Adoption applications. Here’s what you need to know

Ready to begin your adoption journey? Here are our tips on how to create an awesome adopter profile on PetRescue.

How to create an adopter profile on PetRescue 

Creating an account and adopter profile is an easy, time-saving way to enquire about multiple pets. Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: First create a free PetRescue account (and join the awesome community of pet lovers!). By doing this you can:

• Set up pet alerts to get an instant notification as soon as a pet that matches your criteria becomes available

• Save a list of your favourite pets and track updates on their adoption status!

Step 2: Edit your adopter profile

Click on the “Menu” bar on the left-hand side of your screen and click “Adopter Profile” under “My Account”.

Click on "Adopter profile" to edit/add information to your adopter profile

Here you can edit or add information about your adopter profile. We recommend adding as much information as possible as rescue organisations read this to determine whether you’d be the best fit for the pet. Since you only need one profile to enquire for pets on PetRescue, this is a huge time-saver if you are applying for multiple pets.  

Please note: Adopter profiles cannot be viewed by the public. Only the rescue organisation whose pet you have enquired about can see your profile. 

What does a good adopter profile look like? 

Adopter profiles can make a big difference to help you get shortlisted for a pet. Rescue organisations spend a considerable amount of their time assessing applications to ensure they pick the right match for their pet, so it’s critical to make your enquiry stand out!

Recent feedback from PetRescue member rescue organisations reported that the two major reasons why adopters are more likely to be unsuccessful are because:

• the enquirer may not have read the pet profile thoroughly or misread the criteria to be eligible for the pet. For example, an enquirer with cats may apply for a dog whose profile specifically states they cannot be around cats. 

• insufficient information provided in their application. So lack of information could result in you losing out on the perfect pet.

Ultimately, rescue organisations will progress with the enquiry from a human and home who sound as though they best match the pet’s needs. So creating a good adopter profile will let organisations know that you are genuinely interested in finding your pawfect match 💕

Here are some quick tips to make your profile stand out:

🏡  Home & Property details

Where is your pet going to be doing their zoomies and lazy lounging? For energetic pets who like to play outdoors, rescue organisations take into consideration details about an adopter’s home and property. Make sure you provide enough information about your property, including yard size and fencing, or if you have safe enclosed places for your pet to lounge. If you currently do not meet the requirement mentioned in the pet’s profile but are happy to accommodate this requirement in some way, then communicate this as part of your application. Other helpful information to include:

• Type of residence (i.e. acreage, house, unit, apartment etc.)

• If renting - do you have permission to own a pet?

• How many hours will the pet be left unattended (i.e. typical workday)?

• Will they be indoors, outdoors or both

• What type of yard or fence surrounds your property, and how tall is the fence/gate at the lowest point

• Include photos of your home and property to make it easier for rescue groups to determine whether it would be the best fit for the pet

💼 Lifestyle

Ensure your lifestyle would match the pet listed to the best of your awareness. Include details about your work hours, hobbies, activity level and routine so the organisation can determine whether it would suit their pet's needs.

👨‍👨‍👦  Family 

This is an important one as rescue organisations want to know who the pet is going to be hanging out with every day! Talk about the little and older humans in your family, their lifestyle, and personalities, and note who will be spending the most time with the pet. Be sure to include more about the environment at home, i.e is it a tranquil sanctuary by day and a rock concert by night?

Fill out the profiles of your current pets, if you have any. Understanding the personality of resident cats, dogs, birds or bunnies will help rescue organisations or foster carers determine if the pet will adjust in your home. 

Check out the sample adopter profile below for some inspiration ✨: 

An example of a detailed adopter profile 

Sending your enquiry

If you feel your adopter profile is good to go, you can now start enquiring about a pet that suits your needs. Hit the enquiry button on a pet’s profile when you’re ready to start your enquiry. Sometimes it may take a couple of false starts before you find your perfect match. If you’ve already submitted an enquiry and haven’t heard back, this could be why.

When you click ‘Enquire’ you will be directed to an enquiry form with details from your adopter profile prefilled. You can edit the message field to create a custom message for the rescue organisation. 

An example of the enquiry form that adopters will see when they click the "Enquire" button on pet profiles

Once you’ve filled this in, your enquiry will be sent directly to the rescue organisation that has listed the pet. You can view your enquiries in conversations which can be accessed by clicking on the speech bubble icon on the top right corner of your screen (pictured below).

Click on the speech bubble icon to view your enquiry

What to consider when sending an enquiry 

When sending an enquiry, it’s good to be mindful that there’s another human on the other side of the screen who loves and cares for the pet as much as you will! Let your warmth and kindness shine through in your enquiries so that organisations know that the pet that they have nurtured and cared for is going to a person that they can trust to do the same. 

As rescue organisations that list pets on PetRescue have their own preferred policies and processes, some may prefer that you fill out an additional form or application made by them. It is recommended that you be as thorough as possible when filling out adoption forms, as this can impact the adoption process.

Ready to create a PetRescue account? Get started here!

Image by João Jesus via Pexels.