have implemented fee-waived adoptions. To assess the program’s impact, they collected data not just around adoptions, but also donations, store sales and foot traffic. They proved to themselves, their board and their community that by waiving the adoption fee, they could save so many more lives.
Now Charleston Animal Society has produced a video to help other shelters try fee-waived adoptions as well.
It gave me chills – and if you are not sure if fee-waived is for your agency, the video will likely give you pause. Take a look and see how impactful the program can be. I strongly encourage you to view it — and tell us what you think.
Related links:
“What? Give Them Away?”
Listen to the webinar: Fee-Waived Cats 101Research on Fee-Waived Cat Adoptions
Research on Fee-Waived Cat Adoptions
Resources & Successes: Fee-Waived Adoptions
Tags: Adoption Marketing, Adoption Programs, ASPCA Partnership, Fee-Waived Adoptions, Research, Research & Data, Saving Lives
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kay hyman Says:
Without your data encouragement and support, hundreds of cats lives would have been lost. THANK YOU and the ASPCA
kozzykats Says:
Excellent video – our animal shelter has done waived fee promotions an although we have not been able to clear the building, many animals did find their forever homes.
vlb Says:
I’m curious do you disclose to the potential adopter that animals are not “free”? That they are in fact costly to keep. Food, Medical Bills, Maintenance. If you travel, what to do with an animal. Extra Charges Landlords will charge for Pets….Shall I go on? These “free” animals get returned over and over again when it is not disclosed about the true cost of having a pet in their homes. They are not free. And making potential adopters feel like they are getting some bargain without telling them the truth is why many animals end up back at the Shelter. Full Disclosure would be a better system.
Emily Weiss Says:
Vlb – We agree. Fee waived adoptions does not mean counsel free adoptions. Adopters go through the same adoption process that they would if they paid a fee. The only difference is the fee is waived. Our data indicates that return rates do not increase with a fee waived program – and lives saved soar.