An easy trick for less adoptions

Imagine for a moment that you’re thinking about getting a new car. You’ve got a pretty good idea of what you want; blue, hatchback, less than 2 years old. You’ve done a bit of research on the internet and know that there are three or four brands you’d be interested in.

So you walk up to the car yard entry expecting to be welcomed with opened arms. You’re a customer after all – they should be glad to see you!

But this place works a bit differently. The salesperson has stopped you at the gate, given you an application form and ushered you into a room. They ask a few questions; your name, where you live and some other personal stuff. The salesperson insists – you can’t look at the cars until you have a filled in an application.

While a bit perturbed, you’re good spirits today and excited by the thought of finding the car you’ve been wanting, so you fill in the form. The salesperson takes it away and seems satisfied.

But now, instead opening the door and letting you enjoy the process of viewing lots of different cars and choosing the one you want – the car salesman tells you he ‘ has just the thing’ and brings you a car he thinks you should have. If you don’t like it you’re told, then you can feel free to leave.

Sound crazy?

Believe it or not, this is exactly how one of the bigger shelters in Perth operate. Potential adopters have to fill in an application form to be allowed entry and once they have, they are shown the dogs the shelter think they are suitable to own. Like it or lump it.

Treat your clients like the enemy and you won’t have any friends

Sadly this resistant approach is reflected in their low rehoming rates despite being incredibly well know in the community.

While we’re not dealing with cars and care must obviously be taken when screening adopters – putting hurdles in front of your adopters before they’ve had a chance to engage with you is sheer folly. Some will jump when you say “how high”, but most will think that you’ve lost your marbles and go where people are more accommodating (read: your local pet store).

Rather than fencing off the public from the animals, they should be welcomed in to meet them. Once they’re in love with a pet, filling in an application form will feel like a small formality and the experience will be a positive one. Asking people for their details before they’ve set foot in your shelter is intrusive – the experience a very negative one.

Rarely is an animal adopted without first enamouring its owner.