This topic recently sparked sharp reactions when TV and film producer, show host Gediminas Juodeika expressed his outrage in the public space. Having decided to adopt a cat and believing he had ideal conditions for it – a private house and financial stability – the well-known man encountered the selection methods applied by shelters. G. Juodeika was upset by the detailed questions in the application forms about future food expenses, animal illnesses, travel plans, or the ability to pay for thousand-dollar surgeries. He got the impression that shelters simply do not want to give away animals, and the process resembles inadequate psychological tests.
Also read: Gediminas Juodeika, who planned to raise a cat from a shelter, did not get it – he got angry: “They started asking strange questions”
But why do shelter representatives ask these “uncomfortable” questions, and should a famous name and a full wallet really guarantee priority in adopting a pet? The situation is explained and sheds light on the behind-the-scenes work of shelters by Mantas Kanapickas, marketing manager of the animal welfare organization “Lesė”.
Not to satisfy curiosity
According to M. Kanapickas, the process of taking an animal always starts with live contact. A person is invited to come to the shelter and interact with the animal. If a connection is made, they are asked to fill out a questionnaire. If after the conversation expectations and possibilities match, cats can usually be taken home immediately. The situation with dogs is different – future owners are asked to come several times, go for walks so that the four-legged friend moves to the new home with a familiar person, experiencing less stress.
Still, the questionnaires usually cause the most controversy. The “Lesė” representative emphasizes that every question, even those that sound very personal, has a clear purpose.
“For example, one might wonder what difference it makes to the shelter whether a person lives in a rented or owned home. However, the answer ‘rented home’ is usually followed by our question whether the landlord agrees to keep an animal there. And it’s funny how often people haven’t thought about this in advance,” says M. Kanapickas.
The same applies to questions about children or other pets at home. Sometimes a person chooses an animal that ended up in the shelter precisely because it attacked small children or other four-legged friends in the past. Knowing such information prevents accidents. “The shelter asks these questions not to unnecessarily interfere in personal life but to protect both the animal itself and the future family,” assures the organization’s representative.
Read more What place is predicted for «Kauno Žalgiris» in international waters?
Fame and money do not guarantee priority
Commenting on the public criticism about overly strict selection conditions for wealthy individuals, M. Kanapickas notes that the mentioned incident with “Lesė” is unrelated, but the rules in shelters must be the same for everyone.
“Shelters do not divide people into famous and unknown – everyone is first and foremost a person. A person’s fame does not automatically show whether a particular animal will be suitable for them or if their needs will be met. When going to a store, a person is also not automatically allowed to skip the line just because they are famous,” says the marketing manager of “Lesė” directly, adding that a personality well known to one generation may be completely unknown to others.
According to him, although financial stability is an important factor, it is only one of many circumstances. The main evaluation criterion is the real ability of a person to care for a specific animal, their lifestyle, and environment. Detailed selection is necessary to ensure the decision is long-term.
Why do they have to say “no”?
It turns out that cases where shelters do not give away an animal are definitely not made up. The most common reason is incompatibility between the animal’s character and the person’s expectations.
“People often first pay attention to the animal’s appearance or create an illusion of what it should be like. But we spend a lot of time with our wards and know their temperament well. Sometimes it is obvious that a particular animal simply will not be suitable for that person,” reveals M. Kanapickas.
However, such rejection does not mean closed doors. The organization’s staff always explain the reasons for their decision and offer other wards that better match the person’s lifestyle. According to the “Lesė” representative, the main goal of the shelter is not just to distribute animals as quickly as possible. The goal is to find homes from which the four-legged friend will never have to return to a cage.
