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55836
Well, I was reading some "other" long threads were many (MANY!) issues were brought up. I think there are a few that could be good conversation pieces, outside the context of the people involved. In this case, I ponder about the adoption form.
Before I get started, I would clarify (for the record) that in 42 years of life I have had many pets, from hamsters to the reptiles and fish I have today, including dogs, cats, birds, etc. Some adopted, some bought, some taken in from the street. Some sick, some healthy. On looking back, I realize now not many spent their whole life with me. This might be a good subject for a separate thread... I only have about 1 year of herp ownership experience. Started with a grown iguana (now deceased), a Ball Python (my daugther's), and finaly my first snake (Chica, BCI) and Nile Monitor. Redtailboa.net has been a witness through posts and pictures of all this. Most of what I know and have learned came from here.
Inmediatly after I got interest I started looking for adoption. I figured, I am not a "breeder", why not give a home to a neede pet. Been a modern kind of guy, I looked in the web. All the places I went have the (can I say "dreaded"?) adoption form. Most are extremely long and very personal.
What is the point of adoption? I think we need to agree on this before we go on. Adoption (as I understand) is designed to find homes for pets who have no home (for whatever reasons). Of course, it is hoped a good home, with people who understand the pet and can get along with it. I hope we can agree on this.
Does the form help us achieve the goal? This is where I don't agree totally. While basic info (like name, addres, etc) is pertinent, some other might not be. A person is been "qualified" for ownership based on the answers (lies? Truth?) typed on a form. While the form might discourage good candidates, liers might go through it and get away with it.
I have rarely found that a form can qualify me for anything properly. Bee it a loan for a house, or the ownership of a pet, the form (no matter how detailed) fails to capture who I am, and why I am "applying". What could be the facts about me for the last 3 or 5 years might not represent where I am today.
I found myself extremely discouraged by these forms. So I did what every american would do : I went to the corner store and bought what I wanted. The only question asked? "Cash or charge?". I ended up with a Nile Monitor, TOTALY the wrong reptile to start with (I found later). Thanks to perseverance and good advice, we are both still alive. The Nile is no longer with me... (hummm...)
I do believe that a friendlier "door" into the adoption process could have
A) Got me started with something more appropiate
B) Gotten a neede pet a good home with me
So thats my story. It seems to me the "hard" form only pushes many would-be-foster-parents to opt for an easier purchase, not only taking away a home for a neede pet but adding to the problem in the long term.
It is an opinion. I just got here. As somebody who just got here, that has been my experience so far. If the goal is to find good homes for some of these animals, I would say a friendlier/shorter form and more direct contact (IM, Phone, personal) might achieve the goal much much better...
Now, please, be gentle...
[addsig]
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