"You've Caught the NET!"

THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!

Are you dogs gonna ROCK this Labor Day Weekend?

Here in Chicago, we've got perfect weather, and a winning Chicago Cubs team.  Enjoy - but don't eat too many bratwurst!  Indigestion - and worse - you all know!

Our newest member of Dean's Team Chicago, my new Pup Reporter, Gracie Moss, spent a lot of time yesterday discussing Adoptions of Orphaned Pets.  As you may imagine, this is a very important story for the two of us - and should be important to you, too!

As you know from our post last week, Dean & Sue picked up our Gracie from a private breeder on the Southwest Side of Chicago.   But, often, many would-be dog and cat owners often head to the local animal shelter to find their new pets. 

For many humans adopting orphaned pets, however, the process can be pure intimidation - and many otherwise-qualified pet owners can be screened out without much of a reason.

Take the case of Katie P.  She's a 22 year old human lady from the North Side of Chicago who, with her boyfriend, recently went to a North Side Animal Shelter to find a new dog. 

When they found a cute border collie-beagle mix, they both fell in love, immediately.  However, the shelter's volunteer clerk sensed they were "too young" and "not responsible."  They were soundly rejected, very depressed, and are now looking to adopt from a professional dog breeder.

Many prospective pet adopters company that shelters use an Adopter Qualification Process, that can, at times, seem like the Spanish Inquisition!  Often, the agency requires extensive applications be completed, apartment leases and condo rules be attached, and home visits scheduled.  Sometimes, potentially-leading open-ended questions are asked - "If your new dog pees or poos on your new living room rug, what would you do?"

(Team Leader Dean and our Mega Mommy Sue already know the answer to that question - that's why Dean seems to be losing more hair each day Gracie has been here, and Mommy is more tired at the day!)

Each year, three to four million pets are adopted at animal shelters each year across the U.S., according to the Humane Society of the United States.  About an equal number are put down, for lack of a qualified adoptive family.  Many animal advocates strongly feel the number of shelter animals euthanized can drop dramatically if more common-sense adoption rules are put in place.

 "It's hard to get it right," conceded Jamie Damato, a 20 year animal shelter veteran around Chicago.  "There's no question that these organizations have the best interests of the animals at heart, but they shouldn't be playing God."

Many operators say the scrutiny is essential to ensure that the pet is safe and won't be returned.

"You have no idea how traumatic abandonment is for animals," said Jim Borgelt, President of the Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance, a coalition of 15 "no-kill" shelters. "Of course, we want animals to find homes, but we don't want to do it without any regard for the end result."

Alliance shelter members adopt between 14,000 and 15,000 dogs and cats annually. Of those,  roughly 750 are returned.

Many feel, however, that shelter screening has indeed become too strenuous.  Emily Weiss, who has a PhD in animal behavior and is a senior director with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), was once rejected by a shelter.

However, the adoption rules might be coming down to earth a bit.  In Washington DC, required home visits pre-adoption have been dropped.  Here in Chicago, our own Anti-Cruelty Societyhas stopped rejection of prospective cat owners considering to have their new pets declawed.

In 2007, the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society placed 5,775 pets into new homes, and rejected less than 5% of all applicants.

To ensure a good fit of pet to family, the ASPCA and Weiss developed an assessment tool called "Meet Your Match".  The test identifies certain personality traits in both animals and humans. If you work at home, for example, you might not want a "personal assistant"-type cat who will be in your lap and on your keyboard.  Or, if you don't have the patience to pick up Puppy Poo, you might not want to adopt a little brown Peke named Gracie!

At five test sites, the program reduced feline euthanasia by 40% and increased adoption by 50%, according to Weiss.

Despite recent changes, however, many pet owners say the decision whether to allow an adoption still seems to turn on demographics, such as occupation, marital status, living in an apartment or not having a fenced yard.

Some prospective adopters complain of shelter volunteers getting almost "parental" in explaining how to take care of a dog or a cat.  Others feel they were inappropriately screened out based on insufficient income.  Many give up attempting to adopt from a shelter, instead opting for a private breeder.

Well, you know where Gracie and I stand, paw to paw, on this issue!  Anything that reduces the number of unwanted pets that need to be put down each year because nobody wants them is worthy of consideration, and of refining the screening process for pet adoption, as necessary.

But what say you?  Bark us a line!

And see our post from yesterday at BlogChicagoHomes.com for more info, as well as a link to Bonnie Miller Rubin's article in last Sunday's Chicago Tribune.

YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,

BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

(Along with his PUP REPORTER - GRACIE MOSS)