REFERENCE CHECK GUIDELINES
Underdog Rescue conducts reference checks to ensure that all dogs are placed in a foster or forever home where the environment is safe and they will be cared for well. Our goal is to complete the reference checks prior to the home visit so that we can get a more complete picture beforehand, saving time and resources. Please use the following guidelines and template to gather and organize the necessary information.
If you volunteer to do a particular reference check, we expect that you will make the initial contact within 12 hours. If you are not able to do it right away, please allow someone else to take that check. You can choose to email or call (if both are an option), but it is better to call. If you get someone’s voicemail, always leave a message. It’s helpful to say something like, “the adoption of this dog depends on you getting back to me.” We would like to see the results of the reference checks within 24 hours, but no longer than 48 hours.
- Initiate the call by introducing yourself as a volunteer for Underdog Rescue and the reason for the call.
- Ask if they have a few minutes to talk through a series of questions related to the potential adoption of an Underdog Rescue dog. If they are busy, request a more convenient time, and follow up with them then.
- Ask the questions below and feel free to allow the conversation to move in the direction that makes sense based on the responses. Record the relevant points in the template or on a sheet of paper.