Each year, thousands of adoption candidates arrive at an SPA shelter intending to leave with a dog or a cat. Some of them face rejection, sometimes without fully understanding the reasons given by the shelter team. The criteria applied vary from one establishment to another, but they are based on a common framework related to animal protection and, recently, on strengthened regulatory obligations.
Background checks and adoption passport: what changes for adopters
The decree n°2025-347 of April 12, 2025 introduced the requirement for an “adoption passport” that includes a background check for adopters. Published in the Official Journal and available on Legifrance, this text marks a turning point in the adoption process at shelters.
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In practice, not all local SPAs apply this system uniformly yet. Some organizations, particularly independent associations, do not have the human or technical resources to process these checks within a reasonable timeframe. This means that an adopter may be refused or delayed in an adoption at a shelter that applies the decree, while another shelter may not yet require it.
For candidates, it is useful to inquire in advance with the targeted shelter. Preparing a complete file, including an ID, proof of residence, and a criminal record extract, reduces the risk of administrative blockage. You can also understand the refusal of an animal by the SPA by consulting specialized resources before you go.
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Reasons for refusal related to the adopter’s lifestyle
Beyond the administrative aspect, most refusals are based on a concrete assessment of the adopter’s daily life. Shelter teams seek to verify whether the proposed environment is compatible with the specific needs of the animal in question.
Housing and available space
An apartment without a balcony or outdoor access will rarely pose a problem for an indoor cat. However, for a large dog or an animal used to spacious areas, the shelter may determine that the housing is unsuitable. The SPA of Lyon, for example, explicitly lists housing inadequacy among its reasons for refusal.
Unlike what is observed in British RSPCA shelters, French SPAs less systematically refuse tenants. Partnerships with home insurers, established since mid-2024, facilitate adoptions for renters, provided they can provide written consent from the property owner.
Household composition and presence of other animals
A household with young children may be refused the adoption of a dog with a complicated past or exhibiting fearful reactions. Similarly, a cat described as “solitary” by caregivers will not be entrusted to a family already owning several felines.
The most frequently checked criteria include:
- The presence of young children and their ability to respect the animal’s boundaries, assessed during the preliminary interview
- The number and type of animals already present in the home, with particular attention to known incompatibilities (categorized dog, territorial cat)
- The daily absence hours of the adopters, with a dog left alone for more than eight hours a day being a recurring reason for refusal
- The history of adoption or return of animals by the same household, which may trigger a more in-depth review of the file
Enhanced veterinary checks since 2024
A less visible aspect of the process concerns the medical checks carried out before placement. According to the 2024 annual report of the Animal Rights Foundation, published in March 2025, veterinary checks have intensified after the pandemic. Shelters now pay more attention to the adopter’s ability to assume long-term medical care.
Specifically, a shelter may refuse to entrust an animal suffering from a chronic condition (kidney failure, diabetes, joint problems) to an adopter who does not demonstrate the necessary financial resources or availability to manage these care requirements. This is not a value judgment on the person, but a protective measure for the animal.
This trend has a collateral effect: older or sick animals stay longer in shelters, due to a lack of profiles deemed sufficiently compatible among adopters. The available data does not allow for a conclusion on whether this increased requirement overall reduces the return rate of adopted animals, even if that is the stated goal.
Foster family: an alternative to definitive refusal
In the face of a refusal, some shelters now offer an intermediate solution. The National Observatory of Shelters, in its semi-annual report published in February 2026, reports a significant increase in adoptions through a temporary foster family.
The principle is simple: rather than validating or refusing an adoption based on a single interview, the shelter entrusts the animal to the candidate for a trial period of a few weeks. This phase allows for testing compatibility under real conditions, without a definitive commitment.
Field feedback on this point varies. Some shelters find that nearly all temporary placements turn into permanent adoptions. Others note that the system lengthens the timelines and mobilizes follow-up resources that they do not always have. The model is therefore not generalized, but it represents a concrete option for candidates who encounter an initial refusal.
What to do after a refusal of adoption by the SPA
A refusal is not a definitive verdict. Several steps can help restart the process:
- Request a detailed interview with the shelter manager to identify the exact reason for the refusal and the conditions to be met for a new application
- Turn to another shelter or an independent association, whose criteria may differ significantly from one SPA to another
- Offer to become a temporary foster family to demonstrate reliability before applying again for a permanent adoption
The refusal of adoption by a shelter almost always reflects a desire to protect the animal, not distrust towards the adopter. Preparing a complete file and choosing an animal compatible with one’s daily life remains the best way to avoid this situation. Shelters, for their part, would benefit from communicating more clearly about their criteria in advance, so that the adoption process does not turn into an opaque obstacle course.