Find Your Pet
Services
Visual Design UI & UX Design
Industries
Client Industry
Date
January 2023
My Role- Understanding the behaviors, needs, motivations, challenges and concerns of shelter staff member and design an expereince which will help streamline the process of evaluating and accepting adoption applicants.
Research
I am an animal lover but I had never visited a pet shelter before, I needed to understand the shelter staff members' behaviors, needs, motivations, and challenges to solve the issues they are facing.I read multiple articles available on internet regarding the pet shelters, how adoption has increased over the past few years how people are facing problems while adopting, and more. However I couldn't find anything which was speaking about the shelter staff‘s feelings on these issues, so I decided to visit a pet shelter in my town Amravati, Maharashtra as a part of my primary research.
Primary Research
I visited WASA (Wild & Stray Animals Rescue Organization of Amravati) it is the only animal rescue and shelter organization in Amravati, and interviewed the president Mr.Shubham Sayanke and the staff (volunteers) present there. I spent almost 1 hour talking to them about the shelter, their work, problems they face daily and got to know more about their perspectives and pain points in day to day life.
Interview
Name - Mr.Shubham Sayanke (Founder & President WASA, Para-Veterinarian, Professional Animal Rescuer)
Interview Questions
- Can you describe your current work situation and how you take care of animals at this shelter?
- What are your feelings towards all these animals?
- What challenges do you face managing the care of all the animals? How does this make you feel?
- Is there any way in which you feel these challenges could be resolved?
- How is the adoption of animals carried out in this shelter?
- What are your experiences regarding pet parents, what type do you trust the most?
*The interview was taken in the regional language Marathi, I recorded all his answers (with consent), took notes from the taping, and created an empathy map.
Secondary Research
Choosing the right home for every pet at the shelter is very important because, A study done by the American Humane Association, in partnership with PetSmart, says
- One in 10 adopted pets that were no longer with their adopted parents six months later
- About half of the pets had been returned to the shelter.
- The other half had been lost, died, or given away to someone else.
And while the survey targeted six months, they found that nearly two-thirds of the animals had been given up within just two months of adoption, and a quarter of them within two weeks.
Things that one should consider before adopting a pet from a shelter
Make sure you are committed to taking care of a pet in the long-term and understand and can fulfil their needs.
- Think about your lifestyle and what characteristics you are looking for in a pet.
- Ensure that you find a reputable shelter or rehoming organization who will give you lots of support and advice.
- Be prepared to invest in your pet - veterinary care, equipment, food, and training can be expensive.
- Ensure that your other pets (e.g. dogs) get along well with your chosen pet by taking them to the shelter before adopting.
- Check that your home and your family are prepared for the arrival of your pet.
- Be aware that you need patience. When your pet arrives, everything is new for them, and they need time to settle in.
- Bear in mind that it’s worth waiting for the right pet to come along. Don’t give up if you don’t find the 'perfect' pet right away.
- Know that you will definitely feel good about the fact that you’ve given a pet a much-needed home!
Common Reasons Why Pets Are Returned To Shelter
The report find that first time pet parents who were rigid in their expectations of their new pet were more likely to be responsible for returning their pet back to the shelter. Common issues associated with return included those related to time commitment, health, and behavioral issues. More specifically:
- Unexpected costs
- Human health issues
- Destructive behaviors, for example, soiling in the house, chewing furniture (specifically dogs)
- Disobedience
- Barking and shouting (specifically dogs)
- Hyperactivity
- Aggression (with children, and other family members)
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