Sometimes, for whatever reason, an animal is returned after being adopted. Your data management system can track this return through the Adoptions feature.

Watch a helpful video!

Changing the status rather than deleting the adoption

When an animal is returned after an adoption, rather than deleting the adoption, you can keep a record of all adoptions an animal has had simply by changing the animal's status. There is no need to delete the adoption. When the animal is adopted again, the new adopter information will replace the old adopter information on the animal.

Deleting an adoption

If you must do it, you can delete the adoption from the animal's record. From Animals > Adoptions, scroll to the adoption you want to delete and click the red "minus" symbol. However, deleting an adoption prevents you from tracking the adoptions an animal might have over time.

Changing the status to manage returns

In order for you to track the return, change the Status of the Adoption to Return by one of several methods.

From the animal list

1. Scroll to the adoption for the animal which was returned.
2. Select the Edit icon.
3. Use the drop-down menu to change the Status from Success to Return.
   
   

Then change the Status of the Animal to Available or another appropriate animal status:

1. Go to Animals > Animal List.
2. Scroll to the animal which was returned.
3. Click the Edit icon.
4. Use the drop-down menu to select a new status.
   
   

From the Adoptions Data Table

1. Go to Animals > Animal List.
2. Scroll to the animal which was returned.
3. Click  the Edit icon.
   
   
4. Change status to Return. 
   
5. Click Save Adoption.

This process saves the original adoption information and allows you to adopt out the animal again while tracking previous adoptions.

Using Search Site to Locate the Animal and Edit the Adoption

1. Enter the animal id, microchip or name in the Search Site box on the left.
2. Click Go!
   
3. Click the Name of the animal. In this example, we click Lola.
   
4. On the next screen, you see links at the top of the animal record.
5. Click the link Adoptions (1). That number indicates there is one adoption for Lola; we will be changing the status of the adoption from success to return.
   
6. Click the Edit icon. 
   
7. Change the status of the adoption to Return.
8. Click Save.
   
   

A message displays notifying you that the adoption was saved. The Status of the adoption is now Return. You've returned the adoption, now you need to change the status of the animal to Available or another appropriate status.

Changing the animal's status

1. Go to Animals > Animal List.
2. Scroll to the animal which was returned.
   
3. Click the Edit icon.
   
4. Use the drop-down menu to select a new status.
   
5. Click Save.

A message displays at the top of the screen stating your changes were saved.