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HOME EVALUATION FORM
To the Home Evaluator: This form can be used when doing a home visit to evaluate a poten al family for a rescued Airedale. Adop on or foster applicants you are visi ng have already met preliminary criteria by having their Adop on Applica on accepted and have passed the telephone interview.
When doing a home visit, please a empt to get as much informa on as asked for on this form. Ask ques ons, where appropriate, and get as many details as you can about the home environment. Some of the ques ons on this form may not apply to a par cular home so use your own judgment.
If possible, bring a friend or another rescue volunteer with you on the home visit. This helps both for the purpose of having another pair of eyes and ears to assist you in making a complete evalua on and for your own personal safety.Name Klein Family Address: 2171 Fortune Hole Rd City, State ZIP Hamilton, GA 31811 Phone 706-718-6990 Email foodblossoms@hotmail.com or ronnie_klein@hotmail.com
Size of Home [es mate square footage if possible]: 3200 sq per tax records
Se ng [check all that apply]:
xRural
Semi rural
Suburban
Semi urban Urban xWooded Open acreage
Waterfront
Highway frontage
Neighborhood street frontage
City environment
Property bordering on park/field
Condi on of Home [check all that apply]: Immaculate xWell-kept
Lived in but clean
Exterior un dy
Interior un dy
Exterior unkempt/poorly maintained Interior trashed/dirty
Describe the home interior :
[Include type of furnishings, flooring, and general appearance. For example, “an ques with museum atmosphere,” “shabby furniture,” “brand new furniture and/or carpet,” “badly stained carpet,” “hardwood/ vinyl flooring with some carpet/rugs,” etc.]
The house was built in the 1800s and has the original hardwood floors throughout the home, they have character, meaning they are scuffed and scratched from years of wear and tear but they are in good condi on. The furniture is all rus c styled. It’s not an que, but has the distressed farmhouse look to it. It’s used and well cared for. There are a few area rugs.
Accommoda ons:
[Describe what accommoda ons the home has for a dog and where the dog will be le when the owners are not at home. For example, “crate in kitchen/laundry room,” “baby gate across kitchen,” “no crate planned,” “pen in basement,” “pen in garage,” “outdoor run,” etc. Include complete descrip on of any pen or kennel [chain link run, dirt run with chicken wire, etc]. Will the dog ever be le chained out or le u ended in a fenced-in yard? Describe the fencing, if any, and consider security of fence.]
There is almost always someone home. Ronnie now works from home and will con nue to do so. The grandfather is over at the house o en as well. They do not crate but they do have dog beds in the house. There is a wood fence in the front yard, but not one that would keep dogs in. We walked the exterior property with Tess (current dale) and the family and Tess never ran off or strayed to the road. The grandfather has had several airedales and was the one that trained Tess. He will be there to train the rescue as well. They do not intend to leave the dog una ended outside.
Children: NA
[Give ages of children, if any, and pay special a en on to the behavior of the children, the parents’ responses and method of discipline, and the children’s interac ons with other pets. Note whether parents always supervise young children with other pets and if the parents seem to expect the child/children to be “responsible” for the care of the pets.]
Family Environment:
[Describe the behavior of the adults among themselves, and to any other pets or children. Are they respec ul, hec c, noisy, loud, quiet, commanding, etc.?]
The kids were older (12 and 15) and pre y laid back as were the parents. It was quiet and relaxed enough that Tess felt at ease laying down while we were standing around cha ng.
Life-Style Compromises:
[Has the applicant thought through life-style compromises pet ownership will require? Give details.]
Not sure this ques on really applies considering they already have a dog.
Other Pets:
[Describe number, type, age, and gender of the other pets and give complete descrip on of their apparent health and well-being. Things to note would be skin or flea problems, condi on of ils, overweight or underweight, type of collar, id tags other pets have, etc.]
There was only one cat (outside cat). Tess couldn’t care less that the cat was laying around and we stressed the strong hunt ins nct that many Airedales have. We gave examples of our own rescues and their shenanigans with neighborhood strays and other vermin that have go en into our own backyard. They fully understood.
