What happens during the Pet Matching process?

Overall, we need information in order to: 1. Find a Pet that will best fit into the family 2. Find a good, safe and loving home for the Pet 3. Tailor-make the Honeymoon Period for the Pet Parent & Pet - to achieve a harmonious match!

The questions asked during the Pet Matching process relate to things that we evaluate, including:

• Time that the Pet Parent and others in the Pet Family have to interact with the Pet - for the Pet's mental and physical well-being
• The experiences the Pet Parent and family have had with other Pets to determine the amount of education needed and who needs it. Also to determine the personality and behavior needed in the Hannah Pet to match the family.
• The space and facilities that the Pet will have (size of home, yard, access to parks, rooms in the home, size, etc.) to determine the kind of Pet that would be appropriate and have a good chance of success.
• The level of emotional support that the Pet will have (what the Pet Parent says is their purpose, how long they will play with the Pet daily, including walking and other leisure activities), as well as time and environment when "alone" - again, for the lifelong well-being of the Pet
• How the rest of the family feels about the Pet, to make sure the Pet's new environment sets them up for success. We can't place Pets where the family is not supportive.
• How the Pet Family feels about following the doctor's advice with respect to food and treats, annual exams and so forth. Their answers to our four different scenario questions in the survey help us make sure they won't give up too easily on the Pet.
• Who will love the Pet and who won't?
• How the Pet Parent feels about end-of-life issues - are they receptive to advice from professionals, or not? We need to prevent future disasters and need documented scenarios with appropriate answers - or we will not place a Pet with them.
• We need to know the dynamics of the family that the Pet will become part of:
  • Do they expect to move to:
    • A smaller place?
    • A bigger place?
    • A place outside of our market?
  • A place with a busy street where the Pet could be killed?
  • Are there any known changes in the family that could affect the Pet in anyway (e.g. divorce, retirement, new baby, etc.)? How?
  • Caretakers within the family known to be available for the next year:
    • Who will feed/water the Pet?
    • Who will brush the Pet?
    • Who will take the Pet for walks?
    • Who will bathe the Pet?
    • Who will play with the pet?
    • Who will pay for the pet?
  • Where will they take the Pet and who will be there (other animals/people)?
  • Who will come to the house? How often? Will the Pet be confined during these visits?
  • Where will the Pet sleep? (If outside, these are not Hannah people.)
  • Activities the Pet will be involved in? (e.g. hiking, watching TV, boating, etc.)
  • Family history - making sure it is a safe environment for a Pet; some Pets have been abused - and abuse is often repeated by the same people.
  • Do they know anyone who has ever abused a Pet? Who?
  • What do they think is appropriate punishment for a Pet that:
    • Urinates inappropriately?
    • Barks for 5 minutes solid?
    • Jumps up and down and knocks someone down?
    • Vomits in the car?
  • Any disabled people in the family or that the Pet might be around?
  • Any family medical issues? (e.g. immune problems/immune drugs, allergies)
  • History with Pets:
    • How many, when, which species, how they were cared for, end of life, punishments, training, behavioral issues
    • What did they feed them, where did they sleep?
    • Go through the last three Pet's histories and document
  • Do they have other Pets? Do these Pets have medical/behavioral issues?
  • Financial resources:
    • Average monthly income
    • Employment history
    • Ability to pay an additional $70-$110 per month
    • Own home/rent
  • What are their plans for the Pet when they are away? How often are they away?
  • Will they learn to bathe the Pet? And bathe at least weekly?
  • What if it is necessary to brush the Pet's teeth? Note: In the evaluation of the above data, there are several yes/no answers and many areas that require a ranking of preferences. All surveys are kept confidential for the life of the Pet.

What is the process for a Pet becoming a Hannah Pet?

Once a candidate Pet is identified, it is behaviorally tested (by either a Hannah veterinarian or a person with Hannah certified behavioral training.) It is then examined by a Hannah veterinarian to assess its health status. If it passes both examinations, and all parties are willing (and we can arrive at a price acceptable to both parties), then Hannah purchases the Pet and receives a Bill of Sale (this price is pre-negotiated with most shelters). Once it is purchased by Hannah and the Pet has any and all behavioral and medical issues addressed, it is eligible for Hannah's Lifetime Matching Program process. If the Pet is from our Re-Home Program, Hannah generally requires the person wanting to re-home their Pet to keep it in their home until an appropriate Pet Parent is found - this keeps the stress to the Pet as low as possible. A person selling a Pet to Hannah may, at their option, reserve the right to approve the Pet Parent that Hannah the Pet Society believes to be a good match for the Pet. If the previous owner does not approve any of the first three new Pet Parents proposed by Hannah, then they must repurchase the Pet (at the same price Hannah paid them for it).

Once a Hannah Pet Parent is matched with their Hannah Pet, the new Hannah Pet Parent signs an Enrollment Agreement (legally a lease agreement) and the Hannah veterinarian, Pet Parent and Counselor agree to the details of a 5-month-long Honeymoon Period that requires the participation of the Pet Parent, their family, the Pet, the Hannah veterinarian, and various Hannah staff. The Enrollment Agreement also documents the agreed future purchase price of the Pet. During the Honeymoon Period, Hannah Pet Parents are responsible for a monthly Pet Support Fee (legally a lease payment).

After the Honeymoon Period is complete, the Pet Parent has the right to purchase their Hannah Pet at any time for the pre-agreed price. For re-homes, this price is generally about 1.2 times what Hannah actually paid for similar Pets that it acquires, including travel costs and supplies provided with the Pet. Hannah generally sets the purchase price it pays for re-homed Pets at 1.2 times the average price for Pets adopted in the area. (For example, if Hannah determines the average adoption price for shelter/humane society adoptions in the market is $150, then Hannah would pay $150 for the dog. If providing a kennel, leash, bowl, toys, etc. that cost Hannah $100, then Hannah's total cost for the dog and supplies would be $250. Therefore, the purchase price on that Hannah Pet would be $250 x 1.2 = $300.) This fee can vary based on individual circumstances.

Once the Pet's ownership is transferred to Hannah, all costs of ownership (food, supplies, medical, behavior training, etc.) are Hannah's sole responsibility.

What happens to the Pet if the match doesn’t work out?

Together, we decide to find the Pet a new home. We then make the Pet available to another family for a match. The Hannah Pet limo comes to your home and picks up the Pet or the Pet Parent brings the Pet to a Health & Education Center, and we start the match process over. While this is taking place, the Pet is housed in a Hannah foster home or facility until it is placed in another home. Care is taken to avoid any unnecessary stress to the Pet.

What happens if a potential Hannah Pet Parent pays their placement fee and goes through the placement process, but Hannah is not able to find them a suitable Pet?

If Hannah is unable to make a suitable Pet match after 3 months, the fee will be returned unless the Pet Parent asks us to keep looking. If Hannah does find a suitably matched Pet and the Pet Parent decides they don't want a Pet after that work is done, the fee is donated to charity.

How can Hannah offer their service package to dogs for only $80 per month?

There are several significant efficiencies assumed in our business model. Many business models rely on "volume," and Hannah the Pet Society won't be an exception. We will need several thousand Hannah Pets in order to gain efficiencies such as buying Pet food and supplies at high volume, wholesale prices. Additionally, we believe our Health & Education Centers will need to be reasonably convenient to our Pets' homes, but not necessarily in high traffic and expensive retail locations that Pet food stores, groomers, veterinarians, etc., typically require. Therefore, we will save on real estate costs by locating in areas that are convenient - but not nearly as expensive as traditional retail locations.

Can people sign up their own Pet?

Maybe. First, Hannah has to examine the Pet to make sure it is psychologically and medically eligible to be a Hannah Pet. If Hannah determines a Pet is eligible to become a Hannah Pet, the Pet parent can then choose to transfer legal ownership (i.e. sell the Pet) to Hannah. The Pet Parent agrees to care for the Pet through the Matching process and then goes through the Honeymoon Period to confirm they are a good match - which they usually are. But the computer may also match them to another Pet and their Pet to another Pet Parent. A Pet Parent can retain the right to approve/disapprove any placement or can step out of the process at any time at no cost.

The Hannah philosophy is based on placing Pets in ideal homes and creating the minimal amount of stress for Pets and Pet Parents for a lifetime. When people enroll in Hannah, they automatically become a part of a special "society" - a group of people with a common bond and a common purpose.

