Pet Cause or Pet Peeve?
Your apartment feels awfully lonely without anybody else there. You could really use a running companion. You want someone to share your inexplicable hatred of the mailman. Whatever the reason, you've decided you're in a good place to adopt a pet. For many people in the area, that's when the hard part starts. The Washington Post has a story today about how the Washington Humane Society is overhauling their adoption requirements to make pet adoption easier. The group has "recently dropped its home-visit requirement and will now give applicants more chances to explain problems that might have landed them on a no-pet blacklist in the past, such as a loose-running pet killed in traffic or a tendency to return previously adopted animals."
We understand the guiding principles behind stricter pet adoption guidelines. We've all heard the stories of the crazy pet hoarders and animal abusers. But sometimes the restrictions go a bit far. The Post's article tells a pretty outrageous story of denial; a family on a farm, who'd had healthy, happy dogs for years, were denied because only 3 sides of their property was fenced in, and they refused to promise not to let the dog run free. One family (that did end up passing the requirements) went through a "two-month process [that] required three personal references..., assigned reading of two books, phone and home interviews, and a test session with a greyhound in her condominium." Yikes.
Several DCist staffers have had pretty easy experiences adopting animals locally. Kyle Gustafson adopted minor internet celebrity Mr. Pink from Alley Cat Allies, and all that was required was some light paper work. I adopted my cat three years ago from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter and, though I had to make several trips before I got lucky (litters of new kittens get adopted really quickly), the process was very simple and I went home with Stinker that night. All that was required was a vet visit and sterilization. Fredo Alvarez adopted his cat Petunia on Cat Adoption Saturday across from Eastern Market six years ago. That group did require interviews and a home visit, as well as unscheduled check ups. Sometimes, though, denials are a good thing. One staffer had a friend who was denied because they lived on a busy road with no fencing and wouldn't agree to keep the cat indoors (a decision we can't say we disagree with).
We're obviously pro-pet and want to see them go to loving, responsible homes. But should it be so hard? Is rigorous interviewing and contracting a necessary hassle, or another example of us taking things a little bit too seriously?
Photo by Amanda Mattos