What to Know for Rehoming Your Cat or Dog

It's a sad thing to talk about or even consider, however for many, sometimes it is just something that has to happen. Rehoming or finding your dog or cat a new loving home is hard, but occasionally it needs to be done. For many it is a selfless act. They can't be home enough with their pet, can't give it the love they deserve, and they want it to be happy. For others, they may not want to do it, but have to because their apartment doesn't allow pets or they can't take it with them for another reason.

However, finding a new home for your beloved pet is tricky. Owners can't know if they can trust these new people, but here are some tips to rehome pets to new, good owners.

What to Do When Rehoming a Pet:

Check with the Adoption Shelter or Rescue Agency First. If you absolutely can't keep your pet, check with the adoption shelter or rescue you got them from first, but only if they are a no-kill facility. Some will take pets back and find them new homes. Rescues occasionally have a clause in the paperwork that says if you give up a pet, it has to be returned to them.

Check Your Friends and Family. Before going to other options, be sure to ask around if any friends, family, or even coworkers can take your pet in under their roof. Some just feel so bad for the animal they'll take it for their own. If you are short on time, a foster can even be set up while you or they work on finding them a decent home.

If all else has failed and you are forced to put an advertisement on Craigslist or in the newspaper, always Ask for a Rehoming Fee. There are those out there that take in free dogs, then turn around and sell them for a profit. However, free dogs are also often victims to animal cruelty as well. Your pet is worth something to you, make sure it is worth something to potential owners as well.

Vet Your New Owners. For every pet I've ever gotten (that I didn't find on the roadside), getting them has been a lot like an interview for a job or a police questioning. They want to know that the pet is going to a good home. So old owners should be sure to drill the potential new ones. Ask them what they do for a living, what sort of place they live in, have they owned a pet before, if they have kids, ect. Just try to sort out if it is going to be a good place for the dog or cat. If they really want it and will give it a good home, they will bend over backwards.

What Not to Do When Rehoming a Pet:

Don't Just Abandon A Pet. Don't be that person, if you are moving, don't just leave them outside somewhere alone. They can't take care of themselves like their wild counterparts can. Most times, they will just sit and wait for you to come back. Sure, they may get picked up by some kind passerby, but more likely they will die a long slow death.

Don't Drop a Pet At A Shelter After Hours.  Surprisingly, dropping a pet off at a shelter is not like safe dropping a baby at a fire station. You can't do it anonymously, or rather, shouldn't. In order to find a good home for your pet, the shelter will need to know as much about it as possible about the pet. So only drop it off during business hours.