Owner Interac on With Other Pets:
o Describe the rela onship all family members seem to have to other pets. They all seemed to adore Tess and were very excited about ge ng her a companion.
o What role will the dog play in applicant’s life? companion to not only the family but to their current dale as well.
o Are the other pets treated like family members? absolutely o How do the other animals behave? very relaxed o If applicant is looking for an addi onal dog, or cat why does applicant what another?
o Does applicant believe that the new dog will “train” old dog or vice versa? They know the dog will take certain cues from Tess but also understand that training will be required.
o Has applicant ever owned more than one dog or cat at the same me? yes
o Is applicant prepared for the increased work, expense [including vet cost], and commo on? yes
o How commi ed is adopter? I feel very confident that this family is commi ed to the rescue. They understand that if the dog isn’t fi ng in that they need to speak up and allow us to rehome.
o What are the owner’s responses to behaviors good and bad? A lot of the experiences we shared, were ones that Shannon and her father remembered with fondness since
she grew up with them throughout her childhood. The kids seemed as though they were ready to see what kind of shenanigans a dog could get into.
o Do owners demand perfec on or have unreasonable expecta on regarding behaviors? no, they seemed pre y reasonable.
o Do other dogs in the home obey happily? Tess is a very content dale. o Are the other dogs out of control and undisciplined? no o Do the owners appear to know some basic training techniques? yes
o How do the animals react to the owner’s response? Tess perked up, tail wagging and came right to them. No fear in her at all.
Important Ques on to Answer:
o Explain that re-homing a dog is stressful for the dog.
o That o en the rescued dog they want to adopt or foster may have training accidents, even if they are housebroken, while they are in their new home or foster care, for the first few weeks.
o Ask the applicant what they would do or how they would react to the new dog having an accident.
What was their reply?
These guys are old enough and relaxed to the point that they understand and expect accidents to happen. We discussed in detail about rehoming stressors and ways to help them cope.
Addi ol Informa on:
o Please describe any addi onal informa on about the home environment that you feel is per nent.
o Is there anything in general or specifically that would cause you to feel uncomfortable about placing a dog or cat in this home? None whatsoever. My husband and i feel very confident in this family. Especially having a current airedale.
o If so, what?
o “Gut feelings” are considered important. Would you feel comfortable leaving your own dog with the applicant?
o Explain.
I would feel comfortable leaving Brody with them, although Brody would not want me to do so, simply because he’s got some separa on issues. 😉 He’s a mama’s boy.
Conclusion:
xApprove Applicant
Do not approve applicant
Approve a er addi onal counseling of applicants and/or
Approve a er modifica ons to the home environment Please describe:
Addi onal comments:
Home Evaluator’s Signature: Michele O’Neill
Date: _March 17, 2021_
Contact informa on: Email & Phone No.:706-523-1983 LRSwife@gmail.comDonna texted me stating that she forgot to mention in our phone conversation that they have a dog park in their neighborhood for a nominal yearly fee.
Kelly,
We had a great visit with Michelle and her husband Kevin on Sunday! Thank you for introducing us. They had a lot of good input on rescued Airedales and different personalities. We weren’t surprised by anything but it was important and fun to hear stories and think about possibilities.
They got to meet Tess and decided she’s definitely not an “alpha.” She’s so chill she’ll probably do well with male or female, any personality.
They did point out that their Airedales would all have killed our cats 🤣 which made them suggest that we reiterate we do have cats.
They are outside, once-feral cats who take care of themselves as far as predators go (coyotes, owls, etc) so we don’t worry about a new dog and would work on training to teach each how we love the other, etc.They got a feel for the fence situation. We’re prepared to leash train our new dog for as long as it takes to know the boundaries and trust each other. I’ve got this theory that because we have so much space that’s considered our “yard,” dogs don’t feel the need to bolt to a whole new place.
Also, good news- we started Tess on the Simparica TRIO, with the heart worm prevention. Thanks for the tip!
I’m not on Facebook much though I have an account. I tried to look up the group you mentioned but was unsuccessful. If you think it’s helpful for placing for me to ask for certain dogs, I will try again; otherwise, we do really trust y’all’s judgement.
love & luck,
Shannon Klein
706.718.6990Airedale Rescue Group
Phone Interview: Donna Carnevale
3/15/21
Donna and her husband Jim are retired. They live in a gated community on a golf course. Their home is on a cul-de-sac. They are not fenced. Their 3 neighbors all have big dogs. There are a lot of squirrels! They see great nieces and nephews ages 5-13 frequently and visit Donna’s 3 sisters whom all have dogs, so it is imperative that the dogs get along with each other. Jim had a stroke several years ago, but has completely recovered. They have been without a dog since 2005. They recently spent time with her sister in upstate NY and “all Jim did was take care of and love on her dog. So it’s time.” They have had 2 Airedales in the past. They had been looking at shelters for a dog and just recently found out that ARG existed. Donna stated that had they known that, they would have filled out an application a long time ago. They do not want to go through a breeder. Their last 2 Airedales came from breeders.
