Rescue
& adoptiont
ADOPTING ONLINE
your
next best friend might be just a mouse
click away
by
B.J. Candella
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| "...the
influence of the Internet has gone
far beyond downloading music or auctioning
your old junk on Ebay. More and more
people are using the World Wide Web
as a way to find their soul mates,
both human and animal." |
Internet
adoption services help shelters and rescues
Those looking
for animal companions are not the only
ones who appreciate Internet adoption.
Shelters and rescues always face the prospect
of too many animals and not enough homes,
but online services help stem the tide,
and many shelters are seeing their adoption
rates climb.
“The Internet is a wonderful tool
in helping with adoptions,” says
Pam Migneco, Secretary for the City of
Arnold Animal Control in Missouri. “The
Internet reaches so many people who would
have never known our facility existed.
I personally adopted a cat from a facility
through the Internet. He is now living
a wonderful life and showered with love
every day.”
“The Internet is one of the best
ways to reach people,” agrees Cary
Rentola, Marketing and Events Manager
for the Larimer Humane Society in Fort
Collins, Colorado. “Being able to
post adoptable animals on the Internet
improves the chances of that animal finding
a home. It’s amazing how many people
are tuned in.”
Online adoption services also provide
an avenue for specific breed placement
groups to highlight the animals they have
for adoption. “Because these groups
work mostly out of a network of foster
homes, it can be challenging to advertise
the animals needing homes,” says
Betsy. “PETS 911, and other sites
like it, give them a great option for
promoting adoption and can be a great
fit for someone looking for a particular
breed.”
How
does it work?
Finding an animal online may sound overwhelming,
but it’s actually a simple, streamlined
process.
• When you visit PETS911.com, enter
your zip or postal code and then decide
if you want to search for the shelter
or rescue closest to you, or for a specific
breed available in your area. You’ll
find information on each shelter or rescue,
including their mission, pictures of adoptable
animals, adoption fees, hours of operation,
their contact details, and their web site
address if they have one.
• If you see an animal you want,
hit “print” and you’ll
have a hard copy of everything you need
to know about the animal. Along with the
picture and kennel number, the printout
lists the species, gender, breed, color,
age, and comments such as “enjoys
children” or “cannot live
with cats.”
• Go to the shelter where the animal
is being cared for and give them the printout.
The adoption process has started!
“Online adoption services have helped
to tremendously increase public awareness,”
says Betsy. “It brings pet adoption
to a whole new audience of folks who might
not have considered it before.”
Let the search begin!
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Published
in the October/November 2005 issue of
Animal Wellness
|
