The holiday season brings a surge of potential adopters looking to bring home a furry friend, making Thanksgiving the start of a busy adoption season for animal shelters and rescues. While this rush can lead to happy endings for many pets, it also requires thoughtful preparation to ensure both pets and adopters are set up for success.
Here’s how your organization can prepare for the holiday adoption rush and maximize the season’s opportunities to find loving homes for animals.
1. Evaluate Your Shelter’s Capacity and Resources
Before the holiday rush begins, assess your shelter’s capacity to handle the influx of adopters and animals.
- Check Staffing: Ensure you have enough staff and volunteers to handle increased foot traffic, phone inquiries, and adoption counseling.
- Organize Supplies: Stock up on essentials like food, bedding, toys, and medical supplies to ensure every pet is well cared for.
2. Get Pets Ready for Adoption
First impressions matter—especially when it comes to potential adopters. Preparing animals for adoption is key to increasing their chances of finding a forever home.
- Health and Grooming: Ensure all pets are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and groomed to look their best.
- Behavior Assessments: Conduct temperament tests to match pets with the right families. Training sessions for basic commands can also make pets more appealing to adopters. Get your FREE pet behaviour evaluation forms here!
- Profile Updates: Refresh your website and social media with updated photos, bios, and fun facts about each adoptable animal.
3. Educate Potential Adopters
Not all adopters are prepared for the responsibilities of pet ownership. Help them make informed decisions with resources and counseling.
- Adoption Counseling: Have one-on-one sessions to discuss lifestyle compatibility and expectations.
- Take-Home Guides: Provide adopters with information on pet care, behavior tips, and the adjustment period.
- Promote Foster-to-Adopt Options: Encourage foster-to-adopt programs to help potential adopters ensure the pet is a good fit before committing.
4. Create a Festive, Adoption-Friendly Atmosphere
Make your shelter inviting and festive to create a memorable experience for adopters.
- Decorate with Care: Use pet-safe decorations to add holiday cheer without posing risks to animals.
- Host Holiday-Themed Events: Organize adoption fairs or holiday photoshoots featuring adoptable pets to draw in more visitors.
- Offer Holiday Promotions: Consider discounted adoption fees or “starter kits” with pet essentials.
5. Focus on Post-Adoption Support
The holidays can be a challenging time to transition a pet into a new home. Offering post-adoption support increases the chances of a successful placement.
- Follow-Up Calls: Check in with adopters a week or two after adoption to answer questions or address concerns.
- Resources and Support Groups: Provide access to online forums, training classes, or local pet services.
- Adoption Return Policies: Ensure adopters know they can return pets if the situation doesn’t work out, which reduces the risk of abandonment.
6. Leverage Technology for Streamlined Processes
Simplify adoption procedures to handle the holiday rush efficiently.
- Use platforms like Doobert to streamline applications, schedule meet-and-greets, and manage your team’s efforts.
- Implement online pre-screening forms to save time and focus on qualified adopters.
- Share heartwarming adoption stories on social media to encourage more people to visit your shelter.
Spread Holiday Cheer with Responsible Adoptions
The holiday adoption rush is not only a prime opportunity to find forever homes for shelter pets, but also a crucial time where proper preparation is key to ensuring these matches are successful. By focusing on readiness, education, and support, your organization can make this season truly transformative for animals and adopters alike.
Want to make a bigger impact this Thanksgiving? Sign up for Doobert to access tools and resources that simplify shelter operations and help you connect with adopters, volunteers, and foster families. Together, we can save more lives this holiday season and beyond.
