Process of adopting pets can involve intense scrutiny

By Bonnie Miller Rubin - Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Katie Popovich recently accompanied her boyfriend to a Chicago animal shelter in search of a dog. When a beagle-border collie mix immediately nuzzled against them, they were smitten.

But the 22-year-olds received a considerably chillier response from the human behind the counter.

"It seemed like we were instantly thrown into this category that we were just kids and not responsible," she said, adding that they are now talking with breeders.

After years of public education campaigns urging would-be adopters to visit shelters for their cats and dogs, many prospective pet owners say they feel about as welcome as a case of fleas.

They grumble about a vetting process that, at times, can seem more like a prosecutorial interrogation than about finding a suitable home for Fido or Felix.

It's not unusual to find multipage applications that require proof of apartment leases or condo rules permitting pets, financial data, marital status, references from veterinarians and even home visits. Applicants may be asked to weigh in on topics from lawn care ("Do you use chemicals?") to discipline ("If the dog has an accident, what kind of action will you take?").

The Lexington Humane Society uses a matching program called Finders Keepers. No proof of income is required, and the program is designed to make sure prospective owners are familiar with the breeds they chose and can provide adequate space and affection, said president Susan Malcomb. "A lot of times you have to take a leap of faith," Malcomb said. "You gather the pertinent information and then pray that it all works out."

Plenty of pets — 3 million to 4 million, according to the Humane Society of the United States — are adopted from shelters annually. But an equal number are euthanized each year, a figure some animal advocates say could be reduced if the process of matching homes and pets were a bit more people-friendly.

"It's hard to get it right," conceded Jamie Damato, who has put in 20 years of working with animals, including a stint at an Oak Park, Ill., shelter. "There's no question that these organizations have the best interests of the animals at heart, but they shouldn't be playing God."

Many operators say the scrutiny is essential to ensure that the pet is safe and won't be returned. "You have no idea how traumatic abandonment is for animals," said Jim Borgelt, president of the Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance, a coalition of 15 "no-kill" shelters.

More rigorous questioning started in the 1990s, after research on why adoptions fail. While the probes can seem overly intrusive, the responses reveal a lot, gatekeepers say. Income, for example, can determine whether an applicant can afford to hire a dog walker. Long work hours might mean steering someone away from a puppy or high-energy breed.

Some say the pendulum has swung too far. Emily Weiss, who has a doctorate in animal behavior and is a senior director with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was once rejected by a shelter.

The rules might be relaxing a bit. The Washington, D.C., Humane Society recently dropped its home visit requirement. In Chicago, The Anti-Cruelty Society reversed its decision to rebuff anyone who said they would declaw a cat.

The ASPCA's Weiss developed an assessment tool called "Meet Your Match" that identifies certain personality traits in both animals and humans. If you work at home, for example, you might not want a "personal assistant"-type cat who will be in your lap and on your keyboard. At five test sites, the program reduced feline euthanasia by 40 percent and increased adoption by 50 percent, according to Weiss.