How to Rehome a Pet Responsibly

Look at the alternatives first

Many owners give up a pet because of a problem that could be solved. In a US survey reported by the ASPCA, more than a million households rehome a pet each year. Problems with the pet itself, family situations and housing were the most common reasons. Among lower-income owners, many said free or low-cost vet care, training help or pet-friendly housing would have let them keep their pet.

Before you decide, look at the cause and whether help exists.

• Behavior problems: start with a vet check, since pain and illness can change behavior. Then ask for a qualified behavior professional who uses reward-based methods.
• Vet bills: ask your vet about payment plans, and look for charities and clinics that offer low-cost care.
• Housing: ask your landlord about a pet clause, offer references from past landlords, and search for pet-friendly rentals early.
• Allergies: a family member's symptoms are worth checking with a doctor before you decide, since there may be ways to manage them.
• A short-term crisis: friends, family or a boarding kennel or cattery may be able to care for your pet for a while.

Many problems that lead to rehoming have guides of their own. See Separation Anxiety and Destructive Chewing in Dogs, Dog Aggression and Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?

Start early

If rehoming is the right choice, start as soon as you know. Finding a good home takes time, and a deadline pushes people into risky choices. Your first call should be the breeder, shelter or rescue you got the pet from. Many will take the animal back or help you find a new home.

Prepare your pet

A healthy, well-described pet is easier to place and more likely to stay in its new home. Book a vet check, bring vaccinations up to date, and ask for a copy of the medical records to give the new owner.

Write a short, honest profile. Include age, sex, health, habits and favorite things. Say how the pet is with children, dogs, cats and visitors, and how it copes when left alone. Add several clear color photos and, if you can, a short video. Be open about any health or behavior problems. An adopter who knows the full picture is far less likely to return the pet or pass it on again.

Never "free to a good home"

Giving a pet away for nothing to a stranger is one of the riskiest ways to rehome. Animal welfare groups warn that free ads can attract people who want to profit from animals. Pets given away this way have ended up in breeding operations, with animal hoarders, in homes that cannot afford their care and even used as bait for dog fighting.

A modest adoption fee is a simple safeguard. As the MSPCA-Angell points out, legitimate adopters expect to pay something for a new pet. You can use the fee to cover vaccinations or supplies, or donate it to a rescue.

How to screen adopters

Share your pet's profile with people you trust first: friends, family, coworkers, your vet and local community groups. A pet that goes to someone you know is easier to check on later. When strangers reply, take your time.

Start with a phone call, and ask questions like these.

• Who lives in the home, including children and other pets?
• Have they had a dog or cat before, and what happened to it?
• How many hours a day would the pet be alone?
• Where will it sleep, and who will care for it during holidays?
• Do they rent or own, and does the landlord allow pets?
• Which vet do they use, and may you call them for a reference?

Ask to see a valid ID with name and address. Call the vet of any pet they have now or had recently. If you can, take your pet to the adopter's home, so the pet and family can meet there and you can see where it will live. Trust your instincts. It is fine to say no to a person who does not feel right.

A simple written agreement helps both sides. Common terms include the new owner taking on vet care and contacting you first if they ever need to rehome the pet again. Offer to take the pet back if it does not work out. That is useful information, not a failure.

The handover

Send the pet with its usual food, bed, a favorite toy and its medical records. Sudden diet changes can upset the stomach, so suggest the new owner switch food gradually over about a week. Share the routine too: feeding times, walks, words it knows and anything that scares it.

Make sure the microchip registration is transferred to the new owner, and that their contact details are on the database. A chip only works if the details are up to date. In England, keeping a dog's microchip details current is a legal requirement. See Why You Should Microchip Your Pet.

Expect the first weeks to be unsettled. A pet that was calm with you may hide, pace or have accidents in a new home. Give the new owner your number and an honest picture of what is normal for your pet.

Working with a rescue or shelter

A good rescue has experience matching animals with the right homes, and it screens adopters for you. Rescues work in different ways, so research each one before you hand over your pet. Ask how they assess animals, where the pet will live while it waits, how they choose adopters and what happens if an adoption fails.

Many rescues and shelters are full and keep waiting lists, so contact them early. Breed rescues can be a good choice for purebred dogs and cats, although some only take animals from shelters. Be honest at intake about health and behavior, since that information helps the rescue find the right match. Remember that once you sign a pet over, you usually have no right to get it back.

Never abandon a pet outdoors, tie it up somewhere or leave it at a closed shelter door. A pet left to fend for itself faces traffic, hunger, cold and disease. If you are struggling and out of options, call your local shelter, a rescue or your vet and explain the situation. They can often suggest help you did not know about.

Many animals that end up on the street or in rescues were once someone's pet. At Paw Squadron, we rescue dogs and cats, and after every rescue, the first stops are the vet and a bath, with a checkup, deworming and parasite treatment before the search for a new home begins. A careful, planned rehoming spares an animal that journey.

If you adopted your pet from us and are thinking of rehoming, please write to us from the Contact page first and tell us what is happening. We keep in touch with adopters and will help where we can. For more guides on behavior and care, browse PawPedia.