Rehoming Your Pet
Finding a new home for your pet can be a difficult and emotional process. Although there are organizations that may be able to assist you, rehoming an animal on your own allows you to determine the best match for your pet’s needs and will keep your pet out of a shelter. There are websites that can help you find a new owner for your pet and help you create questions to ask potential adopters.
If you are considering rehoming your pet because of financial or housing hardships, there may be community resources available to keep you and your pet together. If you are considering rehoming your pet because of behavior issues, talk with your veterinarian to see if they have recommendations that would allow you to keep your pet.
When looking for a new home for your animal:
- Be honest about your pet’s medical or behavioral needs. Being honest about your pet’s challenges will help ensure they go to a home that is prepared to care for them.
- Get up-to-date medical records for your pet. Adopters should have this information. If your pet is due for vaccinations or other medical care, provide those services in advance if you can. This will make your pet more appealing to other responsible pet owners.
- Tell your veterinarian and your dog’s groomer that you are looking for a new home for your pet. They may have a client looking for a pet or be able to offer additional options.
- Let people know you are looking for a new home for your pet by creating courtesy posts on animal adoption websites like Petfinder, talking with friends and family, and posting about your pet on your own social media.
If you are unable to place the animal on your own and you need to surrender your pet with a local shelter or rescue in hopes that they can place the animal, please understand that this can be a process that takes time. Organizations get several calls daily asking for help rehoming animals and may not be able to assist you right away. Ask about being placed on a waiting list to be contacted as space becomes available. It is okay to contact multiple organizations and put your pet on multiple waiting lists, but let each organizations know when you have found placement. That way they can continue to help other pets.
Visit the Oregon Humane Society’s resource guide for a list of organizations that may be able to help you rehome your pet and links to a rehoming resource packet and other options to assist you with your pet’s needs.