​​​​​​​​​​​Can Your Pet Safely Be Rehomed?

 

First things first: You have to be honest with yourself about whether it is safe to rehome your pet. Here, I am referring to HUMAN welfare. If the decision to rehome is due to a behavioral issue, it is important to assess whether there is a home better suited to your pet or whether the safety risk the pet presents is too significant. Triggers can be managed in the proper environments, but these homes can feel like a needle in a haystack, or the risk of management techniques failing is too great. There are times when behavioral euthanasia is the most humane option. Veterinary and behavior professionals are available to help you assess this.

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As we know, there are many circumstances that lead to the heartbreaking decision to rehome a pet. If safety is not a concern, as a shelter Intake Specialist, I recommend that, when circumstances align, owners take an active role in choosing their pet's next home. Additional factors to consider when considering an owner-to-owner adoption include whether the pet can be safely and responsibly cared for in your home until another placement is found, and how much time you realistically have to find a placement. Below, you can learn more about self-rehoming and find resources to help ensure it is done safely and responsibly.

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Are You Willing To Try Rehoming On Your Own?​​​

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Historically, self-rehoming has been viewed as irresponsible and even dangerous, but times are changing, and today, it’s becoming part of the solution when done responsibly. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the first question many shelters are asking when an owner reaches out to surrender their pet is whether they can keep the pet in their care while they look for a new home. (Okay, the first thing we ask is whether there is anything we can help them with that might enable them to keep their pet, but this might be the next best option.)

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In reality, if someone needs to rehome their pet, they’re likely going through a challenging time, so self-rehoming won’t be a viable option. This is why shelters exist and should be used as intended. But when circumstances align, shelters are educating owners about safe and responsible self-rehoming strategies, and it’s been a major game-changer.

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Why are animal welfare organzations encourging owners to self-rehome?

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Shelters simply cannot handle the volume of animals coming through their doors. This inevitably leads to animals being euthanized because there simply isn’t enough space to care for every unhoused animal. Every time an owner can keep their pet with them while searching for a new home, it opens a spot in a shelter for the next animal who inevitably comes in without that option. By broadening the scope of where and how adoption occurs, countless lives are being saved.

 

Another benefit of self-rehoming is that you set your pet up for a smoother transition to their next home, as they can remain in the comfort of their own home during this transitional period.  Moving from a loving home to a shelter cage can be stressful, and as such, an animal’s behavior in a shelter environment can differ significantly from its home disposition. This becomes even more of a concern if an animal is already anxious, fearful, short-tempered, prefers not to be around other animals, or has any other “fill-in-the-blank” personality trait. Animals entering a shelter with pre-existing vulnerabilities are more likely to exhibit behavioral decline, and that can hinder their adoptability. The shelter may lack the resources to safely address an animal's medical or behavioral concerns in that environment. For animals that do not do well in shelter settings and for which a private rescue placement is not an option, self-rehoming may be their best chance of adoption.

 

You should also keep in mind that you know your pet best, and by self-rehoming, you can choose the adopter whose lifestyle best suits their needs. One of the most common barriers I face in getting owners on board with self-rehoming is their lack of confidence in their ability to screen applicants. They tell me they prefer to leave it to the “professionals.” But here’s the thing you need to know: Just as animal rescue organizations and municipal shelters vary in their admission processes, their screening processes vary as well. 

 

We have come a long way from Craigslist. Today, sophisticated platforms have been developed to support safe and responsible self-rehoming (see the resources below). We also live in a time when we have access to a wide range of technologies to look into applicants’ backgrounds. Companies like Adopt-a-Pet and Home to Home allow owners to advertise their pets in a searchable database that potential adopters use to find adoptable animals in their area. Previously, such searches were limited to animals in shelters and rescue organizations — with this option, adopters can browse all adoptable animals.

