Should there be requirements for pet owners?

I know most pet stores make you sign a form that states you will take care of the animal before you take it home. I was just wondering if there was anything more that could be done to prevent the wrong types of people adopting pets. What kind of suggestions do you have?

What are the requirements for adopting a pet from your local animal shelter?

I would like to compare them with the rules/regulations in place at the local shelter here. I think something is not quite legitimate about it. I know four people who have applied for different dogs recently; all were turned down for various reasons. None have any history of animal abuse/neglect, all are (as far as I know) responsible, loving pet owners. All had references, a vet., etc. I would like to compare other known rules/regulations regarding adoption with other animal shelters. This shelter just reopened recently. It was closed for awhile for unknown reasons. One friend was told the puppy she applied for had been transfered to another shelter, then they told her the puppy was adopted. By this time we became suspicious, so we checked on the web, only to find out that the puppy was now at another “no-kill” shelter which rescues dogs before they are euthanized. This has raised a lot of questions.