I asked that if they changed their mind and decided to keep looking at shelter rescues to let me know. I don’t want to waste their time nor do I want mine wasted. She affirmed that since they know that ARG exists, they are set on an Airedale. Their first choice would be a male. Age 2-older dog. They don’t want to deal with the puppy stuff. Providing the rescue can handle it, there is no place off limits in the house.
Being that they have been without a dog for so long, they do not have a vet and/or groomer. She said she would certainly ask her neighbors for recommendations.Spoke with personal reference. He is a neighbor. He has a Golden Retriever. There are deed restrictions regarding fences. He feels that these folks would be great for a rescue. He has known the Carnevale’s for about years. He can think of no reason(s) not to adopt to the Carnevale’s.
I loved them! They have plenty of space. She said the house is for living in and is ok with the mess that they bring in and a dog may bring in.
Their son did ask me some questions and is super excited about having a dog!
I saw the laundry area – it is handy but small. They would use the spare room downstairs with a nice walk in shower to wash him/her.
I don’t think he dog would be in the backyard without them and the chickens were happy in their nice accommodations out there.Laura Kjeldsen
Kelly,
I wanted to let you know that I’ve put a pause on the home visit. My sister brought my dog back to me from Florida a couple weeks ago and somy situation has changed.Thank you so much.
Good morning Shannon and Frank,
I’m sorry it’s taken me a while to get back with you. I think Mary and I got lost in a spam folder along the way. Anyway, I just spoke to Mary and I wanted to let you know that you’ve been placed on our “waiting for a spare ‘dale” list!!!
As you know, we don’t have many ‘dales right now, but that can change overnight. Please keep your eye on our ARG website as well as our Facebook page. When a ‘dale comes in to rescue, we cull through our applicants to find the best possible match. What we see as a good match and what you see as a good match may be 2 different things…that’s why we want you to keep an eye out. If you see a ‘dale that you think would be a good fit, reach out to me. It may take a while, but it will be worth the wait!Warmly,
Kelly Imbody, ARG
219-628-00713/6/2021 Home visit completed per Mary Dams (the following are notes from our conversation re: same.)
These are great folks. They are not fenced. Live on a lake, on cul-de-sac. Backyard has small hill then the lake. There is no carpet in the house, it is very dog friendly. Frank has had WFT’s in the past, so they are used to “messy”. They have a boat and they want to take the ‘dale boating. Shannon walks every day. They are in their 50’s and both working from home. Mary said they would be great adopters!Good morning Michele!
Again, ARG can’t thank you enough for doing this!
I have attached these folks ARG application, my phone interview notes and the Home Visit evaluation form. The HV eval. form provides a great guideline regarding what to assess during your visit. You may want to familiarize yourself with it before you go as it can be a bit intimidating to some if it is “checked off” during your visit. The bottom line or $64,000.00 question is: “Would you feel comfortable leaving your ‘dale with these folks?”
As Christina mentioned, because of Covid we want you to be safe and remain healthy, so follow the recommended guidelines to your comfort level as well as the Klein’s whom you’ll be visiting.
I will introduce you to them and them to you via a shared email. I’ll remind them that we would like everyone living in the home to be present for the HV, but you may want to reiterate that when you communicate with them as well. Also, we encourage our HV volunteers to take your ‘dale with you if you’re comfortable doing so. This can often provide valuable insight as to how the folks interact with the ‘dale etc.
Once you’ve visited these folks, you can jot your notes down and email them to me (Word documents work best when we post them on our site) or you can give me a call and tell me about the visit and I’ll just make some notes.
If you should have any questions or concern, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing how things went!
Warmly,
Kelly Imbody, ARG
219-628-0071Good morning Kleins and Michele!
Shannon, meet Michele O’Neil. She will be contacting you to do your home visit. ARG asks that everyone living in the home be present for the home visit. We want you to adhere to the Covid guidelines to everyone’s comfort level.
Michele may opt to bring her ‘dale Bodie with her for the visit.
Please contact me with any questions and/or concerns. I’ll be anxious to know how it goes!Sincerely,
Kelly Imbody, ARG
219-628-0071Airedale Rescue Group
Phone Interview: Mary Fischer-Mullins
2/28/2021
Mary and her partner Nichole live on 2 quiet wooded acres. They have a farm fence. The “pool” is really just a large galvanized tank that is not accessible to a dog. Nichole is always home and Mary states she is mostly home since Covid. Mary had 2 Airedales during her childhood. On they got from their Grandpa as an adult and the 2nd one they got as a puppy before Mary went off to college. They have been about 4 years without a dog.
