713 North Elizabeth ~ Kokomo, IN ~ 46901

(765) 452-6224

OFF-SITE ADOPTION POLICY

From time to time the Kokomo Humane Society will hold off-site adoption events.  This provides us another way of taking some of our adoptable animals out into the public for additional exposure as we seek to find them a new home and family. However, it is our policy that in order to discourage impulsive adoption decisions or to risk adopting a pet to someone that may have had their adoption privileges denied, we require that interested new adopters return to the shelter to fill out the necessary paperwork, contracts and address any concerns from our adoption staff.   We will hold your pet for an allotted period of  time at the off-site location until you return with your completed adoption forms where, only at that time, we will relinquish the pet into your care.

This procedure may at first appear that we are making it too hard on potential new adopters and may be perceived by some as though the shelter is not really trying to find homes for our pets.  However, in actuality, the very opposite is true!   We want to always keep our main focus and priority on what is best for the animal by purposely NOT making an off-site adoption "fast and easy".  True, that approach may make it convenient for the customer, but it is not conducive to guaranteeing the pet is getting a "responsible and committed home".   Owning a pet is a HUGE decision and one that should be thought through seriously and carefully...not quickly, under pressure, or on the spur of the moment.   Even taking a 5 or 10 minute drive to the shelter, gives the potential new adopter the chance to 'step away' so to speak to realistically contemplate their decision and decide if they are truly prepared to be committed to a new pet for 10-20 years.  

Once we explain the reasoning for our off-site adoption policy, reasonable and serious adopters agree that in fact,  it does make perfect sense and absolutely does keep the animal's best interest  a priority over simply sending it off to anyone interested at the time.   

Responsible adopters will in fact take the extra time to return to the shelter in order to take care of the adoption requirements.  It is an effective way of separating those who are serious about adopting from those that are perhaps basing their decisions strictly on emotions only.

Impulsive decisions can lead to a situation where the owner is unprepared, regretful of their decision, frustrated or even resenting the pet because of the burden it places on them..  Sadly, some of these pets can become neglected, abandoned, abused, or given away.  We understand that this doesn't always happen and some spontaneous decisions can work out well for both the pet and the owner.  But we do not want to place an animal at risk by taking that chance.

We appreciate your consideration and understanding of our policy.  We want the best for our pets and this is one way we feel we can improve their chance of finding a permanent and loving home.   

In other words....

Not just ANY home...but the RIGHT home!

Denial of Adoption Privileges

The shelter reserves the right to deny adoption to someone if they feel placement  would not be in the best interest of the animal.  Adoption privileges may be denied for a variety of reasons some of which may include but not be limited to the following: previous history of neglect/abuse, history of numerous pet relinquishment issues, non-compliance with previous adoption contracts in regard to spaying and neutering, proper sheltering, treatment and care of previously adopted pets, disagreement or disregard of adoption requirements, etc.

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WHY ADOPT A SHELTER ANIMAL?

  If you are considering a new pet, then an animal shelter is a great place to start your search.  Shelters usually have a wide variety of pets, both mixed breeds and purebreds, and even other types of domestic animals, that are waiting for that second chance at starting over with a new and loving family.  Unlike the belief of some that shelter animals are in some way of inferior quality, the fact is, shelter animals are perfectly good pets but just happen to be the victims of circumstances beyond their control.  Studies have shown that some of the top reasons owners give up their pets to shelters is:  moving, not enough time, can't afford, too much responsibility, and too many in home/litter.    In many of these situations, if perhaps the owner had carefully thought through their initial decision before getting a pet and considered all the factors such as  time, cost, responsibility, and home environment - their pet may not have ended up in a shelter.  

Making a Decision to Adopt a "Second Hand Pet" Has Its Advantages.

 

 

 

#1  You would be saving a pet's life!

#2  Shelter dogs and cats seem to relish your attention, time, and home.

 

#3  The cost of adoption is frequently less expensive and usually will include vaccinations, license, and spay/neuter surgery.

 

#4  Shelters offer a wide variety of sizes and breeds...both mixed breeds and pure. 

 

#5  Some experts say mixed breeds are more even-tempered and less prone to breed related medical problems.

