Adoption Screening
Forms, Contracts, & Why They Are Important
Example Screening
Criteria
The criteria is what is considered 'essential' in each of the checked items (Contract, Screening, Vet-Follow Up)
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Adoption Contract Contains:
A. Horse can never be Bred, Raced, Leased, Sold Given Away, Traded, Transferred, or Commercially Used.
B. If the adopter can no longer care for the horse, it must be returned to the organization or with the organizations consent adopted to an approved home, under the organization adoption contract.
C. In those rare cases where a horse moves from one approved adopter to another, a new contract must be signed by the new adopter.
Why?
The 'Why' explains why each part of the criteria is considered important.
A. To Assist in preventing neglect and cycling into a slaughter situation.
B. To help ensure the horses will always have a caring, attentive, and healthy home for the length of their life.
C. To help ensure the horses will always have a caring, attentive, and healthy home for the length of their life.
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Adoption Application Information Required
Application should require the applicant's:
A. Name, Address, Cell Phone number, Email Address, Employment Address.
B. List all horses you've sold/given away in the past five years and the circumstances.
C. List all horses you have had in the last five years who are now deceased, and the circumstances.
D. List all horses you have now (names, ages, uses)
E. Boarding Facility address
F. Required references names and contact information
A. To maintain contact information.
B. To understand the applicant's history of owning and selling horses.
C. To understand the applicant's history of owning and selling horses.
D. To understand how their horses are used and how many are on the property. (Is the size of property adequate?)
E. To keep track of the horse's location.
F. To have secondary confirmation, and assurance that the applicant will make a great life-long home.
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Screening the applicant:
A. The signs/causes of horse medical emergencies (Such as colic, Founder/Laminitis), and how applicant would respond.
B. Adopter to confirm they are willing to sign, and abide by a contract, if approved.
C. Will the horse be in a full board? Or self-care?
D. The size of the property that is fenced for horses where the horse will be living, and how many horses will be occupying this section.
E. To describe the provided shelter and the fencing of the area the horse will be located.
F. If the adopter receives the horses in poor weight, how would they improve this.
A. To understand the level of horse care knowledge of the applicant.
B. To ensure the applicant is willing to follow the terms of the contract.
C. Knowledge of the location of the horse.
D. Ensures the horse will be living in a location with adequate space.
E. Ensure the horse(s) have adequate shelter and fencing.
F. Verifies knowledge of feeds and proper feeding habits.
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Applicant References Required:
A. Applicant
B. Equine vet (current or intended)
C. Small animal Vet (current, if applicable)
D. Farrier (current or intended)
E. Trainer (if applicable)
F. Personal Reference (non relative)
G. Neighbor Reference
H. Boarding Facility (current/intended if applicable)
A.-H. To determine the reliability, financial concerns, background, and experience with horses.
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Asks the following of the Veterinarian:
A. How long have they cared for the applicant's horses?
B. How would they describe the applicant's level of horse handling experience. Use 1-5 with 5 as excellent.
C. How would they describe the applicant's current horse's condition.
D. Does the applicant keep up to date with regular vaccines and care, and do they contact. for emergencies when appropriate?
E. Describe the adequacy of the location the applicant keeps any current horse/s.
F. Have you ever had any issues with payment?
A. To learn the applicant's relationship history with a veterinarian to determine value of the following answers to questions. To know the applicant has a veterinarian they can call on.
B. Helps understand and verify an applicants ability and handling of horses.
C. Verifies if the applicant is a good home with proper care practices (an applicants horse should be in good condition for it's age and history, etc.).
D. Further verifies applicant has good horse care practices.
E. Verifies the location the applicant has in mind is safe and adequate for the horse, or reveals potential issues.
F. No issues speaks to the applicants character and ability to afford the care of a horse.
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Asks the following of the applicant's Farrier:
A. How long have they worked with the applicant's horses, and how often do they trim/shoe for the applicant?
B. Describe the adequacy of the location the applicant keeps any current horse/s.
C. Describe the applicant's horse handling abilities. Use 1-5 scale.
D. Has the applicant mentioned what they want to do with the new horse?
E. Have you ever had an issue with payment?
A. To learn the applicant's relationship history with a farrier to determine value of the following answers to questions, and shows consistent farrier care.
