*** PLEASE DO NOT LIST YOUR PET ON CRAIGSLIST OR FACEBOOK***
*** Handle owner surrenders appropriately***
Owner surrenders can be complex & emotionally charged situations. You should always approach them with tact and care to avoid making the owner feel uncomfortable.
There’s a delicate balance you must maintain. You need to get enough information about the animal and its situation, but you don’t want to pry too much and risk scaring the owner away, because they may seek an alternative path that puts the animal in a worse situation.
Steps taken for a successful owner surrender:
-
Interview the owner via the phone to find out the animal’s disposition, temperament, medical situation, & relationship with the owner. Also, confirm ownership & identify why the owner is surrendering the animal. Get as many details as possible, as these will help with placing the animal later.
-
Based on the information ascertained in the phone call if you are feeling safe you can then go to meet the dog in person. Be sure to have someone else come with you so that you are not alone. If you are a volunteer helping with this and not the founder or employee you must contact the founder to let them know when and where the meeting will be taking place.
-
Probe for any potential issues, such as the animal not getting along well with children, whether it’s bitten anyone, and whether it’s been abused or neglected.
-
Examine the animal in person ( if applicable), then decide whether to take the animal based on everything you’ve learned. Be sure to wear gloves when examining the dog for the first time. We are not always getting the full picture about a dog’s health from the owner and they could have a skin issue or ringworm, safety first. For example, you may choose not to accept the animal if it is overly aggressive and could present a danger to other animals or volunteers. If you are unable or unwilling to take the animal, give the owner other resources or avenues they can pursue to ensure the animal is cared for properly.
-
If you are willing to take the animal, have the owner fill out a surrender form to relinquish ownership of the animal. Be sure the owner understands they are giving up their ownership rights & cannot take the animal back.
When you are contemplating surrendering your pet you need to make sure you have exhausted all of your options. Surrendering your pet is not an easy decision both for you and for your pet. It takes an emotional toll on the family to let go of a beloved member of the family but it is also very hard on the pet as well to lose the place that they have come accustomed to and the place they feel safe.
According to the ASPCA’s National Rehoming Survey, pet problems are the most common reason that owners rehome their pet, accounting for 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats. Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems the owner could not handle.
Are you going through a temporary medical or social issue that will take you away from your pet for longer hours or an extended period of time? You would be surprised at how many people are actually willing to help if you just ask. We realize that some people do not have a large circle of family and friends which makes it more difficult when you need some assistance with your pet. Do not panic!! There are many community groups that may be able to help. Here is a list of people/groups to reach out to when you are in need of help:
Friends/Family- this is always the first people you should ask as they have already most likely spent time with your animals.
Neighbors- Even if you are not close with your neighbors you most likely see them a good amount as you are walking your dog, gardening in your yard, or your kids play together.
Local rescues & Humane Societies- Many of them have programs already in place to help out the community and they also have many contacts in the area that could be of assistance.
Veterinarian- Your veterinarian may have a program but they also have employees that have side jobs of pet sitting and walking that they do not typically advertise and is mainly funded by word of mouth.
Boarding facilities/Pet Sitters- Many boarding facilities have it in their budget to board some animals whether for free or at a discount for the local rescues in town. They may even have a program for individuals in the community as well. Also, they have employees that may be able to be of assistance outside of the boarding facility. Websites like Rover.com are a good place to hire animal sitters or walkers.
Church- Many churches have community outreach groups or groups that are designed to help the people in their congregation when they are in need. If you or a family member are a part of a church in your community, reach out to them to see if they can assist you.
Community Groups- There are many community groups that have a soul purpose of providing resources to the people in their community. A simple google search for your zip code can give you a long list of groups and resources.
BE PROACTIVE!!
If you have a pet but have limitations in your life the best idea is to plan ahead. Some of the best households in the country that care for their animals deeply have some form of limitation. Whether it be money, time, space, or physical limitation. The best plan to ensure that you can keep your animal safe, healthy, and the entire duration of their life is to be proactive and plan ahead. Hopefully nothing will ever happen that will have to put you in a position to even think about giving up your pet but planning ahead is a life saver.
Veterinary needs- Pet insurance is a very good resource to have to make sure to avoid large unexpected expenses. Many pet insurance plans are only a few dollars a month. There are many that can fit any budget out there. There are also veterinarians who are willing to let you put some money in your account each month to build a fund for future expenses. You can also check with your veterinarian about their “ Angel Fund.” Each veterinarian calls it by a different name but it is essentially an account that has money in it that is donated from other customers to be used for people who are low on funds.
Food/supplies- Pet Food Pantries are organizations or groups under other rescues that are able to provide food, meds, litter, preventatives, and other animal supplies that you may need. You usually only have to show that you live in said community and some sort of financials to show you qualify.
Training/Behavior- Many trainers in your area have discounts or programs for people who need financial assistance. A simple google search will tell you the trainers in your area. If it is a smaller behavioral issue you can usually use youtube or some other sort of platform for some free training videos on whatever the issue is. You can also go to the website Rover to look up a trainer near you. There is usually a $40.00 off coupon for the initial visit.