 

#6  Some adult dogs and cats are already housebroken, litterbox trained, spayed/neutered, declawed, obedience trained, leash trained, etc. 

 

#7  Shelter staffs  will help you with your questions about which type of pet would be a good "fit" for your family, home, lifestyle and budget.

Please take your time when deciding IF getting a pet is the right decision for you.  When a pet owner breaks their commitment, or promise, to their pet.....it is the pet that suffers the most!

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WHAT IS AN OPEN-DOOR SHELTER?

According to statistics, there are approximately 8-10 million dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters each year.  The majority of relinquished pets (pets that are given up for adoption by their owners) are between the ages of 7 months and 3 years.  Sadly, when the bond between a pet and its owner is broken, it is the pet that suffers the after effects.  It is true, that in some circumstances pet owners may not have any choice in the matter and taking it to a shelter or rescue group may be their only reasonable option.  However, in many situations careful planning, research, responsible actions, and realistic expectations might lead to fewer animals being dropped off at shelters, or worse...abandoned on the streets. 

The Kokomo Humane Society, which takes in approximately 5,000 animals a year, is an open-door shelter, or open-admission shelter, as opposed to a limited admission shelter or a no-kill shelter.  Limited admission and no-kill shelters are not only able to turn away pets when they are full but can also be more selective in what animals they accept.  Although these types of shelters and organizations are important in housing animals and do a good job of  finding many of them homes,  open-door shelters are just what the name implies. Open door shelters like the Kokomo Humane Society continually accept animals of all types - purebreds, mixed breeds, unwanted, strays, abused, neglected, those that are adorable and gorgeous and those that are homely and not so easy on the eyes.  The Kokomo Humane Society also accepts other types of domestic animals such as hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, some types of livestock, and birds, to name a few.  Unless an animal is aggressive, has ever bitten someone, is extremely old, or in poor health, the shelter keeps its doors open, admitting unwanted animals of all sizes, kinds, ages, or breeds.   Maintaining a shelter which continues to accept animals certainly puts space constraints on the shelter.  However, even when the facility is bursting at the seams, the shelter must remain committed to it's open-door policy trying to give each adoptable pet that enters the facility a chance .

Because we are trying to find homes for as many as possible, we see every day the stress and strain that pet overpopulation and pet relinquishment (pets that are given up for adoption by their owner) put on animals, the shelter, and the community.  Sadly, space is always at a premium at an open-door shelter, and while we try to keep the pets up for adoption for as long as possible, the truth is that the continued intake of unwanted and stray animals forces us to eventually humanely euthanize others in order to make room for more coming in every day.  What the general public may not realize is that it is not unheard of for the shelter to take in 8-10 animals a day.  At certain times of the year, when multiple litters of kittens and puppies are brought in, the numbers can easily  jump to 20-30 a day!  Euthanizing an animal is an emotional task and something we wish we did not have to ever do, but unfortunately, it is the reality of not just the pet overpopulation, but also pet relinquishment.  Those in the general public who are quick to judge and  criticize open-door shelters based on the fact that they euthanize animals, do not really understand or grasp the reality of the problem.  Shelters that have to euthanize animals don't do it simply because they are supposed to or want to.  Open door shelters have to euthanize because, by their very nature, they don't have the luxury of turning animals away when they are full.  Tragically, euthanizing animals is a symptom of a much greater problem.  As much as we would love to be able to close our doors and not accept any more animals when the shelter is full, this would ultimately only force pet owners to find alternative means of relinquishing their pets.  Tragically, for some irresponsible pet owners, this might mean destroying the animal, passing it off to the first "free-to-a-good home" that comes along, or simply abandoning it on the streets where it would have to struggle on its own finding a way to survive.  This is a risk we do not want to take nor have on our conscience!

To refer to an article that was written several years ago in an animal sheltering magazine by one employee that resigned from her job at a no-kill shelter to re-apply at an open admission shelter, the author stated that she had spent years openly and publicly criticizing the local shelter because they euthanized animals. At the same time, this employee had highly praised the no-kill shelter in which she worked because they cared more for the animals and did not euthanize. In her words, they were 'more humane.'  The article goes on to say that one day on her drive home after work, she spotted a box with a litter of kittens on the side of the road...some alive, some dead in the street, some suffering from visible injuries.  She recognized the box of kittens as the one from earlier in the day... the same box of kittens that  they turned away because their facility was full.  She then realized what had  happened.  She went into work the next day, resigned from her job at the no-kill and  then applied for a job at the local Open-Door shelter.

