Currently adoption hours end at 17.00 but viewing of the animals is possible until 17.30. It is very frustrating to the public to be able to view the animals, possibly even selecting a suitable companion, and then not being able to adopt it. They must then return the next day and by that, risk loosing the animal or that it will be killed as the staff will not allow an overnight hold. The animal itself is exposed to added stress and possibly euthanasia by remaining at the shelter. The SPCA should also allow adoption for animals 10-15 minutes past visiting hours, if the adoptee was held up discussing animal care with the adoption counselor.
This conflicts with the SPCA Code of Ethics: Point 1) subparagraph 1 and 2) subparagraph 2
Solution: Stagger the end of adoption viewing hours by restricting access starting at 17.00 and have adoptions end at 17.30 but also allow the flexibility for adoptions up until 18.00. Also allow overnight holds to prevent killing that animal, that terminate 15 minutes after the start of adoptions the next day. This way all that is possible has been done to promote adoptions.
Symptoms: Sometimes under the current system animals that were desired as a companion have been put to death needlessly, simply because their perspective parent arrived 15 minutes late. This is disgusting.