Many animal shelters, like us, receive dogs and cats that are not all immediately available to the public. Stray holds, court ordered, sick, injured or not yet vetted…all are primary reasons behind this policy.
In approx 2019, we closed to public walk-thrus. This began during the COVID outbreak, but then, we quickly found it to also lower animal stress and allow us to focus staff time on structured, appointment-based adoptions.
It has also reduced returns of adopted animals, reducing those who are impulsively chosen vs thoughtful adoptions.
We also saw a reduction in bite and scratch related incidents of visitors or random volunteers, who did not adhere to our protocols and safety measures.
This policy has overall, been positively received by our adoptive families! Many whom appreciate not being charged at while in kennel and barked at by other dogs, while trying to enjoy a scheduled meet with a pet of interest.
And it has not negatively impacted our adoption or save rates—in the slightest.
Just like the many other pounds, shelters and societies who have enacted the same policies—we prioritize our shelter pets well being, before all else.
🩵Lower Stress:
Walking past rows of barking dogs causes high anxiety and barrier reactivity. Quiet kennels and quiet in our cat shelter, help our animals stay calm.
🩵Better Matches: Staff can guide visitors to pets that fit their homes instead of encouraging quick, impulse choices.
🩵Safety: Limiting open crowds helps small teams manage daily care, cleaning, and medical treatments safely. We are a volunteer based animal shelter, of trained and trusted individuals.
Thank you for respecting our policies and procedures as we continue to serve hundreds of animals, from all backgrounds and circumstances.
**This graphic was not designed by us directly. This focuses on the dog shelter but please note it also applies to cats and the cat shelter, too.
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