Always meet in a public place with other people around. For everyone’s safety, do not hold a Meet & Greet at your home or the private owner’s home. Here are a few meeting place recommendations!
Meet & Greets with dogs:
- Pet-friendly stores
- A veterinarian clinic's lobby (ask them first)
- A public park (if not crowded)
Fun Fact: We do NOT recommend meeting at a dog park. Wait, what? Seems counterintuitive we know, but the dog will be so distracted by the sights, sounds, and smells of the other dogs that he or she might not be able to focus on you. It can be really hard to tell if it’s a good match if you can’t get them to come near you! This may also be a concern in a public park setting, even when less crowded as dogs can be easily distracted outdoors.
Meet & Greets with cats:
- Pet-friendly stores—always meet indoors for the cat’s safety.
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A veterinary clinic's lobby (ask them first)
- No matter what, the cat should always be safe in a carrier (nervous cats can bolt very quickly)!
- If you find a safe, enclosed room to meet in (and the private owner is willing) you may open the cat’s carrier to see if he or she wants to come out.
Pro Tip: New environments can be especially stressful for our feline friends so these Meet & Greets are a little more challenging. Despite our best efforts, most cats tend to be scared in a strange setting and just want to hide. Don’t take this personally, this doesn’t mean the cat doesn’t like you! Do your best to balance your need to meet the cat with the cat’s comfort level, always differing to the latter.
For tips on what to do during a Meet & Greet and how to know if it's a good match, click here.