| Re: Why?
I've got no rescue perspective, only a consumer and adopter perspective.
What is "the right thing"? Chances are these folks are not going to meet any adoption requirements. Are you asking, "how do we get these folks to come down to the rescue and get rejected?".
I don't know if you can do much for the "obsessed with a purebred with papers" folks. Breed specific rescues can maybe get to them, but somebody obsessed with breed is probably not concerned with animal welfare, and is not going to be listening to any requirements or signing any contracts. They are also not going to be happy unless their pet is really expensive. Have a specialty breed rescue for these animals and charge a lot. Advertise where breeders advertise, fix the animal, and drop the adoption requirements. Don't mention "rescue". These folks are going to do what they are going to do so you might as well take their money. At least you are taking sales away from breeders, and creating vital funds for the other animals. If you're lucky, they will end up giving you the animal back (no refund), and you can sell it to another sucker. If you can't handle using purebred orphans to drive revenue by dropping adoption requirements, then I'd let these "potential adopters" go.
Pet stores over rescues:
These folks are more likely to be "potential" adopters.
Pet stores are more convenient. They have retail hours, and have many completely different kind of pets to choose from. Fun. Yes, pet stores are fun. I'm sorry. They are fun if you don't know any better.
People don't get pets because they want more responsibility or because they want to do charity. They get pets because pets are fun and bring happiness to their lives.
How can we help people do the right thing?
Pet stores put up a sign, put pets in the window, and let the pets sell themselves. Adoptables are competing with animals that are out where folks are shopping every day. I'd be asking how you can make the adoptables more competitive. I think the adoptables can do a good job showing folks how wonderful they are.
When I go into my locale humane society, I don't see any animals. I see a waiting room, some forms, and some condescending lady starts asking me a bunch of personal questions. I'd probably respond a lot better to this if I just saw a bunch of cute animals. I mean, that "IS" why I'm there as far as I thought.
Sorry for the rant. This is a pretty cold-hearted reply, but maybe a glimpse of what things look like from the other side of the fence. I have a friend who has been shopping at petsmart for years, and he thinks it is great. He has had several pets, and obviously has not done enough research to learn anything about the pet industry or about pets in need. I think this is typical. He's not an all around "idiot", but rather, a very smart senior engineer. He just has other things on his mind. Most folks are thinking about big tv's, a new car, and some crappy tv show they watch every week, not animal welfare.  |