Many organizations choose to have adoption events at community events or at stores such as Petco and PetSmart. These events are very important to bringing exposure to your organization and finding homes for the dogs and cats that are under your care. If your organization holds off-site adoptions, reducing the chance of injuries to the public should be one of your utmost concerns.
Injuries that could have been easily prevented can be a drain on your financial resources and raise your insurance premiums. In some cases, a history of liability claims may result in cancellation of your insurance coverage.
- You can prevent injuries by enforcing the following policies:
- Make sure that you have enough staff on hand to supervise the pets and the people who stop by to visit your area
- Trim the nails of the pets for adoption before the event, if possible
- Do not allow people to pick up or handle the animals without assistance from your staff
- Setup your area so that all pet cages are in view in order to make sure the animals are not unduly disturbed
- Keep small children away from the pet areas because they may be prone to placing their faces or fingers too close to the animals or teasing them If possible, have all animals up-to-date on vital vaccinations such as their rabies shot
- Provide disinfection stations for people to clean their hands before and after visiting with the pets
By following these policies, you can prevent insurance claims from injuries received at off-site adoptions. This will help keep your insurance premiums in check and maintain a good reputation for your organization.