Adoption Packages

I was just wondering what information you include in your adoption packages (with an adopted animal, not at the application stage)

We are in the process of revamping ours and I am looking for some ideas

It's been a while since I volunteered at a shelter, but recall handing out things like:

- an explanation of common diseases and the need to vaccinate
- why not to declaw and alternatives to declawing
- an introduction to your cat (or dog) - level 101 stuff

The common disease was the best of the bunch. It covered things like litterbox problems caused by UTI's, an explanation of FeLV and FIV, very basic nutrician (why not to feed table scraps exclusively), etc.

I have gotten ( never put one together)... food samples , coupons for pet related items, dvd on training ( dog)

We have the same but want to revamp it, some of it is years old

Here is what we have

- info on intros
- major diseases
- food info (supplied by Hills as they sponsor our shelter)
- coupons for 10-20% off local pet stores
- info about the shelter (latest newsletter, brochure, wishlist, happy tails email address tec)
- magnet with our phone #
- info on where the e-vets are
- random other bits of stuff we have added over the years but not added to the main package document

Dogs also get a coupon for a local groomers (50% off) and discount coupons for local obedience schools

I think most of what we have is good, we just need to find a way to make it more cohesive than a bunch of papers in an envelope and get people reading it (we recently had a cat returned several years after adoption and the package was still sealed, with his vet jacket etc in the package)

We also offer their first bag of food for a small donation to the shelter and add in information on pet insurance once we have activated their 6 week trial

Adding to what you already have, we have a "deadly houseplants" page that lists every poisonous plant that you could have growing in your house. When adopters see it, they are very thankful that we have it. It's a little reminder for them. Could do a "deadly foods" page too.

EDIT - We also have a "why it's important to spay and neuter" with little facts and stuff about the problems that can arise if you don't.

We have a animal-proofing your home handout that goes to everyone with things like plants, foods and electric cables

The spay neutering isnt really an issue here, we will not adopt to anyone who does not spay / neuter and have a form that gets sent back for a rebate once neutered. As long as they are old enough (4 months for our vets) they are neutered before adoption anyway.

If they have existing animals not spayed / neutered they can not adopt unless the vet tells us there is a medical reason the animal is not neutered yet

The group I fostered through had a part on the application form itself that asked whether the adopter would ever be interested in volunteering or fostering. That's probably covered in the handout about shelter info but thought I would throw it up here.

As far as having someone not skip through things, maybe either briefly show them each paper and what each one is about and/or "hide" the coupons further back in the file so they have to dig for it.