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Preparation
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- Allow as much time as possible to find the best new home for your pet.
- Make sure your pet's vaccines especially rabies are up to date. Ask your vet for copies of your pet's veterinary records if you do not already have them on hand.
- Help your pet make a good first impression by keeping him/her clean and well-groomed.
- Refresh any training your pet has had so you can show off the commands and the tricks s/he already knows.
- Prepare a list of subjects you want to discuss with prospective adopters and questions you want to ask.
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Meeting Prospective Adopters:
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- If the adopter's profile and initial phone call suggest a prospective adopter may be a good match for your pet, arrange to meet in a place where your pet will feel comfortable and relaxed. This could be your home, or another familiar place such as a park.
- Tell adopters what you feel it is important to know about your pet and be prepared to answer any questions they may have, particularly regarding your pet's behavior with children or other animals.
- If the first meeting goes well, encourage adopters to return for additional visits. If, however, you have concerns or reservations, you are under no obligation to continue the adoption process.
- Plan additional visits to introduce your pet to an adopter's children or pets. (See Introducing Children and Pets for important guidelines.)
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Questions to Ask:
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- Does the adopter's schedule allow enough time to meet the needs of your animal?
- Where will the animal spend most of its time, both when the adopters are at home and when they are not?
- What will the animal's new environment be like?
- What is the adopter's experience and approach to training?
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Aids to a Successful Adoption:
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- To ease your pet's transition to its new home, offer the new owner the pet's familiar bedding and toys and a supply of the food the animal is accustomed to.
- Ask the new owner to provide a well-fitted collar and ID tags when s/he takes possession of the animal.
- Give the new owners a copy of the animal's veterinary records.
- Arrange to transfer the pet to the new owners at a time when they can devote the first day or two to helping the animal adjust to its new home.
- Whether you deliver the animal or the new owners come to pick him/her up, keep the transition as calm and low-key as possible. An emotional goodbye will only increase the stress your pet experiences. Place the animal in the new owner's car with a favorite toy or treat or slip away while the animal is greeting its new owners and exploring its new home.
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