This is just one person's story about her experience and not meant to imply that this tragedy happens every time someone is turned away from a rescue group or no-kill/limited admission shelter.  All shelters and organizations, regardless if they are no-kill, limited admission, or open admission -  work hard to help as many animals as we possibly can. 

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It is the Kokomo Humane Society's policy to hold an animal up for adoption for as long as we can, unless there is a decline in the animal's health, it becomes aggressive, or we run out of space.  The down-side of an open-door shelter is that "Space" is sometimes hard to come by.  Reducing the number of animals that enter the shelter depends on a reduction in pet relinquishment and a reduction in the high numbers of puppies and kittens born. Reducing these numbers will greatly reduce the number of shelter animals that will ultimately have to be euthanized.  

We and the animals need your help....

Each pet owner can help ease the burden of shelter over-crowding.  Please take your responsibility seriously. Do all you can to be sure that your commitment to your pet is life-long and also have your pet spayed or neutered so as not to continue adding more pets to the pet overpopulation problem.   

Thanks

If you are unaware of the impact of the pet overpopulation or the benefits of spaying and neutering your pet, please click here

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WHY ARE PETS RELINQUISHED TO ANIMAL SHELTERS?

The following information was taken from studies and findings from   the NCPPSP (National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy)

DOGS

1.   Moving

2.    Landlord issues

3.    Cost of maintenance

4.    No time for pet

5.    Inadequate facilities

6.    Too many in home

7.    Pet Illness

8.    Personal problems

9.    Biting

10.  No homes for littermates

 

CATS

1.    Too many in home

2.    Allergies

3.    Moving

4.    Cost of maintenance

5.    Landlord issues

6.    No homes for littermates

7.    House soiling

8.    Personal problems

9.    Inadequate facilities

10.  Doesn't get along with other pets

 

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THE STAGGERING STATISTICS OF THE PET OVERPOPULATION The following is a list of information regarding the pet overpopulation and pet ownership which is taken from a variety of reliable

• About 60% of US households own a pet.
• There are approximately 60 million owned dogs in the US.
• There are approximately 63 million owned cats in the US.
• 65% of pet owners acquired their pet free or at a low cost.
• 15-20% of dog owners purchased their pet from a 'breeder'
• 10-20% of dog/cat owners adopted their pet from an animal shelter.
• 2-10% of dog/cat owners purchased their pet from a pet store.
• 75% of owned dogs/cats are not neutered or spayed.
• 1 unspayed female cat and her unspayed female offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in just seven years.
• 1 unspayed female dog and her unspayed female offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just six years.
• Every hour there are approximately 2,000-3,500 dogs and cats born in the US.
• Every day approximately 11,000 humans are born compared to 77,000 puppies and kittens.
• 8-12 million unwanted/stray animals enter US shelters each year.
• The chances of an animal being adopted from a shelter are generally 1 in 4.
• Across the US, approximately 11 million animals are euthanized each year.
• Across the US, approximately 1,260 dogs and cats are being euthanized per hour.
• Across the US, approximately 20 dogs and cats are euthanized per minute.
• 25% of animals entering animal shelters are purebreds.
• There are only about 6,400 animal shelters nationwide.
• US taxpayers spend approximately $2 billion dollars annually on animal control, housing, caring, and euthanizing unwanted and stray animals.
• Overcrowding and euthanization of animals is due to pet overpopulation, unclaimed strays, and pet relinquishment.
• The cost of spaying and neutering is less than raising puppies or kittens for one year.
• Dogs and cats that are spayed or neutered have a reduce risk, or are completely risk free of certain cancers and disease related to the reproduction organs
• Spaying and neutering will reduce unwanted behaviors in pets such as hormone driven aggression, marking territory, wandering off in search of females, attracting unwanted strays onto your property, etc.
• Unneutered male dogs account for 60%-80% of all dog bites.

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