| Why Do
We Ask So Many Questions? |
(8-August-2003) |
An astonishing 49% of more than 2200 animals
we received last year were turned in by their owners. The reasons
they gave are now part of our application, becasuse we want you
to adopt an animal from us, but we want you to:
- know what you are getting into
- pick an animal that fits your lifestyle
- know how to care for that animal, both physically
and emotionally
- pick an animal whose company you will cherish for
the rest of his/her life
WE ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS
BECAUSE:
- 1165 animals were turned in because they were lost.
That’s why we ask if you intend to keep an ID tag on your
pets, to keep your cat inside and how your dog will be confined
on your property.
- 486 animals were turned in due to behavior problems.
Do you know . . . how to house-train that puppy? . . . how to
train a cat to use a scratching post? . . . what to do if your
cat stops using the litter box? . . . which dogs are often aggressive
with strangers or children?. . . that canine obedience classes
can eliminate many of the problems cited as reasons for turning
in a pet?
- 183 animals were turned in by people who were moving
– many simply to another apartment where pets were not
allowed. That’s why we ask what you plan to do with your
pets if you move, and why we insist on speaking with your current
landlord.
- 134 animals were turned in because they were part
of a litter that the owners could not find homes for. That is
why we insist that you spay or neuter your pet.
- 98 animals were turned in by people who could not
afford to keep them. That’s why we ask how much you expect
to spend in a year. We want you to understand that pet care
is not always cheap.
- 31 animals were turned in by people who had no time
for them. That’s why we ask how many hours a day the animal
will be left alone?. . . are you a frequent traveler? . . .
are you willing to exercise and/or play with your pet every
day? A bored pet is an unhappy, often destructive pet!
- 46 animals were turned in because of allergies. That’s
why we ask if any family members are allergic to the pet you
want to adopt. If so, are you/they willing to take allergy medication
or vaccinations?
- 4 animals were turned in because they were given as
unwanted gifts? That is why we do not allow pets to be adopted
out as gifts.
- AND FINALLY, 92 of the animals were returned to us
after they had been adopted from here!
WHICH IS WHY
WE ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS!
The Staff at ECCHA.
( The above numbers reflect approximations based
on years of dealing with surrendered and stray pets.)
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