Walking/Boarding: If you find yourself needing someone else to assist in feeding or walking your pet on certain days or for a temporary period of time you will find many resources in your area. Many employees who work in animal fields also have a side business of pet sitting or dog walking. Be sure to ask around to get someone set up for you in case of an emergency. Rover.com is a great resource to look specifically for people who do this for a living. Call around to local boarding facilities to ask them if they have discounted rates or any specials for people with financial restriction so that you can set-up with them in advance should an emergency arise. This is also another place where a friend or neighbor can come in handy.
Disability/Physical Limitations: Many pet owners have some sort of chronic illness or disability in the household. This casts a very wide net as there are too many to list. What you need to do is be honest with your disabilities and plan ahead should something occur that would limit your ability to care for your pet. Use the resources above or go online to look at programs that continuously assist people with their pets that have a chronic illness. There are many out there, not just local to you but nationwide that can assist. There are also many grants available to individuals to assist them with their pet in many capacities. We have many listed on our website that you can apply for on our resources tab.
​
​
Lack of computer/Internet- There are many people who do not own a computer or are not able to pay for internet. In this day and age smart phones are a great alternative but we also understand that some people do not have access to a smartphone either. Your local library does have computer access for free. Please utilize this resource to look up and print out contact information for the types of programs listed above and keep them at home should you experience an emergency and need assistance you will not be stranded at home worried and panicked at who to reach out to. You can also ask friends and family to look up the information for you and provide you with it if you are unable to get to the library. Your personal doctor or whomever is treating you may also have many resources for you to use personally to get a phone, computer, or internet access to just have for yourself and that would eliminate this problem entirely.
Vehicle/Transport assistance- If you do not have a vehicle or any means of transportation on a regular basis and you need assistance with your animal there are alternatives. If it is veterinary assistance there are mobile vets that will come to your home. There are also some uber and lyft drivers who do allow you to have your pet in the vehicle. There are public transportation alternatives in communities that can provide rides by appointment to people that will accept animals. This is of course another opportunity to utilize a friend or neighbor. Some veterinary offices may also have a program. If you are needing supplies, delivery is a great alternative such as Amazon and Chewy.
Monetary- If you are on a fixed income or have limited funds always weigh this out before adding an animal to your home. If you feel that you are not in a position to care for this animal long term it is best not to adopt an animal. If you are missing the companionship of an animal in the home you can always be a foster for a local rescue. That way you can enjoy different animals in the home and the costs are usually completely covered by that rescue so no money comes out of your pocket. You can also become a pet sitter or dog walker to be able to enjoy animals daily while also making money. If you have already adopted an animal, try to put money aside each month in an account that is designated just for the animal's needs. Even if it is just $5.00 a month it can go a long way should an emergency arise. Sometimes veterinarians will let you do a payment plane if you can at least put some money down to start with to show good faith. Utilizing pet food pantries and other community resources regularly in any capacity can take some of the pressure off of your everyday expenses to allow you to have more to put towards your pet. You can check out our resources tab or you can clock the button above to look for pet food pantries in your area.
​
Moving/displacement- If you are having to move for work or are being displaced there are alternatives and options for you and your pet. Apartments.com have an entire section dedicated to finding a place to live in your area that allows pets. If you have a new landlord that has a breed restriction or apprehensions due to the size of the animal you can ask them if they would be willing to have an affidavit signed by a trainer that states that they feel that the animal will not be a danger. If they do, you can ask a trainer to evaluate your animal and write something up. The military has a long list of resources for homing options that allow pets. If your job transfers you and are paying for or giving you housing allowance sometimes the places they have or suggest are not animal friendly. Speak with your supervisor about a place that is and paying the difference or getting special approval to have housing somewhere other than where they approve. If you are having to move for only a temporary period of time many humane societies have what they call temporary foster programs for people who are displaced.
It is important to always think before purchasing or adopting a pet. Take time to sit down and look at your lifestyle and your wallet to see if it is something that is even possible for you and your family to sustain. Also, make sure to think about if you do have an animal and there are sudden changes in your household such as a new baby or loss of your job how you would be able to afford the pet. Below is a list of just a few life events that are very common and to think if you could keep an animal through any of these events.
Have you now exhausted all the possibilities and still have to rehome your pet?
PLEASE REHOME RESPONSIBLY!!!!!!!!
There are proper ways to rehome your pet and improper ways to rehome your pet. Using Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or just standing in a parking lot at a pet store are NOT the right ways to rehome your pet. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who look for animals in this way to utilize them for dog fighting, backyard breeding, hunting practices, and for a quick buck. You do not want a beloved pet ending up in these situations. The best ways to rehome your pet are listed below:
Owner Surrender to a rescue
Using Adopt-A-Pet Rehome
Using your local Veterinarian for assistance
Friends and family