Home Visit Report

When doing a home visit, please attempt to get as much information as asked for on this form. Ask questions, where appropriate, and get as many details as you can about the home environment. Some of the questions on this form may not apply to a particular home so use your own judgment. See the last page of this document for additional suggestions. If possible, bring a friend or another rescue volunteer with you on the home visit. This helps to ensure your safety and have another pair of eyes and ears to assist you in making a complete evaluation.

HV Volunteer

Date

First Name1

Last Name1

First Name2

Last Name2

Phone Number

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Country

Additional Comments:

Describe what accommodations the home has for a dog. (ex. free run of the house, separated in certain rooms etc.)

Where will the dog be left when the owners are not at home. (ex. “crate in kitchen/laundry room”, “baby gate across kitchen”, “no crate planned”, “pen in basement”, “pen in garage”, “outdoor run”, etc.)

Describe any pen or kennel (ex. chain link run, dirt run with chicken wire, etc.)

Will the dog ever be left chained out or left unattended in a fenced-in yard?

Approximate ages of children, if any.

Describe the behavior of the children.

Describe the parents’ responses and method of discipline.

Describe the children’s interactions with pets. Note whether parents always supervise young children with pets.

Do the parents seem to expect the child/children to be “responsible” for the care of the pets?

Describe the behavior of the adults among themselves.

Are they respectful, hectic, noisy, loud, quiet, commanding, etc?

Has the applicant thought through life-style compromises pet ownership will require? Give details.

Describe the behavior to any pets.

Describe number, type, age, and gender of the other pets.

Do they look healthy?

Do they look and act mentally well?

What food is being fed to current pets?

What would they feed the rescue Doberman?

Things to note would be skin or flea problems, condition of nails, overweight or underweight, type of collar, i.d tags other pets have, etc. Comments :

Describe the relationship all family members seem to have with their pets.

What role will the dog play in applicant’s life?

Are the pets treated like family members?

How do the animals behave?

If applicant is looking for an additional dog, why does applicant what another?

Does applicant believe that the new dog will “train” old dog or vice versa?

Has applicant ever owned more than one dog or cat at the same time?

Is applicant prepared for the increased work, expense (including vet cost), and commotion?

How committed is adopter seem?

What are the owner’s responses to behaviors good and bad?

Do owners demand perfection or have unreasonable expectation regarding behaviors?

Do other dogs in the home obey happily?

Are the other dogs out of control and undisciplined?

Do the owners appear to know some basic training techniques?

How do the animals react to the owner’s response?

Explain that re-homing a dog is stressful for the dog.

The rescued dog they want to adopt or foster may have training accidents, even if they are housebroken, while they are in their present home or foster care, for the first few weeks.

What would they do or how they would react to the new dog having an accident?

Comments to other parts of conversation.

Please describe any additional information about the home environment that you feel is pertinent.

Is there anything in general or specifically that would cause you to feel uncomfortable about placing a dog in this home?

“Gut feelings” are important. Would you feel comfortable leaving your own dog with the applicant?

Volunteer Recommendation:

Approve Applicant

Do not approve applicant

Approve after additional counseling of applicants

Approve after modifications to the home environment

Please explain:

Any additional comments:

Additional Suggestions To The Home Evaluator:

If you need to take notes during the visit, please do so discreetly on a small note pad, rather than on this form. It is preferred to have the applicants feel at ease with you and to be themselves. Complete this form after the visit is over, when you are not in the presence of the applicants.

Qualities to note are sincerity, commitment, tolerance of normal animal behavior, honest representation of the home environment, children’s behavior with other pets, and expected role of the children in pet care. Obtain explanations about the absence of any family members during the visit. Feel free to ask leading questions to begin productive conversation. Often good conversation will reveal far more than questions.

Do not make any promises to the applicants or indicate whether or not they will be approved to adopt or foster. Please refrain from discussing any particular animal presently in rescue that may become available for adoption. Let them know that the BoD makes this determination and that they will be notified of the decision.

Please inform the family that you will submit your information to the BoD for review and someone will be in touch to let them know their status to adopt and/or volunteer with our organization.

If you are uncomfortable at any point during the home visit process, please excuse yourself and let the applicant know someone will be in touch with them.

Home visit report