Question on Adoptions from Local Animal Shelters (Arlington, Alexandria: house, inspections)

[Carlingtonian]

Does anyone have certain knowledge of which animal shelters in the region do not require adopters to give the shelter the legal right to inspect the adopters' home at any time and to take the animal back if they choose?

I love animals and will give whatever dog we adopt a great home--but no way am I going to sign anything that sweeping.

I heard that the DC Pound used to be very easy--but now they're the Washington Humane Society, so it's hard to tell.

The PG Animal Shelter looks pretty hassle-free.

What about Arlington and Alexandria?

Thanks.

[katyusha25]

Do shelters here really do that? I thought only rescue groups did that!

[Carlingtonian]

You may be right--and I hope you are!

[CaliTerp07]

Arlington and Alexandria do home visits, but they're one and done things. I adopted my dog through the Alexandria shelter, and had no contact with staff there after I brought her home.

I volunteer with k-9 lifesavers (K-9 Lifesavers), and again we do a home visit before adopting but after the animal is placed we do not randomly show up on your door step. If you cannot keep the animal, we require that it comes back to us (the Alexandria shelter required that too) so that we can ensure it goes to a good home and doesn't end up back in a kill shelter or with scummy people.

If you want the minimum invasiveness, I'd suggest PG County. They are desperate to get dogs out of there. Just make sure everyone in your family goes to pick out the dog--they require that.

[Middlin]

Prince William shelter didn't require anything

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

Arlington and Alexandria do home visits, but they're one and done things. I adopted my dog through the Alexandria shelter, and had no contact with staff there after I brought her home.

I volunteer with k-9 lifesavers (K-9 Lifesavers), and again we do a home visit before adopting but after the animal is placed we do not randomly show up on your door step. If you cannot keep the animal, we require that it comes back to us (the Alexandria shelter required that too) so that we can ensure it goes to a good home and doesn't end up back in a kill shelter or with scummy people.

If you want the minimum invasiveness, I'd suggest PG County. They are desperate to get dogs out of there. Just make sure everyone in your family goes to pick out the dog--they require that.

Thanks for the info. A one-time visit is reasonable. I was afraid some (like Lost Dog/Cat of Arlington) would also have the "may inspect at any time" clause in there.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Thanks for the info. A one-time visit is reasonable. I was afraid some (like Lost Dog/Cat of Arlington) would also have the "may inspect at any time" clause in there.

Even if it's there, 99.999999% of the time it's not going to mean anything. If you're against it on principle that's one thing, but it's only there so that if there are complaints of animal cruelty from the neighbors and animal control won't do anything, a volunteer could go check out the situation.

The volunteers are far, far too busy and bogged down to spend time randomly checking on adopters.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Middlin

Prince William shelter didn't require anything

My experience was the same.

[Pequeño_Bonsai]

Alexandria shelter will set up a time to visit you home, no surprise inspections. Very nice staff...

[Caladium]

I don't recall Loudoun requesting that (as far as I recall, anyway). They've never come to anyone's house that I know of, and I know a lot of people who have gotten pets there. They will ask for the name of your vet and they want your spouse to come out to the shelter with you.

The Loudoun facility is a really nice place, and it's a pretty place to drive to. It's in Waterford.