Chihuahua Rescue & Transport
Home Visit Information Sheet
Click here to fill out this form online.
Dear Home Visitor,
Thank you for giving your time to conduct a home visit so that a CRT rescue may find a safe and loving home! Enclosed is a copy of the Home Visit Guidelines and Procedures and a Report Form to use in conducting the home visit. The home visit is a critical part of the application process. CRT will request the home visit as the last stage of the application process. Therefore, the applicant has corresponded with CRT, decided on a dog, has had their references checked, and has had their written application approved. However, email and vet references cannot always inform us about whether the prospective adopters will be good owners. We are relying on your observations during the home visit to help us assess the suitability of the applicants as potential dog owners. In preparing for the home visit please review the Guidelines and the Report Form. Do not feel that your conversation should be limited to the topics indicated in the Guidelines, but do make sure that you cover those topics.
At the conclusion of the visit thank the applicant and tell them we will be in touch.
Please email or fax your Report Form to __________________ respectively.
Thank you so much for your time and commitment. Home visits are a chance to meet other people who love dogs and are usually fun!
Sincerely,
Chihuahua Rescue and Transport
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Chihuahua Rescue & Transport
Home Visit Guidelines and Procedures
Procedures
1. CRT contacts the Home Visitor and requests a home visit. CRT sends the application and contact information to the Home Visitor. CRT informs the applicant to expect a home visit, and that the Home Visitor will call them to schedule the visit.
2. The Home Visitor contacts the applicant family, and makes an appointment to visit them at their home. When the Home Visitor calls they should identify themselves as a Home Visitor for CRT. Please ask that all family members be present for at least part of the home visit, and that the principle caretaker of the dog be present for the entire visit.
3. After the visit, the Home Visitor reports back to CRT and emails the completed Home Visit Report to _____________ or faxes it to ___________________.
The Home Visit:
The purpose of the home visit is to meet the prospective adopters and to see the environment that they will provide for their dog. CRT essentially wants to know: Would you be comfortable leaving your dog with this applicant? Do you think that the applicant will provide a good and loving home, will keep the dog’s needs in mind, and will provide for the dog’s safety at all times?
When you arrive at the home, introduce yourself and briefly explain the function of the home visit. Tell them that you are visiting to meet them and to evaluate the appropriateness and safety of their home for a dog. It is usually easy to start off a conversation after that by saying, “So, you’re thinking about adopting a Chihuahua,” and then pause for a reaction. Let them talk and volunteer information. NOTE: If you are not comfortable with the applicant as a dog owner or are in any other way uncomfortable, simply end the interview on a nice note and leave. List any comments and/or observations below:
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Tour the house, including the yard, basement, garage and living area.
In the house:
Check to see whether the living quarters are dog friendly. If you find any thing of note, write it below and also mention it to the family. Something like: "Chihuahuas are extremely inquisitive and mischievous little ones...."
Are there lots of small objects, exposed cords, houseplants etc that the dog may chew?
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Are the cleaning materials secured in the cabinets?
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Is the house reasonably neat and clean?
_______________________________________________________________________________
In the yard check the condition of the fence.
Is it in good repair? ______________________________________________________________
Is the yard totally enclosed? ________________________________________________________
Can the dog get out of it? __________________________________________________________
Are there areas where the dog could injure himself? _______________________________________
Is the house situated on a busy road?__________________________________________________
In the basement and garage:
Will the dog have access to these areas?_______________________________________________
Are there hazards present?_________________________________________________________
Talk to the applicants. Don’t make this a formal interview! Engage the applicants in conversation about the dog they want to adopt. Observe their behavior. Get a sense of how they would be as dog owners.
How do they interact with each other?
Do they express basic considerations and caring to spouses, children and other pets?
Do the children seem like they would be respectful to pets?
Will the adults monitor the children's behavior with the dog?
Do the applicants have a basic understanding of the dog’s needs and behaviors?
Are there other pets in the house?
How will they introduce the new dog to the other pets?
Do they understand that sometimes rescues go through a period of adjustment?
How will they handle this?
If we are considering their application for a specific dog, you might find that they would be better suited for another dog. Please let us know if you think this. Perhaps they have applied for a young dog but might not be able to handle the exercise requirements so should consider an older dog.
When the meeting is over don’t tell the person whether or not they are approved. The information is relayed to a committee of nine people who make final decisions on all adoptions. Not every home is right for every dog so even great people can be wrong for a specific dog.
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CRT Home Visit Report
Applicant: __________________________________
Home Visit Date: ____________________________
Address: ___________________________________
City & State:________________________________
1. Describe the street: Busy ____ Quiet ____ In- Between ___
2. Describe the setting: Rural ____ Suburban ____ Urban ___
3. Is there a yard: Yes ___ No_____
4. Is the yard fenced: Yes, fully ____ Yes, Partially _____ No _____
5. Describe the fence (height, type, condition):
6. Describe the condition of the home, for example, in good repair, clean, neat.
7. Describe the basement, for example, in good repair, clean, neat, no debris on the floor, hazardous substances out of reach of dog.
8. Will the dog have access to the basement?
9. Describe the garage, for example, in good repair, clean, no debris on the floor, hazardous substances out of reach of the dog.
10. Will the dog have access to the garage?
11. Describe the behavior of adults among themselves, and to any other pets or children - respectful, hectic, loud, quiet, commanding.
12. Describe behavior of children in relation to adults, to other children and to any pets?
13. Any special needs, unusual circumstances or concerns that we should consider?
14. Would you feel comfortable leaving your dog with the applicant?
Explain.
15. Comments:
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