Educate, Don t Alienate: How to Connect with Potential Adopters Bert Troughton

Transcription

1 1 Counseling Adopters for Success Bert Troughton, MSW, VP ASPCA Community Outreach 2 October 10-13,

2 3 Your Organizations Shelter Based 56% Foster Based 44% 4 October 10-13,

3 Who does adoption counseling? Volunteers Volunteers Paid staff Paid staff 5 Estimated % of your total adoption counseling work that takes place in the following locations # of responses range Online % On the phone % In a shelter % In a home % At your own retail location 1 40% At a satellite adoption location % On a mobile unit 0 At events % 6 October 10-13,

4 How much time do you typically have for adoption counseling per animal/family? 20% 30% min 20% 10% 10% 10% min min min min unlimited 7 What one thing do you like best about helping adopters succeed? Knowing our dogs well so we can tell adopters what to expect Dog gets a good home and we can save another dog Seeing the pets and their people happy Seeing a good match between the pet and the adopter Seeing the animal safe and completing a family As a volunteer I hope to find the best home so the dog isn't returned for a silly reason 8 October 10-13,

5 What one thing do you find most challenging about helping adopters succeed? Getting them to listen when you are making suggestions They often refer to the "TV" trainers and do not have realistic expectations Helping with training: house training and behavior problems Wanting to find the best match not have them just adopt because it is so cute Teaching them about litter boxes Adopters that insist on animals that are not good choices Adopters not willing to give the animal time to learn and adjust 9 adopters Ma am.the cat must be kept indoors, you cannot declaw, he eats a premium diet, you have to take him to the vet within a week 10 October 10-13,

6 Ma am Ma am October 10-13,

7 Respect RELATIONSHIP Relevance Retention 13 Respect: Think About One of Your Experiences I felt I was being respected because the person I didn t feel respected because the person 14 October 10-13,

8 Work in pairs 1. One of you shares your story of being respected [2 min] 2. The other shares your story of not feeling respected [2 min] 3. When you ve shared your stories, discuss your observations about respect [2 min] 15 Adult Learning Principles Malcolm Knowles Respect acknowledge that I know some things and can make good decisions 16 October 10-13,

9 17 Global Learning Partners, Inc. One thing I will do to increase my respect for adopters 18 October 10-13,

10 Respect RELATIONSHIP Relevance Retention 19 Adult Learning Principles Malcolm Knowles Relevance talk to me about things that matter in my life 20 October 10-13,

11 What s relevant to whom? 21 Work with a partner Decide which one of you wants to be the adopter and which one wants to be the adoption counselor 22 October 10-13,

12 What s relevant to the adopter? Write down all of your questions about Andrew Then number your questions in order of importance to you 23 What s relevant to the counselor? Write down everything you would normally discuss during a dog adoption Then number your discussion topics in the order they are normally addressed 24 October 10-13,

13 What s relevant to whom? 25 A tool for finding what s relevant to your adopters AND to you.. 26 October 10-13,

14 27 One thing I will do to practice relevance 28 October 10-13,

15 Respect RELATIONSHIP Relevance Retention 29 Retention 80% of what we see, hear & DO 40% of what we hear & see 20% of what we hear 30 October 10-13,

16 Learning Preferences Auditory Learners lecture verbal directions talking radio, tv, music, rhythm A 31 Learning Preferences Visual Learners pictures maps & diagrams reading books, tv, museums V 32 October 10-13,

17 Learning Preferences Kinesthetic Learners doing! trial & error intuitive physical activity K 33 What percent of your counseling accesses Auditory learning? Visual learning? Kinesthetic learning? 34 October 10-13,

18 Which one are you? VAK KVA VKA AVK AKV KAV 35 Two powerful visuals in your adoption program 36 October 10-13,

19 37 The cage card 38 October 10-13,

20 Write the cage card for Sophie What s on it? 39 SOPHIE Domestic Medium Hair 40 October 10-13,

21 One thing I will do to reach each learning preference visual: auditory: kinesthetic: 41 Less is More! 42 October 10-13,

22 Adoption Application ü Contact Information ü Current housing situation ü How many of each: dogs, cats, kids, adults ü About your yard: fence; no yard Additional Info: 1. Is this a gift? 2. Are you moving soon? 3. What behaviors are you unwilling to work with? 4. Where will your new pet be during the day? At night? 43 3 things I ll let go of OR 3 things I ll keep to increase retention 44 October 10-13,

23 Respect RELATIONSHIP Relevance Retention October 10-13,

24 47 48 October 10-13,