Adoptions Counselor

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Counselor Role:

While the potential adopter interacts with a cat in an offsite location the counselor should observe the interaction and engage the Adopter in conversation. The goal is to gain a perspective on the persons pet history, their family and lifestyle, why they want to adopt, what sort of pet they are looking for, and what sort of pet might be suitable for them.


Utilizing our Meet Your Match, program, whenever possible, the counselor should try to point an Adopter to cats that might be a good fit for them before they get attached to one specific cat. For example, if the adopter tells you they have children you want to steer them away from any cats that we know do not do well with children.

NKR is always very open and upfront about the cats in our program. We disclose health and behavior history, training needs or challenges, etc. during our conversations with the doctors. Our goal is that there are no surprises when adopting a cat from in chaos, everything is laid out for the Adopter prior to making a final adoption decision.

We are incredibly honest but try to present information in a way that is not discouraging or off putting. For example, if adopting out a shy kitty, let Adopter know there will be an adjustment. Without making Adopter fear that the cat will never bond with them.

Screening Applications and Red Flags

When a person has decided that they are interested in adopting one of our cats, they must fill out an adoption application. Once the application is completed, the counselor will review the application with the Adopter. The counselor makes note of any red flags present on the adoption application or through conversation and further discuss those areas with the potential adopter. The counselor should ask probing, direct questions regarding areas of concern. Continue discussing the issue or area of concern until you have adequate information to understand the issue and make a fair determination of whether to approve the application or tonight.

You will be completing adoption contracts and giving new adopters and adoption packet that includes all the information that NKR has found is needed for a successful adoption including medical history, vaccine information and due dates, and steps to ease the transition into a new home. You will need to go through every page and review all the information with the Adopter.

We currently utilize Petsmart in Kingsport and are actively looking for new offsite adoption locations. Counselors shift start at 4 PM and end at 8 PM Monday through Friday. You will arrive at the cattery, check each cat for signs of illness, then clean each area if it hasn’t already been been clean by the store or cattery volunteers. Medications are giving during the shift if needed. Counselors will gather dirty laundry, and make a list of anything that needs to be restocked for the next day. Deposits are prepared, adoption log, and end of the day email completed prior to the end of the shift at 8 PM.

Post-adoption

After a shift in which an adoption has taken place:

• The same night as the adoption, a photo of each contract should be emailed to both the Outcome email and the program director.
• Cash should be deposited in the drop safe in the Petsmart or at any First Horizon Bank branch.
• Completed paperwork should be dropped off at NKR within 24 hours. A bin for cat contracts can be found next to the printer.
• The adoptions are entered into the Petsmart tablet if that’s where it took place.

More Information

This is a volunteer position. There will be no financial compensation. Our organization is 100% volunteer run. We welcome volunteers located anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect reliably to the Internet.

Why Volunteer With Us?

We are a community of people that share a common belief that improving animal welfare, specifically the neonatal kitten/cats with babies in shelters and stray populations, will eventually reduce the need for euthanasia in this population that suffers the highest euthanasia rates in shelters in the United States. We aim to be a leader in the country for this population of animals, that so desperately needs attention paid to them, so that we can become a no kill country. Volunteering with us will enable you to build your resume and gain invaluable experience in an environment of supportive people that are always willing to help you.

In return, you will receive a LinkedIn recommendation, testimonial, spotlight in a newsletter, and/or a professional reference based on commitment and performance.

HOW TO APPLY

Email: apply@neonatalkittenrescue.org