What type of veterinary care can I expect from Hannah?

At Hannah, our veterinarians are the best in the business and provide the same quality care as their counterparts in the Portland area. Hannah veterinarians and their medical teams have access to state-of-the-art facilities at our Health and Education Centers in the area.

What if my Pet gets sick and needs emergency care after hours?

First of all, you can call a Hannah Pet Nurse on our toll free number any time night or day (24/7/365 days a year) and discuss the situation with the Nurse. If they need to get a Doctor on the phone to discuss your concern, they will do so. In the event of the need for emergency medical services, they will make immediate arrangements. If medication is required, our Doctor will contact your local pharmacist for a prescription that will be waiting for you at your nearby pharmacy. Best of all, the prescription will have already been paid for by Hannah because of your Total Lifetime Care Program.

Do you place more Pets or enroll more Pets from people who already have them?

We do a lot of both and the statistics change from week to week. Sometimes families bring in their Pets to have us find them a new home because we don't charge a surrender fee. If we accept the Pet, we actually pay for the Pet and guarantee we will always find a great home, so there is no chance the Pet will be put to sleep instead of finding it a home. Usually, we can solve the family's problem with the Pet and they end up keeping it as a Hannah Pet.

I’m concerned that I won’t be able to afford all of the costs to care for my Pet now and in the future and I don’t want to face having to give him up. So, if I decide to sell my Pet to Hannah and become the Hannah Pet Parent, what is the process?

First, Hannah must examine the Pet to make sure it is behaviorally and medically eligible to become a Hannah Pet, so you will have to complete a little paperwork to get things moving. Then Hannah will arrange for all of the evaluations with a behavior expert and one of our veterinarians. We will also ask you to tell us as much as you can about your Pet's behavior and medical history.

If Hannah determines that your Pet is eligible to become a Hannah Pet and you want to move forward, you will then have to legally sell it to Hannah (for a price both you and Hannah agree to) and go through the matching process (which includes paying a Matching Fee).

If you are not a good match for your former Pet, Hannah's Lifetime Matching Program will identify that fact and you won't be matched to it (provided you are honest on the computerized tool). If the Pet is not found to be a good match for you, you will be matched with one that is - and you can accept that Pet and your former Pet will also be matched with a different Hannah Pet Parent.

If you choose to have "approval rights" as part of the sale agreement with Hannah for your former Pet, you can disapprove of Hannah's match for a new Hannah Pet Parent and have the option to repurchase your Pet for what Hannah paid you for it; the Matching Fee is not refundable if we are able to find you a good match.

If you are matched with your former Pet, you have the choice of "re-homing" it in your home with any problems we find addressed, or trying another Pet - whichever you choose. Under either scenario, you can have Hannah take any Hannah Pet back and match you with a different Pet at any time in the future - regardless of where the Pet came from. Our preferred choice is to turn your Pet into a Hannah Pet and solve all the problems with it so that, if possible, it will be a perfect match and the Pet will be in a loving home for its entire life - and you will have a stronger bond with it. This scenario is our choice because it creates the minimal amount of stress for the Pet; but, if you don't want to try that or you decide to try it and it doesn't work, you can have Hannah the Pet Society pick up the Pet and be assured that because it is a qualified Hannah Pet, Hannah will do all we can to find it a loving home where it will be happy and well cared for - and find a different Pet for you to love as well!

Why can’t Hannah just provide the service package to Pet owners instead of having to own the Pet themselves?

Our concept is predicated on lowering the costs and risks of having a Pet and making all the Pet-related decisions easier. By maintaining legal ownership of the Pet, Hannah avoids most of the cost of service-related liability (medical, grooming, diet, transportation). Also, by owning the Pet and therefore providing whatever care the Pet needs ourselves, we avoid being an insurance provider. This reduces the cost of care by a significant margin. Clearly, together these two cost avoidances significantly lower the cost of the lifetime care of the Pet. We also believe this approach will lengthen the Pet's life - and it makes having a Pet possible for people who otherwise would not have a Pet. Without these savings, the Hannah monthly Pet Support Fee would need to exceed $170 per month on average (twice the current amount). By maintaining legal ownership of the Pet, we are also able to seamlessly take the Pet back and get it into a new, loving home when the Pet Parent wants us to, or when the Pet Parent passes away and the family doesn't want the Pet anymore, without us having to take legal risks. By maintaining legal ownership, Hannah the Pet Society is able to provide the best and most appropriate care to a lost or injured Pet even before the Pet Parent can be located to authorize care - which usually takes hours, but can take days when the family is on vacation, etc. By maintaining legal ownership, Hannah the Pet Society can fulfill our obligation to the humane societies and shelters that entrust these Pets to us, that we will see that they have a good life in a loving home - and that if they ever end up in a shelter or the pound again, we will promptly retrieve them, provide all the care they need, and locate their Pet Parent as quickly as possible.

Without maintaining legal ownership, we can't do any of these things as quickly nor do them anywhere close to the same cost. A caring Pet Parent gives up very, very little by not legally owning the Pet. By letting Hannah maintain legal ownership, the Pet Parent gets lower costs of initial ownership (you don't have to purchase the Pet outright or pay an adoption fee), lower cost of care (veterinary, grooming, obedience, pickup and delivery, etc.), lower cost of various products (Pet food, leashes, toys, etc.), quicker and therefore better care in an emergency, and the ease to give the Pet back in the unlikely event you don't want it or can't take care of it anymore - with a very realistic expectation that the Pet will go to a nice new home instead of back to the pound and a very uncertain future.

Being a Hannah Pet Parent instead of a Pet owner is a new paradigm. Some people will purchase the Pet after the five-month Honeymoon Period because they can't get their head around the Hannah the Pet Society concept - and that's fine. They have a great Pet that fits into their family and the lower costs of ongoing care are not important to them. Research and our experience shows, however, that most people will embrace this new concept - and they can change their mind anytime they want to and instantly own their Pet.

What if my Hannah Pet is sick and I can’t take it to the Health and Education Center because my car broke down?

Don't worry. Your Total Lifetime Care Program may already include pick-up and delivery services. Even if it doesn't, Hannah can provide pick-up and delivery of the Pet for a small fee when you need it.

When will I have to pick up my Hannah Pet food?

You don't. Hannah delivers Pet food directly to your home. We'll call you the day before we deliver to your home and we'll remind you to leave your Pet food container outside for re-use. If you should need any Pet food prior to our normal delivery, just call us and we'll take care of it.

Since Hannah actually maintains ownership of the Pet, the legal relationship could be characterized as a “lease.” I’ve always “owned” my Pets so why is Hannah better for me and my Pet?

The Pet is yours in that you are the Pet Parent, and in our agreement we spell that all out. This arrangement lets us lower our risk so we can provide you with very high quality goods and services. We provide all the food, training, veterinary care, boarding, grooming, and everything else at a much lower cost. This arrangement removes all the inefficiencies built into a Pet health insurance model - you are the big winner. What kind of a business would we have if we took Pets from good homes like yours?! There is nothing to worry about. If you ever do get worried, you can purchase the Pet for the pre-agreed price anytime you want.

Since Hannah owns the Pet, you could take it back at anytime. Under what conditions does Hannah anticipate taking Pets back?

Only when you want us to - and this is clearly explained in a written agreement we both sign. Pets will come back to Hannah the Pet Society for various reasons, such as when the Pet Parent moves outside our service area (in which case, they can purchase the Pet and take it with them), or the Pet Parent has some other life-changing event. In these instances, we will find a new home for the Pet as quickly as possible. This process usually takes less than a week and the Pet will be in a foster home during that time if the Pet's current parent can't keep it until then. In most cases, the existing Pet Parent will keep the Pet until a new home is found. Another reason Pets may come back to Hannah is when the Pet has a medical or behavioral problem. In this instance, we will do our best to fix the problem and find a new home for the Pet. Hannah the Pet Society is highly incentivized to re-home the Pet because the cost of the Pet to Hannah - including procurement, transportation, medical care, training, etc., - has already been spent and we always have more families looking for Pets than we have Pets.

