A reader sent this link to a USA Today story about shelters that have waived adoption fees for some or all cats and seen dramatic increases in adoption rates:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-01-03-cat-adoptions_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
This is something AWLA should try for cats that have spent more than a few weeks on view at the shelter (though to avoid scammers, it should be paired with a home visit and vet reference check performed by a shelter volunteer.)
I like this idea and agree that a home visit is needed. AWLA doesn’t even do home visits for dogs, with the exception of some pitbulls and related breeds. I understand that home visits use a lot of resources, and that few people are denied based on a home visit, but I believe thay are an important part of the adoptions process. People who are aware they will be subjected to a home visit are not inclined to lie on their adoption application. When they know that there won’t be a home inspection, anyone can write anything on their application, and are likely to get away with it. ‘Scammers’ definitely know what to say on an app, so as not to raise any red flags. Even having random home checks (say 1/3 of all apps, including all species, not just dogs) would be a deterent to scammers.