Humane Society of York County requires compatibility-based adoption process

(Fort Mill, S.C.) - The Humane Society of York County now requires all canine adoption applicants to host a home visit before paperwork is signed to ensure the new family will be a compatible fit.

The decision was made when many animals were returned to the Humane Society after inability to adapt to their new family’s lifestyle.

All 35 of the dogs at the shelter were surrendered by previous owners or rescued from abandonment and abuse. Home visit specialists are tasked with making sure this same cycle does not happen again after a dog is adopted from the Humane Society.

“I think the first thing I think about is the dog and what his or her needs are. The dog and I

typically have a little conversation on the way to the home where I say, ‘please help me

determine if this is a good fit for you.’” said Bethany Clark, who has volunteered as a home visit

specialist for two years.

“For all of our animals, this is their second chance or their third chance, and we are looking to do our very best to find their forever.”

The home visit process has evolved over years of research and is operated primarily by a team of six consistent volunteers.

Specialists consider factors like the age of children in the house, hours that can be devoted a

week to care and the disposition of other animals in the home.

“People come in with certain expectations and perceived notions when they want to adopt.

Sometimes they walk out thinking a completely different thing, and that’s our job for the good of the pet.” said Mary Beth Knapp, who has served as a board member at the rescue shelter for 10 years.

“We ask all the questions we can, but we rely on the transparency of the potential adopter.”

The adoption process takes five to seven days and includes an initial phone interview and a meet and greet with the animal before the home visit is scheduled.

A third of home visits do not end in adoption because of incompatibility, but the adoption rates

for the Humane Society have not slowed down, Knapp said.

According to the Humane Society of York County’s yearly report 258 dogs and 477 cats were

adopted from the rescue shelter in 2019.

“We are blessed to be a no-kill environment, and no one is ever going to die in our shelter

because they weren’t adopted that day. That is an amazing thing for each of us home visitors to know when we’re going out and we’re trying to talk to potential adopters,” said Clark.

“This animal is not going to lose its life because we’re overcrowded. If you could see the tears

that happen sometimes when one does get adopted, or when we see pictures later of an animal in

their happy, forever home; that’s why we exist here.”