Progressive Adoptions Serving Pets and People

Progressive Adoptions that Serve Pets and People

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, at the time a small shelter in rural Leverett, Massachusetts, replaced their "one-size-fits-all" adoption criteria with an open adoption program, where communication with potential adopters is congenial and collaborative rather than bureaucratic and rule-bound.

Cool Quote

"You insult far more terrific people while you are trying to 'catch' the rare person doing the wrong thing." Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, on why waiting periods and other rigid adoption policies aren't effective at helping homeless animals.

What it Takes

• A shelter staff that desires change and wants to create a culture of understanding and respect for humans, as well as animals, within the organization.
• Willingness to abandon counter-productive attitudes and policies.
• Access to the Internet to learn what other organizations are doing.

What We Like

This modest organization understands that animal welfare goes far beyond treating animals well. They have taken advantage of information and ideas found on the Internet to improve their service to both pets and people.

Step by Step

1. Download the complete profile (.pdf)
2. Assess for yourself whether this program is right for your agency.
3. Grab the sample materials and get started.
4. Tell us how it goes.