Other reasons a Pet might come back to Hannah the Pet Society include:

• The Pet Parent wants us to take the Pet back - for any reason
• The Pet Parent doesn't/won't pay for the Pet's care and we can't work anything out, and the Pet Parent gives the Pet back (they can keep the Pet if they want - we never go get the Pet)
• There is documented Pet cruelty or neglect. In extreme circumstances, when a Pet is mistakenly placed into a situation where it is treated cruelly, we will do all that we can to take the Pet back and find it a loving home. To date, this hasn't happened.
• The Pet passes away. We are legally responsible to take proper care of the remains - they are cremated unless other arrangements are made.

We will never take the Pet back for non-payment unless the Pet Parent wants us to.

What happens if a Pet is injured and the Pet Parent takes it to an emergency clinic instead of to Hannah – who pays the bill?

We have contracted with specific local emergency hospitals for care. Hannah Pet Parents who are traveling outside the local area will have an emergency number to call for medical support and we will work with the nearest good emergency hospital to coordinate care and resolve payment.

If my Hannah Pet gets run over by a truck and killed, do I have to pay for it? Can I get another Hannah Pet?

No, you don't have to pay for the Pet. If we determine that no one was at fault or if your Pet dies under normal circumstances - or we euthanize it because of medical or behavioral issues - we will, of course, find you a new Pet with no additional fee, regardless of how long you have had your Pet. This is also true if your Pet dies of natural causes.

Can people who adopt a new Pet directly from a shelter still opt-in to Hannah’s service package?

Yes, if the Pet passes Hannah's medical and behavior screening, and the shelter wants to do this on a routine basis, we are happy to put such a program in place.

What happens if a Hannah Pet gets lost and ends up at an Animal Control or Humane Society?

All Hannah dogs and cats are micro-chipped and tagged before adoption, so it is easy for animal control or shelters to contact Hannah the Pet Society. In these cases, we:

• Pick up the Pet immediately
• Take immediate care of any injuries to the Pet
• Call the Hannah Pet Parent immediately, tell you how your Pet is, and get him/her back to you
• Find out what happened so we can fix the Pet's behavior or help you come up with ways to prevent the Pet from getting lost in the future

In the Pet Parent agreement, Hannah and the Pet Parent have agreed to the purchase price of the Hannah Pet and to a monthly Pet Support Fee. Will these stay the same, or change during the life of the Pet?

The purchase price of the Pet will not change during the lifetime of the Pet. The monthly Pet Support Fee will be adjusted periodically based on inflation (CPI).

If the Hannah Pet Parent moves because of work, family, (or other reasons) outside of your service area, what happens to the Pet?

The Pet Parent will normally pay the pre-agreed Purchase Price and take the Hannah Pet with them, because it is a reasonable and fair price to purchase the Pet. In a rare circumstance, we will take the Pet back or work through a re-homing process.

What are Hannah’s placement goals?

Our placement goals at Hannah the Pet Society are to:

#1 - Prevent unnecessary euthanasia. The biggest causes of unnecessary euthanasia are inappropriate matching of Pets and people, the cost of care (i.e. food, boarding, medical, Pet supplies), affordability, and behavioral issues. Unfortunately, euthanasia cannot be entirely prevented because behavioral issues do result in dangerous situations (e.g. biting dogs, etc.), other severe behavioral conditions that are unmanageable, and painful/terminal medical conditions. However, euthanasia is often unnecessary and can be prevented by fixing the Pet's problem or its relationship/ bond and then finding it a good home where it is a good match. Hannah prevents many of the above problems and/or overcomes most if they already exist. However, there are some behavioral and medical issues that cannot be overcome. Pets with these conditions are not eligible to become a "Hannah Pet."

#2 - Place our Hannah Pets into homes that are a good match. This is where we believe the Pet will live as long and healthy a life as possible. We believe stress shortens lives and love lengthens them, so having the Pet in a loving environment as quickly as possible is also very important. On "re-homes," sometimes the best home is the one they are already in where professional coaching/training can help to re-establish or strengthen the bond.

#3 - Stop Pets from being surrendered to shelters in the first place, by providing Total Lifetime Care (TLC) and by being the place where someone who is unable to keep a Pet can go for help.

#4 - Do #1, #2 and #3 over and over as often as possible!

And, therefore, benefit more families with having a Hannah Pet in their home and benefit society with fewer homeless pets.

 

Where does Hannah get its Pets?

All Hannah Pets come from the following sources, as listed in priority order:

1. Shelters/Animal Control - because these animals are most likely to be euthanized the soonest. 2. Humane Societies - Both "No Kill" and ones that euthanize for medical or behavior reasons. 3. Rescue/Non-Profit Groups - often have limited resources and need Pets placed in loving homes quickly so they can rescue or foster more. 4. Re-homing/families that already have Pets - this includes families that 1) must give it away or sell it (moving, landlord issues, family issues, an unexpected litter, too many Pets, cost issues, etc.); 2) want to sell or give it away (due to mismatch, unsuitability, lifestyle change, inconvenience, too many Pets, puppies they can't handle, etc.); 3) are strongly considering giving it away or selling it (mismatch, behavior issue, medical issue, 4lifestyle, cost, broken bond, etc.); 4) are considering giving it away or selling it because the bond is breaking (less severe mismatch, less severe lifestyle issue, afraid of future cost, other issues), or 5) families that love their Pet but need a more affordable way to get it the care it needs - we have found that some of these myriad scenarios may still be a salvageable relationship if we can solve the problem that is breaking "the bond" - AVMA research shows that once "the bond" is broken, Pets received much less care in all categories. These Pets are no longer getting the best veterinary care to maximize their lives (if they ever were).

Note: Puppy Mills, otherwise known as "breeders" or breeder businesses that raise many litters per year, are never knowingly used by Hannah as a source of Pets. "Back Yard Breeders" are small puppy mills that raise a few litters per year in kennels and cages - these are also never knowingly used by Hannah as a source of Pets. Despite our best efforts, we can't always tell what the initial source of a Pet is. According to some, many dogs from puppy mills end up in shelters - we get dogs from shelters, so we may have dogs from puppy mills. However, all the pets we place are mentally and physically healthy, and all are pre-screened for the desired behavior characteristics. We pledge to care for them for life, regardless of their initial source - and we make that official in a written guarantee.

What sources does Hannah use to get Pets and what is the priority?

Hannah carefully screens and then matches Pets, primarily from not-for-profit animal welfare organizations, with their ideal families. We also receive Pets from individual families that can no longer care for the Pet, have too many Pets, are moving, or have some other reason they can't keep the Pet but want it to have the best new home possible. Many of these families don't want to surrender their Pet to a shelter/non-profit where they can't be assured the Pet will be matched to a great home and cared for for life.

Hannah is a terrific source for Pet lovers who are thinking about adopting a Pet. Our goal is to find a family for every Pet and a Pet for every family. To do that, we partner with a number of shelters/non-profits, humane societies, rescue groups, foster homes, and families that have Pets looking for new homes.

Which not-for-profit animal welfare organizations do you work with? We'd like to contact them and ask about their working relationship with Hannah

We currently partner with many animal shelters, humane societies, rescue/non-profit groups and other animal welfare organizations, and we share many common goals for finding responsible Pet parents. Privacy laws and our agreements with them prohibit us from releasing a complete list; however, we have a list of some local organizations that have given us permission to release their contact information.

We're fortunate to work with such terrific people who share our commitment to Pets, and we're proud of the work we do together. A very significant portion of the groups we work with don't admit their partnership with Hannah publicly for a host of reasons and we support whatever decision they make in that regard.

In Portland, for example, Hannah has re-homed more than 100 rescued Pets from Columbia Humane Society, which has opened up space to save 100 more lives. According to Lisa Beggio at CHS, Pets that have been re-homed through Hannah receive significantly better care than the other Pets that Columbia re-homes because Hannah covers nutritional needs, veterinary care, and training for life. Contact: Lisa Beggio, Columbia Humane Society.

Why is the name of the organization “Hannah the Pet Society” – doesn’t this cause confusion for the public with the term “humane society?”

Hannah the Pet Society finds its roots in rural Oregon. Dr. Scott Campbell is the founder. Dr. Campbell's mother's first name was Johannah, but her close friends and family shortened her name to "Hannah." Hannah was a dedicated nurse who also cared for every lost or stray, hurt or sick, large or small, wild or domestic animal that crossed her path. She always found a way to help even when things looked impossible. She understood the importance of proper Pet care and went to great lengths to instill that knowledge, belief and behavior in everyone she met. Because of her example, her eldest son started caring for Pets and injured wild things at a very young age and had decided to become a veterinarian by the time he was seven. That devotion to his mother's high ideals inspired Dr. Campbell to create the largest and most caring veterinary practice in the world. This is the reason he has created "Hannah the Pet Society" in honor of his mom!

