Choosing to rehome a pet can be one of the most difficult decisions a family has to make.
No matter what reason you have for rehoming, we want you to know that there are OPTIONS for you and your family to consider that will affect the rest of your pet’s life.
Rehoming a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. Taking the extra time and care to rehome appropriately is key. Before taking your pet to a stressful, loud, and chaotic shelter, consider all of your options.
Another great benefit is getting to know the potential new family, and sometimes even stay in contact with your pet!
Don’t rush rehoming your pet.
It can take time to find a good home for your pet.
Expect it to take a few weeks or even months. Having this expectation initially will help keep valuable space open in shelters for homeless or lost dogs who truly need it.
You want to find the best new home and loving family for your furry friend, so don’t be afraid to ask questions to help you find the right fit.
You’ll find out firsthand what a new family has to offer, and knowing your pet will be in good hands can make saying goodbye an easier process.
Be honest about your pet’s personality with potential adopters to reduce the likelihood of returns, or additional surrenders.
- Be sure to clarify if your pet is not good with other pets or small children
- Inform them of any stressors your pet currently has i.e. separation anxiety or thunderstorms
- Share their behavioral temperaments, like how they behave when they are left alone
- Include family history such as getting along well with other pets or children at various ages
- Is your pet territorial with food or toys? Make sure the new owners are aware and prepared
- Let them know of any allergies your pet may have
- Be clear on the energy level the dog may have. Does your pet need to be walked often? What are their favorite activities?
- Share if your pet has had any formal or informal training like behavioral, obedience, hunting, agility, etc.
Be responsible when rehoming your pet and make sure that it is spayed/neutered and properly vaccinated before transferring ownership. This will help prevent unwanted litters and added stress in a new environment.
Although Facebook doesn’t allow the sale or transfer of Animals as a community guideline on Marketplace or in any Groups, you can still post about rehoming your pet so that friends and family can help you find other opportunities and loving families. You never know who someone knows that may be looking for a new family companion!
Collect all veterinarian records for your animal and make sure that the new owners have access to them if necessary. The new owner should be aware of any previous health issues or complications.
Ask questions for potential adopters
- Do you have a fenced yard?
- Do you have other animals?
- If not, have you ever had a pet before?
- If yes, how many? How old are they? What kind of pets?
- What type of work schedule do you have?
- How many hours a day would the pet be left alone?
- What are your daily activities, schedule, hobbies like?
- Where will the dog/cat be kept during the day? At night?
- When you go out of town, where will they be kept when unsupervised?
- How many people share your household with you?
- Are any of them children? If so, how old?
Dogs can be very territorial! If potential adopters have other pets in the home, consider an initial meeting in a neutral territory for both pets to get acquainted. Here’s a great video resource for how you can properly introduce dogs in a neutral environment: Introducing Dogs to Each Other.
Never abandon your animal. Not only is it illegal in the state of Texas… but there are thousands of homes, rescues, shelters, and organizations that are willing to help you find a forever home for your animal the humane way.
Search for rescue partners.
There are several breed specific rescue organizations that offer care and aid in finding loving families for almost any type of dog. A rescue organization can also have several free resources available to help you find the best match for your pet.
Check out a full list of rescue organizations and breed specific organizations, click here.
If you end up surrendering your pet to a shelter, make sure you are aware of their current capacity, adoption, and euthanasia policies. In some circumstances animals deemed untreatable or unhealthy may not be candidates for adoption, and humane euthanasia may be considered. Call or email local shelters to see what their current in-take availability is like to help you plan ahead way before you need to find the pet a home.
Need guidance with rescue partners or have any further questions about rehoming your furry companion? We’d love to help, you can send us a message here: https://texashumanenetwork.org/contact-us Texas Humane Network mission is promoting humane education on how Texans can best love their pets and help stop the cycle of abuse!
Links
- https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/surrender/finding-new-home-your-pet
- https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/surrender/alternatives-surrendering-your-pet
- https://be.chewy.com/how-to-rehome-your-dog-or-cat/
- http://hope4astreetdog.org/2019/10/27/questions-for-adopters/
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