Pet Adoption: Ensure That You Are Not Cheated

Pet Adoption: Ensure That You Are Not Cheated It is unpleasant, but true, that even when one is adopting a pet, there is the possibility of being cheated. There are unscrupulous pet dealers and members of so called animal rescue outfits who take advantage of gullibility combined with a love for animals. They ask for money to cover the costs of the pet adoption, or for transport, and then do not deliver the pet as promised. Of course, it is unwise to get a pet from an unknown dealer, or without taking a good look at the animal in question. There are many good people working in the area of pet adoption, but one should beware of the exceptions who only want to cheat people.

When you are adopting a pet, you are ready and willing to give a homeless animal a welcome into your own home, it is a pity that such a gesture should end in a scam. So make sure that you do not get cheated during the process of pet adoption. Here are some thoughts to help you avoid getting cheated when you are adopting a pet.

Ø Find out if the shelter you are considering as a source for your new pet works in cooperation with a shelter near you. Make sure that this is so by calling the shelter in question.

Ø Talk to vets that this group works with and find out if they have a good reputation.

Ø What is the process that the rescue organization follows? Do they just hand the animal over without question? A good group will be concerned enough about the animals in their care to investigate homes and families. They will have an adoption application process and a new owner will have to be interviewed to make sure that the animal goes to a good home. In fact, representatives of a good rescue organization will even visit your house to see if the animal is going to a home where it is likely to be happy.

Ø As a new owner you will have to agree to the conditions of an adoption contract, if the rescue group is a good one.

Ø The animals being cared for by the rescue group should be in good health as certified by a veterinarian and should be spayed or neutered. Records of the animals should be accessible.

Ø One sign of a fly by night operator is the lack of a valid bank account. Do not go in for an agreement with a group that asks for a personal cheque.

Ø You will be invited to visit your prospective pet when you are dealing with a sincere rescue organization.

Ø Such an organization is also extremely unlikely to ask for money in advance. A good organization will only ask to be paid when you take the animal away.

Bear all these precautions in mind when you are adopting an animal from a rescue organization, and it is unlikely that you will be cheated during the process of pet adoption.