2. Place a paid classified ad in your area newspaper. "Your area" is defined as you're immediate geographic surroundings, with a local population of at least 100,000. There is at least one major newspaper in each area of that size. Your area may be a few square miles in a major city or many square miles in the country.

3. When you place your classified ad, BE CREATIVE. Speak in HUMAN TERMS. Describe your pet by personality traits and habits. The breed or closest breed that describes your pet's appearance should head the ad. The following is an example of a good ad, but you can probably think of an even better one.

ADORABLE GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX
Loves soft music and gentle petting. Three years old, spayed and very loyal. Loves strawberry ice cream and people. Open your heart to her. Call 000-0000.

4. Do not advertise a price on your pet. . Let them guess if there is one and how much..... the first step is to get the calls.

5. SUCCESS!! People are calling your ad-- many, many people! Be Careful Now: Take
the names and numbers of all the callers and tell them you will get back to them in an hour.
DO NOT answer any questions....NOT EVEN ONE!!
Why are we doing it this way? Many people, up to no good, will leave a number or leave a wrong number. You can only imagine whom you have avoided in this way... a lab dealer out scrounging up animals to sell , meat buyers, back yard breeders or puppy mills, etc.
If you are shy and can't tell people to wait for your call, tell them a white lie! "The dog belongs to my brother and he's not here right now. If you leave your name and number, he'll call you back in an hour or so....No, I'm just visiting and I don't know anything about his dog."

6. The trick to returning the phone calls is to ASK QUESTIONS IMMEDIATELY. They will try to ask you what kind of dog it is, etc. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN. You ask the questions!! Keep asking the questions and keep the flow going. The questions to ask are listed on the following pages. How to ask them is where your cleverness comes in.
EXAMPLE: "I'm returning your call
about the German Shepherd, do you
have a dog now?... That's great! How
long have you had her?... Two years--
that's wonderful! Did you have a dog
before her?..... How long?...etc.

7. Placement questions will draw out people's intentions for your little pet. Place your pet ONLY after you are sure the people have a loving home and will treat your dog or cat as a family member.
It's amazing how you can get people to voluntarily tell you what they intend. The questions on the following page will help you develop a scenario for your phone conversations. Do most of your interviewing BY PHONE. It saves the pressure and embarrassment of eye-to-eye contact- especially when you say NO!!

8. You've just talked to some nice people and you want to invite them over. First you must whet their appetites. Don't tell them to much about your pet...they just talked themselves hoarse so time is on your side. Tell them a few highlights and get right to the invitation.
Tell them you have the perfect animal for them so "Can you come over the day after tomarrow at such & such a time?" Try to make it alittle inconvenient and at least 48 hours later. That way they are truly "planning" on finding a new pet. What's a few hours when they're embarking on a full 15 year commitment?
If they don't want to wait, Pass on them. Usually these people are "inpulse buyers"... they make department stores rich but they make very insecure homes.

10. After you are sure these are your people, tell them about your pet and see if they act warmly and smile as you talk. They should be anticipating your pets arrival.-- if so they will be excited and warm looking. If not, be careful; this is a big moment.....
why aren't they excited? What's going on?
Tell them what you're going to do next. Tell them you're going to bring out your pet to see if they fall in love. Explain that if there is no "magic" between them, that's it's all over.

11. Now you finally bring your pet out to meet his potential family. WATCH THEIR EYES---CLOSELY. This is perhaps the single most important SECRET OF ADOPTING pets to good homes. The moment they see your pet, you should be looking at their eyes. It happens in a flash... one second or less!
WITHOUT FAIL- all eyes should be smiling.
If anyone has a puzzled look, a disappointed look, or a clinical (uncaring) look. YOU SHOULD BE PLANNING YOUR ESCAPE STRATEGY. If, for example, the husband loves the pet but the wife appears hesitant, PASS ON BOTH!!
"Escape Strategy" is what you use to get them out of your house without your dog or cat. Usually you can say that someone else is coming over tomarrow and that you'll let the "winner" know in a day or so.

12. Let us assume we have a winner- a match between your pet and a LOVING new family. After about 20 minutes, you should go over what your pet eats, what special habits he has, what treats he likes , etc. You should also explain that you want a spay(neuter} certificate from their vet within 30 days, {if you don't already have one.}

13. You probably have a collar and a tag on your pet. If not, buy one before you deliver him. Buy a tag for the new owners as a present for them. But put your number on it next to theirs in case the pet gets out--that way you'll get a call too. (You'd be surprised how many SWEET PEOPLE lose their pet and never tell you-- meanwhile you've had him back for weeks).

14. Tell these people your would like a donation of at least $50 to cover SOME of the vet bill you've run up for your pets shots and the like. If they refuse GET RID OF THEM. The money is to ensure they can afford to care for your pet. It's also to prevent brokers from selling your pet to research-- they currently get about $65 or more for a "nice" pet. for research.

15. If everyone, including your pet, is happy, then arrange to deliver the animal. Aim to deliver on a Saturday morning so the pet can have the weekend
with his new family. Don't deliver at night because there is a reason you are there.
You are delivering your pet in daylight because these people may have lied or exaggerated some things about their residence. Ask for a tour of the animal's "sleeping quarters", etc. They have had some time to buy his dishes and food, so you should see these also. If something is wrong, they made no preparations, ask why not. If you're suspicious, take your pet and RUN NOW!!

16.If all is well and you and your pet are happy with the new family, ask to have "visitation rights." ANYONE ON THE LEVEL 'INSISTS' THAT YOU VISIT!!

17. You should feel good that you saved a life and found a new family for your pet. You'll also feel sad because you'll miss your pet. If you do this a thousanf times, you'll still feel sad when you adopt one out. But you did it the right way to ensure his safety. Go home and have a good cry-- then do it again next week. The pounds are full of pets literally dying to get adopted.