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Virtual Pet Adoption Made Easy: The Beginner's Guide

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How people meet and adopt their pets have changed in recent times due to the advancement in information and communication technology as well as the challenge of Covid-19 pandemic.

In order to bring home any pet of your choice from shelters or rescue organisations without compromising your safety and that of the people working there, you need to understand virtual pet adoption.

But what is virtual pet adoption? And what steps can you take to adopt any pet of your choice virtually? This article will guide you through the various steps.

What Is Virtual Pet Adoption?

Virtual pet adoption is the act of using online tools  to access and bring home a pet that has been abandoned or released to a rescue organisations or shelter without visiting the physical location of the  institution in the process.

Requirements For Pet Adoption 

Before you can adopt a pet, there are some basic requirements you must fulfill. The requirements for adopting any pet in shelters include:
  • Age limit of 21 years and above in some countries
  • The right residence suited for the pets you're considering
  • Where your pet will be when you travel or go on vacation.
  • Medical history of your family members that maybe affected by pets
  • Acceptance by members of your household including spouse, partners, roomates or caretaker.
  • Knowledge of the specific breed or species of animals that will fit your lifestyle
  • Knowledge of the contribution you expect from the new pet in your life
  • Knowledge of the size of pet that your house can accommodate
  • Ability to train and handle pets with behavioural problems

What To Bring In Order To Adopt A Pet

You will need the following to be able to adopt a dog or any pet from shelters either in person or virtually:
  • A reference letter or duly signed form from your veterinarian.
  • Money to help defray the cost of taking in lost or unwanted animal
  • Money to pay for your new pet to be neutered or spayed before taking it to your home.

What Are The Virtual Pet Adoption Steps?

Before you can adopt any pet safely and virtually, learn the following steps.

1. Find Local Rescue Organizations Near You

The decision to adopt a pet virtually is just the beginning of a great journey, it may end up becoming a fulfilling one especially after choosing what pet is right for you and your household.

Start this journey by writing the names of rescue shelters near you. The shelters near you may house your dream pet so remember to be patient as many of these organizations are understaffed during this period with limited volunteers.
Yes, most of these shelters have volunteers that help in various ways such as socializing the pets, checking applications and making sure that applicants have access to the pets they intend to adopt. They also have paid staff and some full-time trainers. 

Because they're so many pets in shelters, the adoption process will be fast if you can visit their websites, check their social media pages and read articles that mentioned each of them recently. Most of these websites also have information on how the medical records of pets are kept which gives you the opportunity to check them during the application process.

Step 2. Be Flexible

When using virtual pet adoption, never settle for just one animal in your quest. Visit the websites of different pet adoption organizations, look at their adoptable pet bios and choose a pet that you love. This pet should have the right size, trait and temperament that suits you. Remember that some pets can live for many years, therefore, keeping the wrong pet can be frustrating. 

Adopting the wrong pet has also been linked to an increased number of pets in animal shelters. Make the right choice and prevent your new pet from returning to an animal shelter in future.
 
Petfinder.com and Adopt a pet will provide profiles and rescue organizations where these pets can be found.

Some rescue groups specialise on purebred only while others focus on different types of breeds.  Try to learn more about different animals because most shelters may be unable to update every pet profile because of limited bandwidth. Have conversations with these organizations and get guidance when in doubt.

Step 3. Apply For Pet Adoption

Before applying for adoption remember that having a pet comes with a price. From adoption, training, and licensing fees to feeding and veterinary cost. Also bear in mind that taking care of pets requires time. Having time to feed, socialize, train, groom and play together with your new pet will strengthen the bond and shape good behaviours.

After considering the above criteria proceed with the application if you've successfully found that your desired pet is available for adoption. Fill an adoption application form on the website of the organization and wait for them to get back to you. This may take some time since there is an influx of applications.
 
Most shelters will use either the phone number, email or the address you provided while filling the form to contact you and discuss your application and interest. They can ask for pet ownership history, pet friendliness of your landlord and everyone in your household, your ability to support pets, open-mindedness to advice and allergies.
The review of your information will be carried out before approval or rejection of the application.

Step 4. Create Time For Meet And Greet

If your application for pet adoption has been approved, find time to meet your new pet. Some organizations prefer in-person visits to be scheduled by them so as to keep track of people coming to their facilities and take proper precautions, while others prefer video calls as a means of introducing you to your new pets. Find out the process involves in meeting your pet when the organizations contact you so as to choose a convenient and comfortable one.

How Do You Schedule A Meet And Greet?

You can schedule a meet and greet by doing the following:
  • Call the the shelter staff or volunteers
  • Tell them about yourself and the type of residence you're living so that they can know the right pet for you.
  • Tell them the type of pet you intend to adopt
  • Discuss the date and time it will be convenient for them to welcome you to their facilities to meet with the pets.
  • Ask them whether they'll be comfortable to meet with the members of your household during the meet and greet.

How Do You Do A Dog Meet And Greet?

To do a dog meet and greet make sure that you carry out the following:
  • Dress neatly and go with an extra clothes in case your clothes get messed up
  • Arrive at the animal shelter on time
  • Greet the shelter staff, volunteers and the pets
  • Review the information in the application form you submitted online
  • Be nice to the shelter staff and volunteers and tell them to take you round to see the pet you're interested in adopting. You can also ask them to take them out one after the other for you to observe.
  • See how social the pet you intend to adopt is. You can offer a treat to make it easier for you to observe. You can use this opportunity to pet your desired animal slowly and gently.
  • Write down your observations about the type of pet you meet to avoid confusion.

Step 5. Join Virtual Adoption Event

Virtual pet adoption event can be an effective way to learn about your future pets. It's also an opportunity to hear from the organization where your pet is. Use this avenue to learn about the organization's pet adoption process, meet and interact with many pets and check those that are interested in you. 

The virtual pet adoption event staff can assist you in evaluating the behaviours of different pets. Ensure that the pet you're going after has an interest in you and is able to socialize effectively. Pets that socialize easily will form a strong bond with you faster. This can lead to a long-lasting relationship between you and your pet. This early bonding can also help in reducing the risk of behavioural problems in your pet.

Finally, following this organization on social media will provide you with the opportunity to get timely and up-to-date information on available pets and schedules of virtual adoption events in future. When you're happy with the choice you made and your application is successful, a volunteer or a transporter will bring the pet to your home. Most organizations will fix a convenient time for you to pick up your pet, be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy a great time with your virtually adopted pet.

Conclusion

Virtual pet adoption can make having a pet when you're unable to visit animal shelters easy if done correctly. 

We believe these five steps will help you to adopt your next pets virtually. 

Keep in mind that owning a pet is a commitment that will last throughout the lifetime of your pet.
 
The decision to Adopt should be clearly thought out as adequate time and financial resources may be required in keeping adopted pets.

Arrange for a pet-friendly environment for your pets and enjoy a good time together.






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