With the HOOFPRINTS.ORG adoption process you get the HOOFPRINTS.ORG guarantee.
This means that whatever animal you adopt via Hoofprints.Org will be guaranteed to work out OR we will take the pet back into the program and, if you are agreeable, exchange that pet for another that you think will please you.
We do this for two reasons: The last thing any of us wants is for any species pet to be without a home — and not just any home but one in which they’re loved, accepted and happy. The animals we rescue, foster and adopt are animals we believe can be successfully rehomed with a modicum of effort.
They’re good candidates in that they show signs of wanting to love and be loved. They show no signs of aggression. They display an attitude of happiness and a longing to interact. In most cases, they do not show signs of having been abused — they’re not distrustful of people.
Leaving an animal in the care of someone that’s given up on them is never a good idea. We would much prefer to begin again in a fresh environment.
That said, it’s also important to note that when adopting, we strive to see people adopt pets that will fit into their homes and environment. This means that we’re looking at breed personalities, activity levels, intellect and even the family dynamics.
Here are just a few the things to consider:
What is the Square footage of the area the pet will be inhabiting?
Is there a ‘run’ or fenced yard available?
Do people work outside the home?
Will there be extended periods of isolation or ‘kenneling’ for the pet?
Are there small children present?
Teens?
Elderly people?
For what reason is adoption desirable?
Who wants the pet — everyone? Or a specific individual?
(This person’s activity level is instrumental in breed specific adoptions.)
How do you see this pet fitting into the family environment?
All of these questions and more assist us in making sure the placement is going to be a good fit for both the pet and their people. Many times, people simply visit their local shelter and pick out a pet for their appearance — with little or no thought at all given to how the pet is likely to integrate into the family’s life and home.
At times, people will ask for something that turns out to be unrealistic for their environment. This happened recently for a Shepweiler pup aptly named, Ace. A nice, very young and sweet high activity male, Ace was to be neutered at one year. He didn’t make it that far.
Ace had had access to his master’s ATV — and he pulled the wiring out of the trailer that was used for transporting it. To top it off, Ace was expected to spend a lot of his time in a kennel.
Of course, with his activity level, he was not happy in a kennel so began resisting entry therein. Finally, Ace just refused outright to be put inside. His 70 year old adopter simply could not be required to physically ‘overpower’ Ace to contain him and Ace was not about to agreeable ‘contain’ himself.
For this, Ace lost his home.
The problem, clearly, wasn’t Ace. His adoptive dad was advised when adopting that this was a high activity level pup that would be a challenge for an older individual to adopt.
Had we been apprised of the situation, we would have discouraged this adoption from taking place. The yard was perfect — but Ace was prevented from utilizing it because the ATV lived there on its trailer — the same trailer Ace relieved of its wiring. This was the end of Ace’s welcome at his master’s house.
There was, of course, a home for Ace — he just needed to be with younger, stronger people that were ready to provide Ace with the environment he so desperately needed: one where he could be contained but allowed to ‘run off’ his excess energy. This, though, is why we ask questions of potential adopters: we want EVERYONE to be happy!
