PAWS TO PONDER

by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.

Did you know in today’s world, most shelters, sanctuaries and animal welfare organizations require applications to adopt? Gone are the days of walking into a shelter and walking out with a cat or kitten for a few dollars.  Of course, back then, the pets were not vaccinated, tested, dewormed, spayed or neutered, given flea, tick and heartworm preventatives, dentals, other surgical procedures and any and all prescribed medications during the course of their stay.  Nor did the State of New York require spaying and neutering back then.  Not only have the laws changed, but attitudes have also changed in this industry.  Animals have value.  The adoption fee rarely covers their cost of care.  Pets from shelters typically cost less than pets purchased or acquired for free.  

But why are applications used?  Basically, applications help us help you make an informed decision about the pet you are interested in.  Knowing your likes and preferences allows us to point you in the right direction.  The questions asked on applications tell us the type of home, where located, number of hours the pet will be left alone, landlord information because its never a good idea to try and dupe your landlord, who and what ages live in or visit the home, what you are willing to tolerate and work on or must have, what other animals live or visit the home, etc.  Two unrelated personal references because we do not know you, along with your veterinarian information are critical components to the application process.  Ours is a three-page questionnaire, only because we use a readable font size, otherwise it would be only two pages.  The application allows for discussion where needed.  Unfortunately, despite simplifying it as much as we have, incomplete, inaccurate and misleading information continues to occur.  It usually takes a couple of days to reach either the landlord, veterinarian and/or references, yet people still expect to hear in a day. We are sincerely not trying to make it hard to adopt but want you to know that these animals that have been in our care become our day pets. It is our responsibility to attempt to ensure that their next home is their forever home.   We can only do that if we do our due diligence and if we have truthful and complete information.  In all honesty, if you do not have the time to complete the application, you will not have the time or patience for a pet. 

The staff and directors spend countless hours caring for the shelter animals. Some have been raised from infancy, others have come to us emotionally and physically neglected, while others lack socialization.  The frantic anxiety and whines of a surrendered pet is heartbreaking.  Each and every animal touches our hearts.  Adopting them is letting them go, which we are certainly willing to do for their sake, but we want the assurance that they will be loved and cared for for the rest of their lives.   

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