B. Provide evidence of the safety of the home, appropriate size for the number of horses.
C. To confirm the honesty of the applicant, and that use of the horse is in line with the organization's policies.
D. Helps understand the use of the horse and does it match up with the information the applicant gave.
E. No issue speaks to the applicants character and ability to afford the care of a horse.
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Asks the following of the applicant's Trainer:
A. How long have you trained the applicant.
B. Describe the applicant's horse handling and riding abilities. Use 1-5 scale.
C. What is the primary discipline the potential adopter expressed.
D. What will the applicant's horse be used for.
A. Indicates the amount of time the applicant has been training, to determine their riding level and knowledge.
B. Verifies applicant's horse experience and knowledge.
C. Helps understand what the applicant plans to do/train with the horse- checks for honesty.
D. Check on honesty and consistency in the use of the horse as per what the applicant has told the organization.
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Asks the following of the applicant's personal reference:
A. How long have you known the applicant, and in what capacity
B. Describe the applicant's horse handling experience. (If the reference is a knowledgeable horse handler.)
C. Describe where the applicant keeps their horses.
D. Has the applicant had horses before? If so, what happened to them.
E. Do you know what the applicant plans to use the horse for.
F. How would you rate the applicant's care of their animals?
A. Helps understand how they serve as a character reference.
B. Verifies applicants horse experience and knowledge - If the reference has horse experience.
C. Provides another first hand account of the area the horse will be kept - if the space is appropriate and safe, and confirm what the applicant has reported.
D. Provides more history on the applicant's past with horses, and if they have been truthful when answering the screening/application questions.
E. Helps to understand the applicant's intent in adopting, and honesty.
F. Further verifies applicant's animal care abilities.
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Asks the following of the applicant's Neighbor reference:
A. How close do you live to the applicant.
B. Does the applicant have animals on their property. Can you see them from your home.
C. How would you rate their care of their animals. Do they get new animals often? Do they remove animals often?
D. Do you have any concerns about the safety of the animals on their property.
A. Helps confirm if they can actually provide information accurately.
B. Confirms what applicant has shared and if they can lay eyes on the horses.
C. Better confirms the applicants care of their animals. And finds out if the applicant is steady long-term home for animals.
D. Determines if there may be past or present concerns for the applicant's care of animals.
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Asks the following of the applicant's boarding facility:
A. What is the approximate size of the farm.
B. How many acres are fenced.
C. Describe the shelter and fencing of the facility.
D. If full board, what hay and grain do you use.
E. If full board, how are the horses watered and how often is it checked?
F. If the applicant is a current boarder, how would you rate their horse handling ability. Use a scale 1-5.
G. Are you willing/able to QT a horse
H. Do you own or lease the facility.
I. Sign a lien release agreeing that: In the event of delinquency of payment by the applicant, no lien shall be placed on the horse by the barn. The barn should contact the organization who will take the horse back.
A.-C. Essential information for ensuring the boarding facility is a reputable and safe environment with proper facilities, enough fenced area, safe fencing, and three-sided shelter.
D.-E. If an applicant is doing full board, confirms knowledge of feed and hay, and adequate care.
F. Another point of verification for the applicants horse handling abilities.
G. Knowing if they can quarantine can open up the applicants selection of potential adoptable horses. If they can and are open to it, it can can allow them to adopt horses who would otherwise have to wait much longer to find a permanent home.
H. Is essential for knowing if the organization needs to reach out to any one else for the below lien release the applicants selection of potential adoptable horses. If they can and are open to it, it can can allow them to adopt horses who would otherwise have to wait much longer to find a permanent home.
I. A lien release ensures the horse will never be put at risk of being used as collateral in the case of monetary issues/disputes by either the facility or the applicant.
Vet Follow Up Form:
A. Required to be completely by a licensed veterinarian annually, preferably semi-annually.
B. Requires a Henneke Body Condition Score of 5
C. Lists current Location of Horse
D. Veterinarian's Name, Signature, and License Number
E. Indications of what the horse is used for
F. Veterinarian's sign off on safety of a three sided shelter or a stall, and turn out area, fence safety, and adequate space.
A. Ensures that the horse is in good condition and being cared for properly.
B. A 5 is an ideal body condition for a horse - it will help verify health and care for the life of the horse.
C. Essential record keeping doe the safety of the horse.
D. To confirm a licensed veterinarian has seen the horse.
E. Verifies the horse is not being overworked or misused.
F. Confirms safe shelter and fencing.
To Review An Organization, Review their IRS 990:
A. Assets vs Liabilities (Line 22)
B. Taking into account the Number of HOrses in their care during the year of the filing.
A. Imbalances in assets and liabilities can provide the reader with financial facts on whether the organization is financially healthy, that they use an adequate amount of donations to continue to help horses, and still keeps some reserve funds for issues.
B. Determines the average case of cost of care of each of the horses in their care in comparison to their funding.