Shelter dog – adoption procedure
Where do dogs in shelters come from?
Every dog deserves a second chance!
Shelters are places where care is provided for homeless and stray animals (for various reasons), abandoned and unwanted. There are two basic types of facilities in Poland: state shelters and private shelters (sanctuaries, shelters, hotels - run by various foundations and private individuals).
Institutionalised care for animals in state shelters is carried out based on the provisions of the Act of 21 August 1997 on the Protection of Animals and the Act of 13 September 1996 on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Municipalities (obliging municipalities to organise protection against homeless animals).
Dog Stories – What Dogs Live in Shelters?
The shelter houses both mongrels and pedigree dogs, small and large dogs, puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs. Dogs end up in shelters for various reasons. The largest group are stray dogs that were caught from the streets of cities and villages - these are primarily dogs that were born homeless and were abandoned by their previous guardians. Shelters also house quadrupeds taken over by facilities after the death of their guardians and taken away as part of an intervention (usually from extremely poor conditions).
Animals whose owners, for various reasons, give up their care also end up in shelters. The most frequently mentioned reasons for rejecting a dog include: a change in life situation (sudden illness, change of place of residence, family breakdown, death of the main carer and unwillingness to take over care of the dog), lack of time for sufficient care of the animal and difficulties resulting from improper upbringing/leading of the dog. Shelters note a lot of abandonment of dogs in January (dogs that turned out to be a bad Christmas present are given away) and in the summer months (then the dogs turn out to be an obstacle to freely realizing holiday plans).
Dog Shelters and Adoptions in Numbers
People managing public shelters and running private shelters warn that the facilities are constantly overcrowded. Current data on the number of animals staying in shelters can be found in the annual reports of the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate [1]. In 2020, there were 92,242 dogs staying in shelters, which means a decrease of about 12% compared to 2019 (at that time there were 105,188 dogs staying in shelters). The number of animals staying in shelters has remained at a constant level for several years. At the same time, the number of adoptions of quadrupeds remains at a constantly high level - about 60% of animals staying in shelters are adopted each year. In 2020, 63,358 dogs were adopted from animal shelters, which is almost 70% of dogs staying in shelters and about 3 thousand less compared to 2019.
Adoption procedure - adopting a dog from a shelter step by step
Taking in a dog from a shelter is a huge responsibility! Can you handle it? Each shelter develops and applies its own adoption procedures, so they may differ slightly from one facility to another. In most shelters, however, the adoption procedure includes 6 basic steps.
Step 1 – Pre-Adoption Survey and Pre-Adoption Interview
The pre-adoption survey is an extensive questionnaire that may contain even dozens of questions. The questions will concern, among others, your life and family status, financial possibilities and housing conditions, but also your professional work (primarily in terms of working time/hours and possible business trips) and lifestyle (primarily in terms of physical activity, how you spend your free time, traveling, etc.). As part of the pre-adoption interview, the shelter employee may also ask you about your knowledge about caring for a dog and the reasons that led you to decide to adopt a pet.
Step 2 – analysis of your application
Now your application will be analyzed in detail! In case of any doubts or ambiguities - a shelter employee can contact you by phone or email. Be prepared to answer additional questions! Has your application been positively verified? It's time for a pre-adoption visit from a shelter employee to your home!
Step 3 – pre-adoption visit by a shelter worker to the Dog's future home
The shelter employee will visit you at your home on the agreed date. This is the time to assess the local conditions (their compliance with the conditions declared in the survey) and to check the immediate surroundings of your apartment/block or house (primarily in terms of the safety of the Dog and future walks). During the visit, the shelter employee may also have the opportunity to meet members of your family and verify their attitude towards adopting the Pet. This is also a good time to conduct an awareness-raising conversation on the duties of a Dog Guardian and the costs of maintaining and treating the Pet. Is everything correct? It's time to find a Dog for you!
Step 4 – pre-adoption visits at the shelter (introducing the Dog)
In the pre-adoption survey, you had the opportunity to declare what kind of dog you wanted to adopt. You could specify its age (adoption of a puppy, adoption of an adult dog, adoption of a senior dog) and the size of the dog (small, medium or large dog). The shelter staff knows their charges very well, so it is best to trust them in this matter. Most likely, they will present you with 2-4 dog candidates who optimally fit your needs and financial, space and time possibilities.
Now everything is in your hands and... your heart! It is best to visit the shelter several times (in the adoption procedures of selected shelters the number of your pre-adoption visits may be strictly defined), get to know the Dog better, take him for a few walks and listen to the invaluable tips of the facility employees.
Step 5 – Signing the adoption agreement
An adoption agreement is a formal confirmation of adoption and transfer of responsibilities related to the care of the Dog. By signing an adoption agreement, you undertake, among other things, to provide the animal with safe living conditions, veterinary care (periodic check-ups, vaccinations) and to treat the Dog with due respect and care. In the case of adoption of puppies and non-sterilized dogs, the adoption agreement most often contains a provision obliging you to perform a castration / sterilization procedure on your Pupil.
Have you signed a contract? Your Dog is… truly yours!
Step 6 – Post-Adoption Check-up/Post-Adoption Support
Post-adoption visits are of a monitoring and supportive nature. The shelter employee checks whether you are properly fulfilling your obligations towards the adopted Dog and provides the support you currently need. You can ask them for advice on all matters related to the care of the Dog and dispel any doubts regarding, for example, the behavior of the Animal (even in the context of the Pupil's past).
No matter how difficult the beginning of your adventure together is, how many challenges you have to face and what problems you have to overcome - we are convinced that you and your Dog will create a harmonious and happy duo of Friends! Give yourselves time!
[1] https://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/nadzor-weterynaryjny/schroniska-dla-bezdomnych-zwierzat