Home Visits
Whether to conduct a home visit is up to you. WAGS does not require them as a routine part of the adoption process, but a home visit may be appropriate based on the individual circumstances of your foster dog and his prospective adopters.
If your foster pup has special needs either physically or mentally, or the prospective adopters don't have a lot of dog experience, or if there is a specific issue that you feel you can help with (for example, if the adopters already have a dog of their own and have never tried to integrate a new dog into their household, so your experience might help that introduction go more smoothly), a home visit may be warranted. And, if you still have any lingering doubts about the suitability of the adopters, a home visit can either confirm or dispel them. Seeing people in their own homes gives you a clearer picture of who they are and how they live.
Doing a good home visit takes some time, unless the home is so horrifying that you open the door, turn around, and leave. Even if you've previously interviewed them, expect to spend about an hour talking to the adopters. It's best to budget enough time that you don't have to feel rushed.
First, assess the exterior of the home. Does it seem reasonably well maintained, with no obvious hazards littering the ground? If there is a fence, does it look secure enough to contain your foster pup? (Lack of a fenced yard need not be a dealbreaker; indeed, some of the most dedicated adopters are those who must go out of their way to ensure their dog is properly exercised, instead of just tossing him into the backyard to "run around" by himself.) If the home is set near the street, would a door-dashing pup be at immediate risk of being hit by a car? Perhaps a screen door might be a good added safeguard.
Upon going inside, keep looking for potential hazards and things to troubleshoot. I actually like to see that the furniture looks a little scuffed and the carpets are worn: it means the people who live here are comfortable with some wear and tear, and probably won't mind too much if their dog sheds or bumps into things or sneaks his way onto the couch a couple of times. On the other hand, houses that are crowded with cabinets full of crystal or shelves of delicate antiques make me a little nervous, as do the ones that look like ultra-pristine magazine layouts. Dogs are dogs, and they make messes sometimes; I don't want my foster dog getting sent back to the rescue for tracking some mud onto a white carpet.
