Adoption Counseling 101 (for any shelter volunteers or staff)
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....