Rehoming animals can be the most rewarding aspect of animal protection work. We offer ideas, resources and information on how to find more homes for more animals.
Resources and Articles
From the Magazine
Featured ARTICLES
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Judgment Calls
Interactions between the adoption counselor and the potential adopter are always charged with uncertainty. We present essays from both sides of the counter.
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How to Save a Life—or Maybe 300
With a top prize of $100,000 at stake, the ASPCA’s $100K Challenge sparked a friendly competition between two animal welfare organizations in Washington, D.C.—and others around the country.
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Don't Forget About Us
Shelter staffs use special events, savvy marketing, and social networking to promote small-animal adoption.
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Mouthpieces: Help Your Queen of the Jungle Discover the Great Indoors
Mouthpieces flyer designed to promote keeping cats indoors.
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Success in Santa Clara County
Read about the unique and myriad challenges the Santa Clara County animal shelter in California faces every day. Then take heart and find inspiration in how the shelter has found a way to thrive with the help of innovative programs and local volunteers and rescue groups.
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Helping Hounds
In some areas of the country, animal shelters take in more stray hunting hounds than pit bulls. Often undernourished and unsocialized, hunting dogs pose unique challenges for shelters. Here are some tips for meeting their needs and getting them into happy homes.
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Pet of the Month
Get the lowdown on how a small-town shelter nets thousands of dollars from an annual calendar fundraiser.
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Kits & Pits
A shelter finds surprising success in promoting and adopting out cats with colds. In addition, the basic techniques and benefits of clicker training for dogs in shelters are presented.
Samples
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Samples: Seattle Animal Shelter Cage/Information Cards
Use these samples from Seattle Animal Shelter to quickly convey important information to potential adopters.
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Samples: Seattle Animal Shelter Adoption Forms
Use these sample adoption applications from the Seattle Animal Shelter to help you develop your group's own adoption materials.
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Sample: Nevada Humane Society - Animal Help Desk Caseworker Handbook
Clients ask your front desk staff for help with many different issues, from behavioral problems to rehoming animals. Use this sample helpdesk handbook from Nevada Humane to help your staff be ready to assist!
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Nevada Humane Society - How to Write Pet Profiles
Pet profiles are your chance to market your animals to potential adopters. Check out these great how-to's from Nevada Humane.
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Sample: Nevada Humane Society - Rescue Contract
Starting a new rescue program at your shelter, or updating your current one? Check out Nevada Humane's transfer contract.
Policies & Programs
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Pets for Life Toolkit Users' Survey
Getting to know the people who use the PFL Community Outreach Toolkit
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Pets for Life Community Outreach Toolkit
Download chapters or the complete toolkit—or purchase the book and flashdrive
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The Shelter Pet Project
The Shelter Pet Project is an unprecedented three-year media campaign aimed at boosting pet adoptions nationwide. A collaborative effort by The Humane Society of the United States, Maddie's Fund, and the Ad Council, in partnership with the entire animal welfare community, The Shelter Pet Project has the potental to change the lives of millions of animals.
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Spanish Language Information
Resources for outreach to Spanish-speaking communities, including reproducible pet behavior tip sheets, spay/neuter materials, and more.
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National Animal Shelter (and Rescue!) Appreciation Week
Join The HSUS in highlighting the truly lifesaving work done by animal shelters and rescue groups like yours around the country during National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week each November.
More
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Spanish Pet Behavior Tip Sheets
Reach out to your community's Spanish-speaking population with our reproducible pet behavior tip sheets.
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PetSmart Charities Webinars and Resources
PetSmart Charities provides access to webinars on a variety of animal welfare-related topics, links to animal-welfare presentations, conference materials, as well as links to governmental forms helpful for nonprofits.
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Animal Farm Foundation - Resources for Shelters and Rescues
Located in Dutchess County NY, AFF has been working nationally to secure equal treatment and opportunity for “pit bull” dogs since 1985.
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ASPCA: Fast Pass: Preparing Stray Pets for New Homes
A program at Humane Society of Boulder Valley provides for early evaluations on strays, giving some of the animals a "fast pass" to a new home.
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ASPCA Pro - Little Black Book of Adoption Ideas
Adoption ideas for dogs, cats, discounts, and holidays, plus marketing strategies!
