Plethora of Everything

Brownie, You were just a baby, not even 6 months old. You had gorgeous hazel eyes with a great chocolate-colored coat and nice caramel-colored markings. You never really barked much, even though you were in a teeny tiny, bottom cage,shadowed there, likely bored and stir crazy out of your little mind! You were always just grateful for anyone that would pay attention to you; even better, get you out to play. On Saturday it seemed your puppy dog prayers had been answered: a nice, vivacious man with 3 friendly kids chose you . They got you out, played with you, loved you and placed an adoption hold. You had surgery (neuter) and your new family was scheduled to pick you up the day after your nice meet and greet, Sunday. 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.... still no family... where were they?! Then Monday rolled around. That's when I saw you still at the shelter and I was perplexed; your family had seemed so nice, so sincere, surely they didn't bail on you... but they did. M...

I wrote this for MDAS volunteers nearly one year ago. When I initially wrote and shared a couple of staffers from other shelters asked if they could share, or use portions of it, for their volunteers. I said, of course, and figured I should blog it in case helpful to anyone else: Adoption Counseling 101: Many people who come to Animal Services to adopt are coming here for the 1 st time. They don’t know where to begin or how the process works. To make matters trickier Animal Services often has new volunteers who can’t remember how everything works or how to assist adopters (there’s a lot to remember!) For these reasons I’ve created Adoption Counseling 101 . Between now and the next time you come to MDAS to volunteer please read this document thoroughly ( you can even bring it with you if you like). Adopter Enters the Adoption/Kennel Area: As soon as you see someone new walk through the double doors to adoptions or walking around looking lost or confused, greet them....