Pet 'matchmaking' service increases adoptions
Originally appearing in My Fox Atlanta Website July 28, 2014
By Carolyn Ryan, Newsradio 1067
You've probably heard of a match-making service that helps people find their soul mates.
But you may not know that there's a nonprofit in Atlanta that offers a similar service....for people to find....the perfect pet. It's called "Releash Atlanta", it was started about 5 months ago...
and it is a doggie matchmaking service....to help people find their dream pet, without all the leg-work. Kristin Tremblay and Stephanie Quinlan started the service. Tremblay, who has been involved in rescue work for many years, says people often find it challenging to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue group. It can be depressing to go to a shelter and time consuming. Releash Atlanta helps to simplify the process. "You're looking for a dog, we have one that needs to be rescued... let's put you guys together," says Tremblay.
Once you go to the website, you fill out a match submission form, give details for what you are looking for in a dog (age, gender, breed, temperament, etc) and the folks at Releash Atlanta will scour local shelter and rescue groups to find a match. They'll send you a list of options and facilitate a meeting with the ones you choose.
The process worked for Claudine Marsh, of Marietta, who knew she wanted to adopt a rescue but didn't know where to start. "I wanted a dog that wasn't too big because I live in a small townhome and I wanted a pet that would be good with my son, Michael," said Marsh. Releash Atlanta matched her, with Bently; a 2 year old toy pomeranian. "I wouldn't have picked this dog for myself, funny enough, but he's a perfect fit," said Marsh.
There's no fee for the service. Tremblay says it's all about increasing adoption rates at local shelters and rescue groups.
Releash Atlanta will also be holding its first adoption event on August 30th at Piedmont Park. There will be dozens of rescue groups on hand, with dogs that are up for adoption.