I won’t sugarcoat it — self-rehoming is not easy, and there is no guarantee of success. Even when you put in 100%, you may not be able to find your pet’s next home within your available timeframe. The reality is that there are more animals in need of homes than there are available homes. Keep in mind that just because you are willing to try self-rehoming, it doesn’t mean you are obligated to stay the course indefinitely. This can look like setting a hard date by which your pet must be rehomed due to an external deadline, such as moving, or because circumstances have changed and keeping the pet is no longer a safe option for everyone involved. If, at any point, self-rehoming is no longer working, don’t hesitate to bring your pet to a shelter — remember, that is why they exist.

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For more information on the range of adopter selection processes across animal welfare organizations and when self-rehoming is contraindicated, you can read the essay in its entirety here.​

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"Self-Serve" Rehoming Platforms

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Rehome by Adopt-A-Pet

Rehome by Adopt-A-Pet allows you to place a courtesy posting on their site to advertise your pet. They also include steps for writing a bio, screening potential adopters, and safety tips for scheduling meets. Adopt-A-Pet has partnered with shelters nationwide to provide their communities with a unique code that offers a courtesy listing or substantially discounted rate.  Contact your local animal shelter to inquire about a discount code.

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Home To Home

Home to Home is a nonprofit online platform that helps people find new or temporary housing for their pets without involving the stress of the shelter environment. Their goal is to connect pet parents directly with potential adopters or fosters. The site takes you through a step-by-step process to post your pet, either for temporary fostering or rehoming.

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​​Rehome With Love

If the process feels overwhelming, Rehome with Love is a full-service program that handles everything from creating your pet’s profile and advertising to communicating with and screening potential adopters. This is especially helpful for harder-to-place animals or for owners who do not have the time or feel uncomfortable taking on this process alone. ​​​​​​​​​

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Advertising Your Pet​​​

 

Describe your pet and what their ideal home looks like.

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Getting Pets Noticed With Better Bios (Heartspeak)

Tips on writing the bio, and fill-in templates to guide the process

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Getting a great photo (Heartspeak)​

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Optimizing your pet's profile (Adopt-A-Pet)

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Spread the Word!

I highly encourage you to use one of the formal platforms listed above. However, if that's not your thing, or you're looking for ways to do some additional advertising, these are my recs:

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Paper Flyers

- Include a photo of your pet, a brief bio, and how to get in touch with you.​

- Hang flyers on community boards (library, gym, coffee shop, veterinary office, workplace, grocery store, etc.)

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Post on Social Media/Next Door/Email Blast

- Make sure your post is shareable and includes how to get in touch with you outside of social media. Especially when a post is shared, the name of the original poster can get lost, and privacy settings may not allow for private messages.

- Check Facebook for local rehoming pet groups.

- Compose an email that contains a bio and photo of your pet. Make sure to include your direct contact information. Email it to acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, and ask them to share with their contacts. Good people tend to know other good people.

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Screening Applicants 

Finding a New Home for Your Pet: A Compassionate Guide

Tips on every step of the rehoming process - Rehome With Love

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​​Tips for Finding a Home for a Pet

Article by PetFinder that includes questions to screen potential adopters

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Rehoming a Pet: Finding a Good New Home

Best Friends Animal Society Questions to screen applicants​

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Meet and Greets!

​​Adopt-A-Pet provides suggestions for conducting safe meet-and-greets.

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Transfer of Ownership

It is recommended to have formal documentation of a transfer of ownership. I am not able to advise on liability issues, and laws vary by state. The self-rehoming platforms listed above can provide more information about the transfer-of-ownership agreement. For additional information, please seek legal advice in your home state.

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Other suggestions... Is the Pet Returnable?

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Breeder

Many reputable breeders will take back their animals regardless of how much time has passed.​

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Return the pet to the shelter/rescue organization from which you adopted it.

When you adopted your pet, you likely signed an adoption contract asking you to return the pet to the organization if you are unable to keep it. In many cases, animal rescue organizations will take back their pet. There are times, however,  when they do not have the space to accept the animal back into their adoption program and may suggest that you try to find a home on your own, informing them of the change of ownership. Policies vary, but checking the contract and contacting them is a great first step​​​​​

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Breed Specific Rescues

If your pet is a purebred, start with a Google search for a rescue designated to take breed "X." 

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