Adoption screening process - what are yours?

At HSBC, we have a two page adoption application that asks questions about the family's lifestyle (active with lots of kids, etc), where they plan on keeping the animal, how they plan on training the animal, etc. If they have a landlord, we call them to confirm they have pets. In most cases, we also call their veterinarian to ask how they feel about the person as a pet owner and also make sure their current pets really are fixed (and current on vaccinations)

Our rescue is very stringent - we don't adopt to people under 25 normally, or to families with kids under 10.
We check 2 references, plus the family's vet. Any animals they have already need to be neutered, up to date on vaccinations, on heartworm and flea preventative.
If they pass all that, we do a home visit to make sure it is safe for the dog.

We want to be sure the dog is going to a forever home, not getting bounced around again.

our shelter has a three page questionnaire...you have to fill that out and then give them five references to call...they will call all the five references and ask them a series of questions and then if you rent they will call your landlord and make sure that it is okay...they don't do interviews or inspections at your home but i think that may be because they are a no kill shelter and are trying to give as many animals as possible a new home so they pass it mostly on trust...

I have noticed our animal shelter here doesn't do home visits or inspections, don't ask questions like does anyone in your household smoke, drink or do drugs, ect. You just sign a paper and give them the adoption fee and you leave with your new family member. You should have to have refrences or at the very least a note from your vet stating that you vet your other animals regularly ect.

MS answered on behalf of our shelter below, but I found your question about smoking very interesting. Are there shelters that actually turn people away if they are smokers? I am not a smoker, but never thought about this.

Here in Austin, we also use the Meet Your Match program for both dogs and cats. Potential adopters can view the dogs and cats available for adoption, but they must complete an application and speak with an adoption counselor before they can visit any animal. Once they've been approved for a visit with the animal they want to see, they visit it in a visitation room and go from there. We allow up to 2 holds on any animal for 24 hrs. max.

We don't require home visits, nor do we have a nonsmoking policy. We also do not call vets for references. We typically call landlords only in the case of pit bulls.

We use the Meet Your Match program which is GREAT! If you are not aware of the program, check it out at the ASPCA.org

We will check with vets and landlords but do not do home visits or ban adoptions to smokers. I personally feel that shelters defeat themselves at times by putting so many restrictions on an adoption that they rarely adopt anything out. You certainly need to be careful but why the extremes?
There was a shelter near ours that would not allow one of our long-time employees adopt a dog becuase she did not live in their county....Things are not always black & white.

Very good question, curious what answers you may get-mistakes can always be made, it is not always in the screening that the answers are found

I am in Western Ky and you fill out an application, they call the vet for reference and they ask questions about if your animals are current on everything, your yard, things like that. under what circumstances you would return an animal, things like that. You agree if it doesn't work out you will return it to them, not find a new home yourself. that is pretty much it. Nothing is ever asked about smoking or non smoking homes. We don't smoke but this is tobacco country so I guess they don't ask.

I foster for an all volunteer rescue organization. Our screening process is:
1. The applicant completes the adoption application
2. The adoption coordinator checks the vet reference
3. The foster parent reviews the application and sets up the home visit
4. A home visit is completed (usually by the foster parent and the pet)

We do not have a no-smoking adoption policy.