Dr. Campbell asked his friends and family to join him in the effort to create a "group" or "society." As Dr. Campbell generally does, he tested this and other names with consumers and the name "Hannah the Pet Society" was found to be the best and most appropriate name from the dozens of names tested. Consumers did not confuse Hannah the Pet Society with "humane society" in any of the extensive market research tests.

Why wouldn’t a shelter or non-profit want to say they are adopting Pets to Hannah?

Pet adoption - even among the folks at the organizations that do it, is sometimes very emotional and very political. We stay out of that and focus on what is good for Pets - a good match in a good home for life.

I hear there are shelters or non-profits that won’t work with you. They say that you work with breeders and that you make yourself look like a shelter.

That's simply not true. We are extremely happy to be working with a large network of local shelters, rescue and non-profit groups and foster families, as well as many others that are not local. And we welcome any and all responsible shelters and non-profits as our partners. We have declined to work with some shelters or groups for various reasons (sorry, but we cannot release a list of those names either). Some shelters don't adopt through Hannah because they can already find homes for all the Pets they take in. We wish all shelters could do that, but unfortunately they can't - hence, Hannah. Hannah also doesn't have a shelter and we don't warehouse Pets; we do match Pets from existing shelters, humane societies, rescue/non-profit groups, foster homes and families, to families that qualify through our Matching Program.

We also respect that when it comes to Pets, it is a highly emotional arena. We do adopt Pets from shelters and nonprofits that say they don't adopt to us - we do not release these names, but trust in their judgment that this is a good decision for them. Many people have very different views and opinions on the way things must be done... maybe because that's just the way they've always been done.

We believe Hannah stands for something new... meeting a real consumer need, protecting the consumer, promoting socially responsible Pet parenting, and making lifetime care of a Pet affordable and worry-free for as many families as possible.

Incidentally, before opening Hannah, the Hannah Founders met with a large group of shelter operators, national and local humane societies and animal welfare organizations and used their advice to develop a model that supports their efforts.

If a local shelter cannot fill the need for a particular Pet, what is Hannah’s next course of action?

Hannah the Pet Society works with local shelters/non-profits, then regional shelters/non-profits, then with shelters/ non-profits around the country to find the right Pet. This is a common practice for shelters/non-profits with adoptable Pets to move Pets from one area to another if there are opportunities to place that Pet. We would also look at families that are trying to find a home for a Pet they can't keep.

Why won’t people interested in adopting a new Pet go directly to a shelter or non-profit rather than go to Hannah the Pet Society?

Many do! And Hannah is just another choice with a couple of advantages for potential Pet Parents.

First, location and convenience. Hannah the Pet Society's Placement Center locations afford convenience in a comfortable, casual environment when potential Pet Parents are seeking a Pet. We expect people will come in who might otherwise be intimidated by common perceptions of the shelter experience, or otherwise deterred by the location of the shelters in their area.

Second, a Hannah Pet will have been evaluated and screened to our standards to ensure good behavior and health.

Third is Hannah's guarantee for a harmonious Pet match and predictable costs - and we'll take the Pet back if it doesn't work out and even find you another Pet.

Why do people lease a Pet from Hannah instead of just adopting it from the shelter?

Some do! But there are many reasons that people don't adopt a Pet or don't get another Pet. Those include not knowing which kind to get; not being able to find what they want; fear about unexpected veterinary bills or high costs in general. Hannah takes on all the risk, lowers the cost to about half what you would otherwise pay, and then delivers all the food, medication, and even your new leash to your door at no additional charge. It really works for most people, but if you don't like it, you can simply purchase the Pet at the fair price you agreed to in the beginning, at any time you want!

How many people purchase their Pet from Hannah?

We don't release statistics because they change so often at this early stage in our organization; however, we can release this one because it has been very steady: almost no one - far less than 1 percent purchase the Pet from Hannah.

How many people bring their Pet back to Hannah after a short time and get a new one – isn’t this hard on the Pet to jump from home to home?

First, our matching software really works, so failures are pretty rare - less than 1 in 20. Second, yes, it is hard on a Pet to go from home to home, but it's better than the Pet staying in a less-than-perfectly matched home. On the rare occasion it turns out not to be a good match, the processes in our Honeymoon program let us figure that out very quickly so we can make it better for the Pet Parent and the Pet. Remember, our goal at Hannah is a good Pet in a good home for life - we're not in the business of providing temporary Pets.

Why would a shelter/non-profit, humane society or rescue group want to provide a Pet to Hannah?

For a whole bunch of important reasons. We hope the biggest reason is that if the Pet is accepted into our program, we promise to match it to a new home and to take care of it for life - like all Hannah Pets. We also promise them that if it doesn't work out with the first Pet Parent, or the Pet somehow gets back in a shelter somewhere, we will retrieve it and get it into a loving home - in other words, they don't have to worry about ever getting the Pet back (a big problem for shelters, societies and rescues). Another reason is that we donate an adoption fee to them for all Pets they provide to us (usually they charge more for purebreds, more for house broken adult dogs, etc.) and we provide them a monthly donation for as long as the Pet is a Hannah Pet - almost always for life. The amount of this monthly donation varies because Hannah donates $5 per month and we encourage the new Pet Parent to donate to the source organization as well, so this donation varies from $5 up to $50 per month. As an example, when a shelter/ non-profit, humane society or rescue group provides us with a Pet, they receive an adoption fee of $50-$500 and a monthly donation of $5-$50. For a dog that lives, say, 12 years, they will receive somewhere between $770-$6,260 to support their programs - and with no risk of a returned Pet. That's a real win/win/win!

Why would an “individual family” want to provide a Pet to Hannah?

The biggest reason is that if the Pet is accepted by Hannah, we promise to match the Pet to a new family and to take care of it for life, like all Hannah Pets. We also make a token payment for the Pet, which helps defray some of their costs. Another big benefit for the family providing their Pet to us is that we will let them approve or disapprove the new Pet Parent once we find them - a lot of people like that option. Also, if it is accepted as a Hannah Pet, we won't ever euthanize the Pet, and we promise a veterinarian will provide all the care it needs at no additional cost to the new Pet Parent. Most shelters or humane societies/non-profits don't provide these assurances.

Why do you pay independent families for Pets?

Shelters, humane societies and rescue groups all generally require an adoption fee or some other kind of fee. When we get a Pet from them, we also provide them with a monthly donation. We think it is only fair to pay for the Pets provided by families because they are often better Pets (they haven't been through the trauma and disease exposure of a shelter), and because we legally need a bill of sale to prove we own the Pet. In this way, we can place it with a family without someone coming back to us and wanting the Pet back after a new Pet Parent has fallen in love with it. Interestingly, our research shows this encourages people who don't want their Pet to surrender it to Hannah sooner instead of doing nothing and neglecting the Pet until it develops health or behavioral issues.

Why does Hannah think they will have more success than local shelters in placing available Pets?

We don't. We are not competing with any shelter. We do look at Hannah as helping to solve the Pet overpopulation problem that shelters complain about, and we're working with them to solve it. We believe Hannah is creating more demand for Pets - getting people who wouldn't have owned a Pet to get one; getting people who would have surrendered a Pet to keep it; and getting people who already have a Pet to get another one. Hannah the Pet Society is located in high volume, easy-to-access retail areas, so it is easy for people to stop by and learn about having a Pet in their home. Our team members are trained to work with people interested in having a Pet and, most important, they provide a range of options. Hannah the Pet Society also provides placement and training services, which should give people even more confidence about moving forward with a Pet. We don't discriminate against Pets due to their origin or source - we love them all.

If a shelter Pet is identified as a possible “match” for a potential Hannah Pet Parent, will the shelter be required to “hold” the Pet – and for how long?

Hannah the Pet Society has different arrangements with each shelter, depending upon that shelter's procedures for handling the Pets in their care. It's possible that a 1-2 day hold might be required, with reimbursement to the shelter, to ensure the Pet remains available during the time that a new Pet Parent is deciding on the match with their Hannah Placement Counselor.

How will the purchase price that Hannah pays the shelter for the Pet be determined?

It is agreed upon upfront between Hannah the Pet Society and the individual shelter. Our business model assumes that we will pay the same adoption fee as the shelter would charge to a non-Hannah Pet Parent - plus we will provide an ongoing monthly donation. The benefit to the shelter is increased placements, reduced euthanasia, and increased revenues as a result of their relationship with Hannah the Pet Society.

How will the purchase price that Hannah charges the Pet Parent be determined?

The purchase price for the Pet will be pre-determined upfront as part of the agreement between the Pet Parent and Hannah the Pet Society, and will be based on the total cost to Hannah for the Pet, less any fees received that directly offset such costs. In most cases, the purchase price is less than a family would have spent for a similar Pet.

Hannah’s behavior standards for a “good” Pet may be different than the shelter’s evaluation. How is this reconciled?

Hannah the Pet Society's behavior standards are intended to ensure that a Pet has a high likelihood of longevity in a family setting. A standard definition of good doesn't currently exist and should be based on the goals of the organization.

Will the shelter perform the spay/neuter and micro-chipping, or will Hannah?

It can be done by either. Hannah the Pet Society has clinical facilities to support spay/neuter and microchipping, so we are able to have agreements with shelters that are flexible to determine which is best in each situation.

Most shelters animals have kennel cough– who will be responsible for cleaning up pre-existing conditions in the Pet to be adopted – Hannah or the shelter?

Once a Pet has been placed, Hannah the Pet Society is responsible for all medical care. All Pets that will be placed first need to pass a medical and behavior examination and, as such, some Pets with serious illness may not be able to be placed by Hannah until their condition is resolved.

How are Pets transferred between the source shelter and Hannah the Pet Society?

Depending on the agreement with the shelter, the shelter may bring the Pet to Hannah the Pet Society or Hannah may pick up the Pet at the shelter. Hannah is currently using climate-controlled vans fitted with kennels for Pet transport.

Will Hannah have Pets available for placement in their retail locations for potential Pet Parents to choose from?

Pets are not available at our retail locations. It is the role of our Placement Centers to educate potential Pet Parents about lifetime Pet care and determine the best match for their family. Potential Pet Parents will be able to view potential matches after the matching process is complete via a web-based propriety computer system, but no Pets will be available for placement in the Placement Centers. While Hannah does sponsor frequent adoption events (at which rescue and shelter/non-profit groups participate and frequently show available Pets), the Hannah matching process is still required and no Pet is planned to be placed during these events.

We’ve heard if people adopt from you, they’re forced to sign up for your monthly health program. Is this true?

First of all, Hannah is not a pet adoption agency and as such, we don't adopt out any Pets like a shelter may. And, we certainly don't force anyone to do something they don't want to do. Hannah is a new approach to Pet parenthood that we believe is more socially responsible, affordable and worry-free. All Hannah Pet Parents pay a monthly Pet Support Fee that covers many, many more things than just health care. Hannah is a Pet and Pet lover Society. We exist to help provide strong, happy, lifelong relationships between people and Pets. We do that by:

• Screening and matching Pets with ideal families
• Once a good match is found, and a Pet is placed and a Member enrolled, the Hannah Pet receives ALL customized Pet food, behavior training classes, education/support, veterinary care, emergency care - for life. All for a monthly fee. But a purchase price for the Pet is also set at that time, which can be exercised by the Pet Parent at any time after the Honeymoon Period (a 5-month initial socialization and bonding period) is over. Until that Pet is purchased from Hannah, Hannah continues to own it.

PLUS, if -- for any reason -- a Pet Parent can no longer keep the Hannah Pet in their home (e.g., moving, illness, injury), Hannah will find the Pet a loving home with another family.

Isn't this just Pet leasing?

The Hannah concept is based on lowering the costs and risks of having a Pet and making all of the decisions related to the Pet easier. Legally it is a lease, but actually you are the Pet Parent. By maintaining legal ownership of the Pet, Hannah reduces the cost of service-related liability (associated with medical care, grooming, diet, transportation and so forth). Also, by owning the Pet and providing whatever medical care the Pet needs ourselves, we avoid the extra cost of pet insurance. We believe this allows us to reduce the lifetime cost of Pet care by about 50 percent. The cost of taking care of a Pet is a common reason for relinquishment of Pets to shelters.

As an alternative to the leasing business model, why doesn’t Hannah simply purchase Pet insurance for each Hannah Pet?

Because Pet insurance generally costs too much and covers too little. While at Banfield, our Hannah leadership team was deeply involved in evaluating Pet insurance and even building a Pet insurance company from the ground up. We found that Pet insurance simply doesn't work for a multitude of reasons - and it is one of the many reasons we came up with a new and better idea -Hannah the Pet Society!

Could the leasing aspect interfere with the family Pet bond?

No. We believe the Family-Pet Bond is a function of quality time spent between Pet and Human in positive ways, not a function of who technically owns the Pet. In fact, there's a growing movement in many states to recognize people with Pets as guardians (to their Pet), not owners. This is to benefit the Pet by making it more than just personal property or a possession. For example, a high percentage of show horses are technically leased and when we interviewed folks, many of the people who leased their horses loved them just as much or more than the technical owners. We don't own our children, but we still love them. Maybe it's actually the other way around - if you don't own them, it's easier to love them!

Since people are legally leasing the Pet from Hannah and can give it back whenever they want to, doesn’t that show that they love them less?

No. In fact, Hannah addresses all the problems that could come between a Pet and their Pet Parent, such as bad behavior, unexpected costs, irritating habits, cleanliness and so forth - the bond between the Hannah Pet and their Pet Parents is at least as strong as any other relationship. Though it legally is a lease with a low monthly fee, Hannah Pet Parents don't think about their Pet as leased - ownership just doesn't come up as an issue (once they understand the Hannah concept). After all, do you own your kids? Wouldn't you like this deal for them? Somebody to pay for their food and health care, education, take care of behavior problems, bathe them and find them a new home if you wanted (only kidding!). Look at it another way, when you think about the Pet you do own, do you think, I love Rex because I own him, or do you think, I love Rex? Regardless, if it's that important to a Hannah Pet Parent toown their Hannah Pet, they can always purchase the Pet after the Honeymoon program ends.

How many pets have you leased out?

We do not release statistics on how many Hannah Pets there are, what the species mix is, how old they are, or how many come from what source. Because we are such a young concept, these numbers change every day. Someday, when we really know and understand the answers, we may release that information so others can use it to help Pets. What we can tell you today is that placements are generally up every week; in our most successful week, we placed 80 Pets (but we're hoping for more this week!). Many families that thought they wanted a purebred puppy discovered they matched better with a mature cat or even a rabbit - and they love it!

Why can’t Hannah continue to provide care to a Pet if the owner wants to own it – even if they’re willing to pay the purchase price and continue the same monthly support fees?

Because we can't. That's just not what we do. Our whole concept is predicated on keeping things simple and removing excess costs. If you "own" the Pet, by law we would have to qualify as an insurance company, would have to get your written permission to provide any care even in a life-or-death emergency, would have to keep a copy of that permission for five-years beyond the life of the Pet, and so on. Having two separate systems would double our costs, so we have decided to do what we believe 95+ percent of our future members want - and hope that the others will try. We know that we are a stronger organization when we serve the best interests of our Hannah Pets and Hannah Pet Parents - even if that means a few will opt to "own" the Pet and leave.

What Pets can be "re-homed"?

Any Pet (i.e. dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig) that passes Hannah's regular medical and behavioral examinations can be re-homed. Once approved by Hannah to be a Hannah Pet, the Pet is subsequently purchased by Hannah the Pet Society and is matched to their original owners or another Hannah Pet Parent as a good match.

What if one of your customers wants a purebred dog/puppy?

Hannah's first goal is to ensure that a Pet Parent will be matched with the right Pet. If a purebred dog is desired and that specific breed is a good match for the Pet Parent, then we have several options:

• We will search the many shelters, humane societies, rescue/non-profit groups, foster homes and families that we know. Sometimes we will even go as far as calling families who are advertising online or elsewhere that they are looking for a home for their Pet. If we can find the specific breed, that Pet and at least two other good choices (3 in total) for that family will be presented as choices. Note: Many people come in wanting a specific species (i.e. dog) or breed (e.g. Lab) or age (i.e. puppy), and end up going home with an older, long-haired cat - and love it; please keep an open mind!
• If a Pet of that specific breed isn't available at any animal shelter, humane society, rescue/non-profit group, foster home or family, we will also search online with other not-for-profit animal welfare organizations anywhere in the country - even those that we do not have current agreements with.
• On their own, a Pet Parent may purchase a dog from a breeder of their choice and, provided the Pet qualifies as a Hannah Pet, they can become a Member, sell the Pet to us and participate in Hannah's Total Lifetime Care (TLC) program - but only if the Pet Parent and the Pet pass all the tests and are a good match according to our matching software.

If a potential Pet Parent wants a particular breed that cannot be located in a shelter, will Hannah go to breeders or a puppy mill?

No; Hannah the Pet Society will work with each potential Pet Parent to determine the right Pet for their goals and lifestyle. If a potential Pet Parent insists on a purebred and one is not available from a local shelter but is an appropriate match, then we will expand our search to the many sources above. We source Pets only from non-profits and families - not from breeders/puppy mills. We understand the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and American Humane Association are working on Breeder Certification programs. If there is a Breeder Certification program in the future that Hannah's management agrees with, we may choose to get Pets there.

How can I know where my puppy or dog comes from?

Hannah Pets come from not-for-profit animal welfare organizations and families. Many times we simply don't know where the pet originally came from because the shelter does not know. In the case of an individual, the Pet may be the result of an accidental mating, a stray, a rescue, a hardship situation, or any number of other situations that we have previously discussed. We have made it a policy not to release the source of any particular Pet or Pet demographic statistics because we often don't know the initial source and because of privacy laws that often prevent us from finding out. Often, the shelter we got the Pet from doesn't even want their name released. So, to be safe, our policy is to never release names. It doesn't really matter anyway because what we can tell you is that the Pet has passed the health and behavior testing and we will take care of the Pet for his or her entire life - and the Pet Parent's only financial responsibility is the monthly Pet Support Fee, which we believe is less than half of what you would otherwise pay.

Why wouldn’t a shelter that is working with Hannah want their name released?

Some do and many don't. Some have told us that it is for political reasons within their shelter or with other shelters; some have said that they don't want the new Pet Parent coming to them with questions. We don't think it matters because we guarantee and stand behind every Hannah Pet!

We've been told that Hannah is a Pet store that sells puppies from breedesr/puppy mills. Is this true?

No. Hannah is not a puppy store, not a Pet store, not a shelter and not a purchaser of puppies directly from breeders/puppy mills. We do not sell Pets as a business. The objective of Hannah is to provide a Pet Matching service and Total Lifetime Care. A very small number of Hannah Pet Parents choose to buy their Hannah Pet from us after the 5 month Honeymoon Period because of a change in their personal circumstances – for example, moving out of town. Any Hannah Pet Parent has the option of purchasing their Hannah Pet anytime, although the majority never does.

How would it be possible for you to place so many Pets each week and not get Pets from puppy mills?

• First, we place far fewer Pets than Oregon Humane Society - they are the gold standard for stopping euthanasia.
• Second, we do not obtain Pets directly from puppy mills and never have; however, we simply don't know the primary source of most of the Pets we get from shelters, rescues and humane societies - so some probably do come from that source initially, but that's not where we obtained them.
• Third, no Pet ever leaves the Hannah system without being spayed or neutered and micro-chipped.

Hannah works hard to find healthy, well socialized Pets from the same places that most people look for Pets today. These include animal shelters or humane societies, rescue/non-profit groups, and families and friends who have Pets. In fact, as everyone knows, some Pets are the result of accidental mating and we never really know where they come from or who their parents are. And of course, we all know someone whose cat just had a litter of kittens and they don't know what to do with them. Like some of the humane societies, we can find foster homes where kittens and puppies can be nurtured and then placed in permanent homes with a great match.

Hannah provides a tremendous service for people who are looking for someone to take a Pet they have rescued or can't keep. Our goal is to provide the very best service possible for those people who want to become Pet Parents - and stay good Pet Parents.

These future Pet Parents utilize our special Pet Matching program so we can help advise them on the ideal individual Pet that best matches their lifestyle, based on knowledge about their family situation.

We help locate an appropriate Pet for them based on all of the information that we can gather. We search for a Pet that has been medically pre-screened and possesses good socialization characteristics and the ability to be trained. In fact, behavior training is a key service component of Hannah. If the Pet Parent is not happy with the Pet for any reason, Hannah will gladly accept the Pet back and re-home the Pet with an appropriate Pet Parent with as little stress to the Pet as possible.

If there are so many dogs and Pets in shelters, many being euthanized, how can you justify working with breeders?

We don't work with any breeder businesses/puppy mills. At Hannah, we share a concern for Pets in shelters (many of which may well have come from puppy mills originally); we are also very proud of the numerous ways we help shelters and our rescue/non-profit partners:

• Help increase the number of Pets saved;
• Highly visible Placement Centers and trained professionals help promote and re-home rescued Pets, and they provide Pet behavior counseling;
• Provide necessary funding through adoption fees and residual donations;
• Once a Pet is part of Hannah, we take lifetime responsibility for the Pet so that the Pet will never end up in a shelter again;
• Pets may be relinquished directly to us - we don't charge people to relinquish, as some shelters do. (According to the ASPCA, Pets that enter shelters are about evenly divided between Pets picked up by animal control and those relinquished by owners)

At the same time, like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and American Humane Association, we believe socially responsible and humane breeding is possible - and once Pet breeders have been certified, we may reexamine our current ban on breeders.

For those rescued Pets that do not pass Hannah's Pet Aptitude Test, we provide residual donations to shelters to help cover the cost of their rehabilitation and make training and behavior modification resources available at no charge to the shelter.

Why did you decide to change your policy to work with certified breeders?

We haven't made a "policy" change; we have made a "wording" change so that our policy is completely clear to the public. We do not get any Pets from breeders/puppy mills and as of yet there are no "certified breeders." We need to place healthy Pets for our program to work, so in all actuality, we would rather avoid both purebreds and puppies. Having said that, at Hannah, we believe there's an ideal family for every Pet and an ideal Pet for every family. We also know that, in some cases, people want a specific breed and that may be the best match for them. So we are looking forward to the work that American Humane Association and HSUS are doing to certify breeders, but we can't make any decisions about whether we would work with their certified breeders until we understand the certification process and see how it works.

Our policy has always been to start our search and matching process with shelters, then humane societies, then rescue/non-profit groups, then foster homes and families. In fact, Hannah directly addresses the top reasons why Pets are relinquished to shelters in the first place, according to the National Council on Pet Population, Study and Policy (petpopulation.org) - the cost of Pet care and behavioral issues. The only Pets we have gotten from breeders are those that have come to us from shelters and humane societies - we usually don't know the Pet's original source - and we do not release what the source may be as a matter of policy, because it doesn't matter and because shelters often don't want us to release their name.

That's why our policy at Hannah is to screen and match Pets - whether they are purebred or mixed breed (which can also be hard to tell)� from not-for-profit animal welfare organizations or families looking for homes for their Pets, throughout the country.

How will Hannah evaluate breeders and what will the standards be for those breeders Hannah works with?

At present, Hannah the Pet Society does not get Pets from breeders/puppy mills. HSUS and American Humane Association are developing certified breeder programs, but we haven't seen them so we don't know whether we will use these as a source in the future.

What if I want a Golden Retriever (I’ve had four and have loved them all) and Hannah determines that isn’t the best breed for me or just can’t find one?

If you have had four Golden Retrievers and successfully cared for them, it is unlikely that the match process would result in exclusion of Golden Retrievers. Hannah the Pet Society is committed to finding you the best species/breed for you despite your Pet history - and you get a five-month trial of your Pet (the Honeymoon Period). If we agree that a Golden Retriever is the best breed for you and just can't find one, we might propose a mixed breed that's mostly Golden Retriever. However, it is possible that Hannah may not be able to find a Pet for some potential Pet Parents, or that a person may have such a specific Pet need that Hannah cannot fill it within the 3 month period (or as long as someone requests us to do so). We are willing to work with potential Pet Parents for extended periods of time to try to find the right match, and, in cases like these, we work with the potential Pet Parent to lengthen the search time at their option. In the end, if we can't find a suitable Pet for you, we will give you your money back.

Why does Hannah place so many cats – is there an advantage to Hannah by doing so?

In many situations, a cat may be a better Pet choice for a family than a dog. This is best determined after a thorough interview of the family and determining what will work best with their lifestyle. Many families haven't given a lot of thought about other Pet species besides dogs. This is a great opportunity to help educate new Pet Parents about the many options available to them. The only advantage to Hannah is another happy Pet in a great family. In fact, many families are delighted to discover that rabbits and guinea pigs can make great Pets, too - especially for families with young children who are learning about responsibilities and caring for Pets.

How does Hannah go about focusing on cat placements, since so many more cats than dogs are put to sleep in shelters?

We believe often times that, lacking good assistance or expertise, people are naturally inclined toward dogs when they might in fact do better with a cat. The Hannah placement counseling and matching process can help find this out. We often find out that a cat placement is a better match. We have incorporated many brainstorming ideas regarding cats that were generated from our national Shelter Leaders Summit held in Denver, CO.

If Hannah determines that a cat would be the best match for the family but they continue to insist on a dog, will Hannah match them with a dog?

If during the matching process it is determined that a dog will not work well in the current home environment, we will not make a dog placement. If a cat or other species would work in the same home environment, then we would encourage the family to consider the placement.

I love cats and every one I have had loves to go outside – but many seem to get lost. If I adopt a Hannah cat, can it go outside?

First of all, Hannah is not an adoption agency as we have explained. Our Pet care guidelines specify cats that stay indoors are likely to be healthier and live longer. The reality is that cats do on occasion escape outside, and we want to help Pet Parents understand that keeping the cat indoors will result in a healthier Pet. We also provide education on ways for cats to play and exercise while indoors to minimize the desire to escape. But most important, all Hannah Pets are micro-chipped and licensed as a part of the Hannah Total Lifetime Care Plan. This provides assurance for Hannah Pet Parents that if their Pet is lost or stolen, we have the processes in place so that authorities can identify the Pet, and we can get the Pet back to their family as soon as possible.

What keeps a Hannah Pet Parent from dropping off a Pet they no longer want at a shelter?

Hannah the Pet Society makes it easy to return a Pet that's no longer wanted - just call us and we'll pick up the Hannah Pet from the home within 8 hours or the Pet Parent can simply bring the Hannah Pet to a Health & Education Center. However, the shelter will contact us if a Hannah Pet Parent attempts to leave a Hannah Pet at the shelter because the microchip under its skin tells them we are the owner. All Hannah Pets are micro-chipped and tagged so the Pet is returned to Hannah immediately.

If a match doesn’t work, a Pet Parent can have Hannah pick up the Pet within eight hours – and then get another one. How are you going to address misuse of this option?

By our agreement, turning your Pet in and getting another one can only happen three times unless we agree otherwise. Our matching process is very reliable and gets more reliable every day, and the mathematical odds of getting three "wrong" Pets for people who are truthful during the matching process are extremely low. So far, in our experience, no one has "abused" this option.

Where is a Hannah Pet housed that is returned for any reason until it can be re-homed? What if it takes several weeks to find that new home?

Hannah has facilities that include housing for Pets and a bunch of people who love to play with them, plus Hannah has a network of foster families who offer interim homes for Pets. It usually takes us less than a week to find a great family that matches the Pet.

I am in the military and really want to get a Hannah Pet; however, I worry about being deployed overseas and I might not be able to take my Pet. Could I leave it with my brother for the two years I might be gone?

Could I leave it with my brother for the two years I might be gone? Arrangements can be made for Pets to stay with family members or extended family members. We want to do everything we can to ensure the Pet gets the best possible continuity of care.

My boyfriend and I are getting married and would like to become Hannah Pet Parents as soon as we move into our new house. Suppose we get divorced someday, what will happen to our Pet?

Hannah works with our Pet Parents as they resolve rights and responsibilities such as in the case of a divorce. Ultimately, a court may make this determination and of course we will abide by that. Hannah will not take sides and will respond to the family's agreement or the court's decision. We will, however, waive the Placement Fee on a new Pet for one of you, if the non-custodial Pet Parent wants a Pet.

How will Hannah address people that may only want kittens?

We won't, because kittens grow up to be adult cats rather quickly. We will place kittens if the Pet Parent wants them for the cat's whole life. However, we expect to place primarily adult cats because it is easier to evaluate their personality when they are mature. We hope that people who only want to have kittens will be a foster home for us or for a shelter partner.

If your customer misses a couple of payments, are you going to repossess the Pet?

No. We work with the Hannah Pet Parent to first determine why the missed payments occurred, and then together we work on a resolution to the problem. If the stop payment occurs because the member has fallen on hard times (our initial interview includes a rudimentary credit worthiness assessment), then we have various tools to work with the member - including completely waiving their payments for a time - to do our best to keep the Pet with the family. In an absolutely worst case scenario where a member refuses to pay, won't talk to us, or skips town with the Pet, we have a legal contract and will send them to our collection agency for the previously agreed upon price of the Pet - but only as a last resort. And we never repossess the Pet.

How will Hannah handle Hannah Pet Parents who stop paying their monthly Pet Support Fee?

First, we maintain very good relationships with our Pet Parents, with lots of touch points and many ways for us to assess their happiness with Hannah the Pet Society, so we don't expect this to happen very often. If it does, the issue is rapidly elevated and we will solve the problem. If the stop payment of monthly Pet Support Fees occurs because the Pet Parent has changed banks or credit card companies, we simply update the payment information. If the stop payment occurs because the Pet Parent has fallen on hard times (our initial interview includes a rudimentary credit worthiness assessment), then we have various tools to work with the member - including completely waiving their payments for a time - to do our best to keep the Pet with the family. In an absolutely worst case scenario where a Pet Parent refuses to pay, won't talk to us, or skips town with the Pet, we have a legal contract and will send them to our collection agency for the previously agreed upon price of the Pet and whatever else they owe us - but only as a last resort.

I’ve had Pets for many years and have always fed my dogs Science Diet with great results. All of my Labs have lived to be at least 10 years old. I love the Hannah concept but really want to purchase the Science Diet myself for my Pet. I’ll even pay the same monthly payment – is that okay?

Our Hannah veterinarians determine what food is scientifically best for your Pet to make it the healthiest, happiest and longest lived Pet that we can. The Pet needs to be fed that food for its own health and longevity. The food might be Science Diet or the equivalent if the Pet has a special dietary need such as liver or kidney disease. If the Pet is healthy, then Hannah has various super premium natural foods that will be selected for that Pet after blood work and a physical exam. Today, hundreds of Pet food brands are available, which makes it difficult for many Pet parents to decide what is best. It is not uncommon for the most expensive food to not be the best quality. Hannah uses the latest research to ensure the Pet gets the absolute best nutrition and changes the diet as needed based on the Pet's blood work, age or illness.

It’s great that your Pet Aptitude Test (PAT) evaluates shelter Pets for behavior, but what about health measures? What will Hannah’s health and wellness evaluations cover?

Hannah the Pet Society conducts a medical screen to ensure that the Pet is in good health. This includes a physical exam and important laboratory tests. Hannah often provides medical treatments as needed prior to placement.

If a shelter is already using a behavior/temperament test in-house that works for them, will Hannah also insist on separate administration of the PAT?

Hannah the Pet Society's Pet Aptitude Test (PAT) is focused on helping to determine if a Pet will work in a family environment. It may be similar or a nice complement to any temperament testing currently being done by the shelter, but the PAT isn't intended to replace current temperament testing done by shelters. If a shelter isn't using a behavior screening tool, then Hannah can provide the PAT and training at no charge.

How will Hannah ensure that the Pet is being cared for properly in the new home?

All Pets that are to be placed will have a standardized education program, determined by species. This education is delivered in several ways to make it easy and convenient for new Pet Parents, including classroom settings, email and the web. We also have regular communication with Pet Parents via care calls to make sure they have the support they need to be successful. By having a high level of communication, we can ensure that Hannah Pet Parents have everything they need to provide great care to their Pets. Regular veterinary exams and preventive care visits - all included in the monthly Pet Support Fee - also help ensure the Pet has a great quality of life.

How will Hannah ensure that the Pet receives the required minimum veterinary care?

The monthly Pet Support Fee includes all the costs of veterinary care, so the most common barrier to care - an unexpected expense - has been removed. The medical record system, just like in most veterinary hospitals, provides reminders to the medical team and Pet Parents of routine care that is needed.

I have gone to the same veterinarian for over 30 years and have a wonderful relationship with him because he’s just a great vet – why can’t I take my new Hannah Pet to him?

You can, because one of the options with Hannah the Pet Society is that the Pet Parent can purchase the Pet at any time - at their option. If you choose the total care package, however, then Hannah must have the freedom to provide the care we believe is necessary and appropriate, since we assume lifetime responsibility for the health of the Pet.

Is Hannah going to elect to put the Pet to sleep instead of treating it?

Of course not, unless that is the most appropriate and caring thing to do for the Pet as decided together by the Pet Parent and the Pet's doctor. Some therapies that may be appropriate for humans, we believe, are simply not appropriate for Pets. A human may be able to tolerate being in bed for two years, heavily sedated and with tubes going in and out of their body. Pets don't do well on that kind of therapy and it is not a good quality of life (for them or their Pet Parent family). However, if that kind of therapy (extensive IVs, etc.) is likely only for a few days or a week or so, and the Pet is likely to get back to a decent quality of life and can return home, then we are likely to recommend treatment - if that's okay with the Pet Parent, and maybe even if it's not. In the unlikely event that the Pet's doctor, in their best medical opinion, has determined that the Pet has only a short time to live and the Pet Parent wants to "own" the Pet during its end of life - even if that is to seek other medical opinions or therapies - then Hannah the Pet Society will gift the Pet to the Pet Parent and waive the agreed upon Purchase Price; however, this is generally a non-reversible decision. Hannah can only be successful if Pet Parents are happy and their Pets live the longest, healthiest and happiest lives possible.

If a Hannah Pet is involved in a biting incident or some other dangerous behavior, who has the liability –Hannah? Or the Pet Parent?

It works the same way as if you were to get in an accident with a car - you are responsible/liable, despite whether you own the car, lease it or borrow it. Our responsibility is to get you a good Pet, provide training to you and your new Pet as appropriate, help you when needed in every way we can, and be responsible for anything the Pet does when we are in custody of it. If any Pet is showing dangerous behavior, you need to call us for help immediately. We work with our Pet Parents if any issues come up and, of course, we will take back any Hannah Pet requested by our Pet Parent.

What do you do with an old dog that is returned with a lot of medical problems?

Remember, we already have the Pet's complete medical and behavioral record. So we match it with a new family that wants to spend a lot of time providing care. Perhaps surprising to some, we usually have more families than Pets for our senior citizen Hannah Pets. And because we take care of all the medical care costs, this is not a barrier to anyone.

Will non-member people be able to bring their Pets into Hannah service centers for grooming, boarding, vet care, etc.? If not, why not?

No. Our Hannah Health & Education Centers are exclusively for Hannah Pets. Providing services to non-Hannah Pets is not our business.

I run a humane society shelter and worry about competition for donors from Hannah. Does Hannah ever intend to start a charity like Banfield did with the Banfield Charitable Trust?

We have no plans to launch a competing charity that fundraises in the community like local humane societies and shelters. Hannah has helped raise money for shelters from the beginning and we donate to source shelters every month. We anticipate a need for ways to pay for monthly Pet Support Fee payments during hardship times - and may donate ourselves. Some of our most committed Pet Parents also want to donate to shelters monthly when they make their payments to Hannah - and we facilitate those donations. As an FYI, most of the money for the beginning programs at the Banfield Charitable Trust came from the Campbell Family - who started Hannah the Pet Society. Hannah's Helping Hands is a similar 501(c)(3) charity.

Will Hannah Pet Parents be allowed to make donations to the shelter that provided the Pet? Will Hannah facilitate this donation?

Yes. Hannah the Pet Society works with each shelter partner to determine the best arrangement for such donations in order to ensure that they go directly to the shelter. The shelter's name is generally not released and most Pet Parents are fine with this arrangement.

Will Hannah do fundraising events?

At the request of a partner shelter, Hannah the Pet Society will consider co-hosting or sponsoring such an event with proceeds benefitting the shelter.

How will donations get back to the source shelter?

Hannah the Pet Society works with each partner shelter to determine the best arrangement to facilitate such donations so that they go directly to the shelter.

How will Hannah market the “leasing” aspect of the business?

Hannah does not market leases - we build relationships. We do reach out to people with our offer to help them find the right Pet, train the Pet so it works out in the home, and provide a full menu of services and care for the Pet's entire life. We also guarantee that we will accept the Pet back whenever the Pet Parent asks us to do so. We make all of this possible through the Hannah Total Lifetime Care Program so Pet Parents can enjoy all the benefits of a Pet with our affordable, predictable, monthly payment for all their Pet health care needs� including customized Pet food, all veterinary care, training and behavior counseling, and much more.

Will Hannah do joint marketing with partner shelters?

Yes, if desired by the partner shelter, Hannah the Pet Society will consider joint marketing - as long as the marketing is consistent and compatible with the Hannah brand. We will create a comprehensive plan and approach to such an arrangement that works for both organizations.

What types of social media will Hannah use?

Hannah the Pet Society has on staff a Social Media Manager who uses popular social media tools in a coordinated way, including Facebook, Twitter, Diggit, Flickr, Youtube, and other tools. Our goal is to promote brand awareness and build Hannah communities of happy, engaged and responsible Pet Parents.

Hannah sounds like a great organization, but a lot of organizations and companies have gone out of business during the “Great Recession.” What happens to Pet Parents and Pets if that happens to Hannah?

The Pets will stay in their homes and the Pet Parents will have no further obligation to Hannah - and, unfortunately, the services provided by Hannah the Pet Society will cease.

You do a lot of good things – why is Hannah a "for-profit" rather than a "non-profit" business?

That's a good question! Initially we were going to be a “non-profit,” but when we presented our new concept to a large group of leaders from shelters and humane societies, they were adamant that we not be a non-profit because they thought we might get some of the donations that they count on if we were – even though that was never part of our plan. So at their request and urging, we filed our organizational papers as an LLC instead of a non-profit. The only real difference is that “for profits” pay taxes on any profits and then give the remainder (after taxes) to their owners or keep it as reserves, whereas “non-profits” don't pay taxes and give their profits to the non-profit leaders or keep it as reserves. Also, non-profits can give you a tax deduction if you give them money, but we have to count 31 donations as income and pay taxes on it. Philosophically, our founders support paying taxes and believe it is best for Hannah to pay taxes (if it ever has any profits) to support the many things all our taxes go for! So far, Hannah is virtually a “non-profit” supported by the Campbell family and their friends.

Who are the owners of Hannah?

The Campbells were the founders of Banfield, the large veterinary practice still headquartered in Portland, OR, with several hundred employees in their headquarters on 82nd Avenue. Banfield is now primarily owned by Mars, Inc. All of the other owners of Hannah are good friends of the Campbells who were somehow connected to Banfield – many were senior-level executives who helped Banfield grow from a single location to the largest veterinary practice in the world with over 750 hospitals in the U.S., Latin America, and the U.K. All retired from Banfield when the business was sold to Mars, Inc.

Why did the founders start Hannah

Hannah was started by people who care very much about Pets - and care that many are being put to sleep in shelters. They know that many families could benefit from having a Pet as part of their family but don't because of the multiple barriers and high cost of pet care. Hannah is designed to overcome those barriers. Because of their concern for Pets and their strong desire to "give back", these individuals are heavily supporting Hannah in every way possible. Dr. Campbell is very committed to Hannah and serves as our Chairman. Hannah President Dr. Will Novak, one of Dr. Campbell's close friends for 20 years, was Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Medical Officer at Banfield. He stayed at Banfield in that role for about a year after Dr. Campbell retired, and then took a year off before the two of them starting working on Hannah.

Is Banfield connected to Hannah in any way?

No. Banfield is a traditional "fee for service" veterinary care provider, while Hannah leases Pets to families and provides everything they need for life, including the Pets themselves – it's a completely different business, even a different category.

Is Hannah a competitor to other veterinarians?

Absolutely not. Hannah employs some great veterinarians and expects to employ many more.

What are the expansion plans for Hannah?

We presently have no plans to expand outside of Portland. If Hannah is well accepted and successfully helps people have Pets and saves Pets lives, Hannah will likely expand into new markets. However, that decision is years away and was not the purpose in creating Hannah.