Placing terrific animals in new forever homes is one of the most rewarding and most challenging assignments in animal welfare. We've assembled programs that take in the full scope of adoption and those that address some of the trickiest placements, such as older animals and thoroughly independent cats.
Adoption Promotions
Free Adult Cat Adoptions
Waive the adoption fee for your wonderful adult cats, and everybody, especially the cats, will win.
Tips for Adult Cat Adoption Promotions
Six tips from agencies who know what it takes to run a successful free cat promotion.
TampaPets.org, No More Homeless Pets - Hillsborough County
Day-long adoption events in the Tampa Bay area attract thousands of potential adopters — and send hundreds of animals to permanent, loving homes.
Open and Learning-Centered Adoptions
Meet the Adopters Workshop
If you'd like to work with your staff, board members, and volunteers to embrace new ways of thinking and new practices to improve adoption outcomes, we encourage you to download and use these workshop materials.
Animal Refuge League (ARL) of Greater Portland
The ARL in Maine started out cautiously curious about ASPCA’s Meet Your Match™ Adoption Program, but soon became enthusiastic “early adopters.”
Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society
Animal welfare goes beyond helping animals. Dakin Executive Director Leslie Harris says it very well: "If we aren’t able to help humans, we won’t be able to help animals. It’s that simple."
Humane Society of Boulder Valley
Adoptions that focus on meeting the needs of animals and their new guardians. Learn about how HSBV of Boulder, CO, creates a climate of trust, communication and understanding.
Oregon Humane Society: User-Friendly Adoptions
OHS has a customer-friendly approach to adoptions that is intended to make the process as positive as possible for adopters, staff, and the animals.
Oregon Humane Society: Managing Intake
OHS discovered that requiring appointments for admissions benefits animals, people, and shelter operations.
Wisconsin Humane Society
When Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) decided to revisit its adoption program, they had a simple but substantial goal: "to eliminate any barriers that may exist to adopting from WHS." This goal unleashed some wonderfully creative thinking about the experience of adopting a shelter animal.
Information for Adopters
Information for Cat Adopters
These cat articles, written for a general audience, make great handouts in adoption packets or on your website. Help your cat adopters understand the sophisticated thinking of their feline companions.
Information for Dog Adopters
Like our cat articles, these are great materials for a general audience. They can help your dog adopters better understand and live peaceably with their canine companions.
Bright Ideas about Adoptions
Some intriguing ideas for placing special cats: