Need to find your pet a new home? (2024)

If you're facing a financial burden or health issue, unable to find  pet-friendly housing  or having a hard time managing your pet’s behavior, you may find it difficult to care for your cat or dog. Since many challenges are temporary, it may be possible for you and your pet to stay together.

Explore your options

Could you and your pet stay together with help? Before  rehoming your cat or dog, take time to think things through. You know your pet better than anyone, so consider what's best for them—and what's best for you. Local organizations may be able to help you and your pet stay together. Reach out to a local  pet rescue  or  contact 211  to explore your options. Advice on pet behavior, training resources, help finding pet-friendly housing,  free or low-cost veterinary care and food banks that provide pet food may help you keep your pet.

Check with the animal shelter, rescue or breeder where you got your pet. Some organizations require in the adoption contract that you return the pet to them if you can no longer provide care. Even if it wasn’t part of your contract, the organization or breeder may be able to help you find your pet a new home.

Pet behavior issues

Many behavior problems can be caused by a treatable medical condition. For example, a house-trained pet may begin urinating in the house due to a urinary tract infection that a veterinarian can diagnose and easily treat.

If there's no physical cause for the problem, remember that many common pet behavioral issues have simple solutions. Check out our tips below, or consider consulting an animal behaviorist or trainer in your community. Your local animal shelters or rescue groups may offer low-cost veterinary care or training services or be able to refer you to other organizations that offer these services.

  • Cat behavior: Check out our resources for information on how to reduce stress in cats, how to stop destructive scratching, how to prevent litter box problems, how to help pets get along with each other and more.
  • Dog behavior: Check out our resources for information on how to prevent chewing or digging, how to house train your dog, how to teach your dog to feel comfy in their crate, how to keep your dog from barking excessively, escaping your yard and more.
  • It may also be helpful to consult a local veterinary behaviorist or training behaviorist.  GoodPup offers virtual training.

Top 10 pet tips

Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of important information about caring for your pet, including training techniques and answers to frequently asked questions.

Get Your Copy

Need to find your pet a new home? (6)

Housing problems

If you are having trouble finding animal-friendly housing, or experiencing other pet-related housing difficulties such as a nuisance complaint, check out our resources on keeping pets welcome in rental housing.

Pet allergies

See our resources on how you can have a happy, healthy life with your furry companions, even if you’re allergic to them.

Trouble affording your pet’s care

Anyone can experience an unexpected financial crisis. Don’t panic: Many national, state and local organizations provide assistance with pet food and other essentials, behavioral advice and training, and low-cost or free spay/neuter and other veterinary care.Your local animal shelters or rescue groups can also be a great resource for free or low-cost pet assistance.

New baby

You can keep your growing family safe, happy and together. Read our simple tips for avoiding toxoplasmosis exposure during pregnancy and for preparing your pet for the new baby.

Find a new home

If you decide that rehoming your pet is the best option, keep in mind that despite the best efforts of shelters and rescues to care for their animals, your home is usually the best place for your pet while you search for an adopter.

By taking on the task of finding your pet a home, you can also reduce competition for limited space and resources in shelters or rescues. Here are some tips for placing your pet in a loving new home.

  • Make your pet more attractive to potential adopters. Have your pet vaccinated and checked by a veterinarian. Making sure your pet is spayed or neutered may also make them more likely to be chosen by a new owner.
  • Reach out to family and friends. Someone who already knows and likes your cat or dog may be willing to adopt them and your pet may be more comfortable with a familiar person. You will have peace of mind knowing your pet is with someone you know.
  • Post about your pet on social media. If you can’t find someone you know personally who can adopt your pet, share a photo of your pet on social media and explain the situation, making the post shareable. A friend of a friend may be able to help.
  • Set up an online profile for your pet. Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com and Home to Home connect pets with people who are interested in adopting them. These free websites guide you through the rehoming process step by step, from setting up a profile to signing an adoption agreement.
  • Advertise through friends, neighbors and local veterinarians. Your personal network is the best pool of adopters for your pet. Ask your veterinarian if you can place a poster advertising your pet’s need for a new home. Place flyers promoting your pet at work, school, church and other public places you frequent. Include a good-quality photo and appealing description of your pet.
  • Be transparent with potential adopters. Be prepared to share details about your pet's personality and how they get along with other pets and people. Share your pet’s favorite things and not-so-favorite things. And share any medical or behavior issues your pet is experiencing so that potential new owners will have the information they need to determine if your pet would be a good fit for their family.
  • Get help from shelters and rescue groups. Some sheltering and rescue organizations may post your pet’s picture and profile on their website as a courtesy listing, while your pet stays in your home. Your local agencies may have other programs to help you rehome your pet.

As a last resort, you may be able to surrender your pet to a local shelter or rescue organization. Each agency will have a different process for surrendering a pet to their care; learn more by visiting their website or by calling ahead.

Need to find your pet a new home? (2024)

FAQs

Need to find your pet a new home? ›

Check with the animal shelter, rescue or breeder where you got your pet. Some organizations require in the adoption contract that you return the pet to them if you can no longer provide care. Even if it wasn't part of your contract, the organization or breeder may be able to help you find your pet a new home.

Do you have a pet question answer? ›

Answering the question “Do you have any pets?” couldn't be simpler. “Yeah, I have a cat.” “Yeah, I have a dog.” “Yeah, I have a dog and a cat.”

How long does it take for an animal to find a new home? ›

On average, most of the dogs and cats at the Animal League find loving homes within a week. This quick turn around time enables the Animal League to maximize the number of lives saved. There are special needs dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that may take months to find the right match.

How long does it take for pets to get used to a new home? ›

The time it takes for a dog to adjust to a new home can vary from one dog to another. Normally, it takes 2-3 weeks for a dog to adjust to a new home, but it can take up to 3 months for them to fully adjust behaviourally.

How do you say goodbye to your dog when rehoming? ›

A goodbye letter to my dog
  1. You've taught us so many things without saying a word. She misses you the most. ...
  2. I've been holding you back and I need to let you go. We'll be adopting a dog today. ...
  3. It means that I'm honoured to have known you as my best friend. So, today, I'd like to say goodbye to my best friend.
Apr 7, 2017

What are pet animal answers? ›

What do we call the animals which we have kept in our houses? Such animals are called Pet animals. The animals which can be considered pet animals are goats, rabbits, birds, cows, cats, dogs, fishes, rats, horses, tortoises, sheep, ducks, camels, etc,. Some people keep the name of their pet animal.

What do you say when someone asks to pet your dog? ›

Good Rules of Thumb

Kids, who can often scare dogs, should be taught that the correct action upon hearing such remarks is not to approach the dog. A simple, “Oh, that's OK. I wouldn't want to upset her, but thanks anyway,” is a good phrase to use in those situations.

How long do most animals stay in shelters? ›

Over thirty states have what are termed "holding period" laws. These laws provide the minimum required period that an animal (usually a dog or cat) must be kept at a pound or public animal shelter before it is sold, adopted out, or euthanized. Typically, the holding period runs from five to seven days.

Can a cat find its way home 2 miles away? ›

Lost cats traveled 0.2 miles up to 80 miles (of those surveyed, only five people reported long distance travel) away from home. The average distance a lost cat traveled was between 2 and 4 miles. 90% of cats were lost for an average of 5 to 7.5 days.

Can dogs find their way home from far away? ›

A dog can find their way home from far away because of their impressive homing abilities. They can smell a scent from 12 miles away (20km), meaning they could potentially find their way home from that far. Do dogs come back after running away? Only 20% of lost dogs come back on their own after running away.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for dogs? ›

The 3-3-3 rule is a guideline for transitioning a rescue dog into its new home and helping it to settle in. It suggests that the first three days should be used for adjusting to its new surroundings, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for continued socialization and training.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for cats? ›

While there are some cats that automatically adjust to a new home as soon as they get there, most do not. The general rule when adopting any animal is the rule of 3-3-3: three days to decompress, three weeks to learn your routine and three months to start to feel at home.

Do dogs get upset when they are rehomed? ›

Rehoming a dog can be stressful and confusing for a pup, especially if they've been with the same family for a long time. While dogs don't experience these emotions exactly the same way we humans do, they may feel anxiety and confusion over the new situation.

Do dogs grieve when rehomed? ›

It is normal for a dog to grieve the loss of their previous family and go through an acclimation period in their new home. While they may miss you, if they are in a caring environment and their needs are being met, they will do well.

How do I stop being sad after rehoming my dog? ›

Below are some helpful suggestions for coping with your emotions through this journey:
  1. Stay in touch. If the new family is comfortable with it, ask for updates on your pet. ...
  2. Remember the good times. ...
  3. Ignore other opinions. ...
  4. Your choice brings joy. ...
  5. Be gentle with yourself. ...
  6. Share your feelings.
Jun 7, 2023

Should you see your dog after rehoming? ›

We don't recommend visiting a dog once they're in our care. Seeing you could be very distressing for them and equally distressing for you. So we ask you not to visit the rehoming centre after giving up your dog. But you're very welcome to get in touch with us to see how they're doing.

Do you have any pet peeves interview question? ›

Avoid this potential pitfall by making your answer specific to you and your experience—and explaining why the pet peeve bothers you. For example, if your pet peeve is disorganization in the office, you could say that in your previous experience, you saw how disarray can affect the productivity and motivation of a team.

Do you have a pet IELTS answer? ›

Do you have a pet? Yes I have two dogs, an Alsation and a Boxer. They are quite big and boisterous so some people are afraid of them but they are really affectionate. We also have a cat and a few goldfish in a big tank.

Do you like to have a pet why? ›

Pets often teach their owners about selflessness in a more profound way than another person could. When pet owners have a strong bond with their pets, they will do anything to help them when they are hungry or in need of medical attention. As humans, we understand that the very survival of our pets is in our hands.

Do you have a pet How do you care for it? ›

Taking care of a pet involves giving them plenty of nutritious food each day and access to clean water at all times. It's also important to offer safe housing, and to give them plenty of exercise and stimulation. To keep your pet healthy, bring them to the vet regularly for check-ups and preventative medication.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 5339

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.