They prefer crate training and hope to do so with a rescue. There is a walk thru laundry room/mud room that functions as a crate when needed in addition to the usual crate. She feels it’s important that the dog have a safe place. They have twins age 8, both whom are “dog lovers.” Harper, one of the twins is allergic to cats. They have chickens, but they are not free ranged. The coop is very secure as they live in a wooded area. They plan to obedience train. No sex preference and preferably a young adult.
In talking with Mary it is obvious that she knows and is aware of the needs of a rescue. We spoke of the need for patience, time, consistency and love in bringing a rescue home. All in the home are on board with getting another dog and this time.Personal reference:
Was aware that they were considering and looking to get a dog, but wasn’t sure regarding breed. Reference has known applicant for about 6 years and describes applicant as having a small homestead farm. She states that they are great people and can think of nothing that would/should prevent adoption.2/26/2021
The Klein family live in Hamiton, GA which is near Columbus, GA. They currently have a 9 ½ y/o female Airedale named Tess. After the death of Shannon’s mother, they brought Tess home with them from her Dad’s as all felt that she needed more interaction and more of a “home life.” Their oldest is in college, and they have a 15 and 12 year old. Tess was crate trained. They don’t have a fence for the purpose of containment. It is more to shield the back yard from the road…more like a privacy fence but only stretches across from both sides of the home. They live in a wooded area, the road is “hardly traveled.” They have 15 acres of woods all around them with barbed wire, but admits this would not keep a dog in. Tess is allowed outside to roam, but does not leave the yard. On their application it was stated that “it’s rare these days that we leave her alone but when we do, we usually leave her outside.” I informed Shannon that we could not and would not adopt to anyone that had plans to leave their dog unattended. She stated that every dog they’ve ever had has stayed in the yard and she attributes this to training. She stated that she knows that it will take a lot of training to get to this point. She stated that the adopted dog would be leashed until trusted not to run. Shannon stated that she’s knows they’ll “have to start from square one” with a new dog.
I asked why they don’t do heart worm prevention and she stated that her husband said it was too expensive. She said that she told him that ARG was asking about that on the application and that he said he would give preventative.
They have 2 cats that “showed up.” They are outside cats.
They prefer a female, young adult or puppy.Personal reference:
The reference has known the family for several years, but have become closer over the past couple of years. They are “great dog people.” She describes them as very caring. Tess is well-behaved. A very sweet dog.Vet:
Spoke with Mandy at Vet’s office. It has been a while since the cats have been seen. She said that they were either strays or dropped off out in the country. Tess is up to date on vaccines. Receives Simparica for fleas and ticks. She confirmed that she is not on heart worm preventative but tested negative on 9/11/2020. There were no red flags on the vet record.Good morning Mary,
The HV form/paperwork is a bit cumbersome but a good guide nonetheless. No need to fill it out. If you could just elaborate a bit more…their property, fence/no fence, how they interacted with your ‘dale if you took him/her. Is the home pristine…would a ‘dale be welcome there as they are messy! If you’d rather give me a call, that’s fine too and I’ll just make a few notes from our conversation and post them. Whatever you prefer. I’ll not be available this morning, so late afternoon today into the evening will work. Again, many thanks Mary!
Warmly,
KellySent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Mary Dams
Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2021 7:56 PM
To: Kelly Imbody
Subject: Home VisitHi Kelly,
Met with Shannon and Frank today and they are great people! Lovely home right on the water, they work from home-are active and are experienced dog owners. I think they would be wonderful. I guess I need to fill out the paperwork for you-correct? Let me know if you would like to talk on the phone as well.
Thanks, MaryGentle rejection letter sent. App. incomplete…no vet listed other than Petco Insurance. No personal reference listed…”I’m a realtor, everyone knows me.” Replied “nope” so often it made my brain hurt…who does that?? It’s a question requiring a yes/no answer…no a nope/yep answer. I feel sorry for his Doodle.
Geez! It was like pulling teeth getting info from this guy (Miguel Battle). I asked him how he came to fill out an app with ATRA (my old stomping grounds!) and after redirecting him numerous times, he related that he “spoke with a woman in SC who actually handles both Carolinas.” (who is this woman? Let’s sign her up!) He told me that he lives in Asheville, but he’ll be moving to NC (!?!!!??) Again, after many attempts to clarify I finally got it that he is currently in Asheville, moving at some point to Cullowhee, NC but is shipping out soon as he’s in the military. He’s 21 years old. Has never interacted with an Airedale, does not currently have a place to live in Cullowhee…the list goes on! This was painful. I left it with him that if after he returns from being deployed and is still interested to contact me. He was agree able and I thanked him for his service.
Kelly
