Re-homing and/or Surrending Your Pet
It happens. Sometimes even the most responsible pet owner finds s/he can no longer keep a pet due to illness, family
problems, or any one of a number of unavoidable situations.
But often people want to re-home their pet because of behavioral issues. When this is the case, we : Try to solve
the problem! You'll feel great about "fixing" the problem - and your pet will avoid the trauma of having to adjust
to a new home.
Below are suggestions for how to avoid the most common behavioral problems - and what to do if (after trying to solve
the problems) you still must re-home and/or surrender your pet.
Not Getting Along With Your Pet?
Is your cat not using the litter box? Clawing the furniture? Fighting with your other cat(s)? Does your dog jump up
on visitors? Run away from you when off-leash? Chase the cat(s)? Use the basement for toileting rather than the
great outdoors?
These are common, and annoying, behavioral issues that often result in people wanting to get rid of a pet.
Behavior issues for CATS: Common behavioral issues with cats are:
- Litter box: First, have a vet rule out any illness. Second, placing one more litter box in the
house might solve the problem. Also, keep the litter box clean!
- Scratching: Be sure you offer several official scratching posts. Also, there are now "soft claws"
that glue on over a cat's claws to blunt them. Clipping nails regularly helps dull them, too. Declaw as a last
resort.
- Boredom habits: Cats get bored sometimes, and make up "games" like attacking your toes or fighting
with other cats in the house. Don't like those behaviors? Play games with you cat(s), using long-handled cat toys,
or having your cat "find" a special treat.
Behavior issues for DOGS: Common behavioral issues with dogs are:
- Jumping up, pulling while on leash; etc: Dogs have a variety of annoying habits. Sometimes these
behaviors subside if you just exercise your dog more often. And most of these behaviors can be stopped with
consistent training. It's embarrassing, but all too often the problem is really with the owner - not
the dog!
- Separation anxiety: There are ways to "train" a dog to handle absences from you. Using a crate
helps, as does conditioning the dog to separations.
- Aggression toward other dogs/people: Though not pleasant, these behaviors can be improved or even
eliminated. Often, if the owner learns to be watchful for signs of trouble brewing, problems can be avoided.
If you are expecting a new baby, or have a new baby and/or young children in the home, it helps to introduce pets to
new children in the correct way. Most important: Adults need to be watchful when children and dogs are together.
- Running away: Getting the right equipment (fencing, electronic collars, etc) can solve this issue,
as can consistent positive reinforcement for staying close.
- Housebreaking: The best plan is to housebreak your dog correctly from the beginning. But even an
adult dog with "issues" in this department can be rehabilitated. Usually it means beginning again from "scratch" by
keeping a close eye on the dog, using a crate when away, etc. But it can be done!
So, get motivated. Go to an obedience class! Read up! Talk to expert friends/family! Learn the correct way to train
a dog - and do it! Make it a family project. If successful, you'll feel good - and your dog will be grateful that
you're such a good "pack leader"!
Don't want to, or can't get to a professional trainer? There are many resources available to help pet owners solve
behavior problems in pets. Pet stores and book stores carry many items. Also, the local public library's system
has many resources.
If you have a library card in the South Central Library System area,
you can click here to go directly to SCLS’s web-based catalog to order items!
Problems for both Dogs and Cats:
Allergies: Many people give up their pet because a family member exhibits some allergic reaction to the pet.
However, allergy issues can (usually) be improved or even eliminated.
- Set up "pet-free" zones (like the bedrooms) in your house.
- Get better furnace filters installed.
- Bath your cat (yes, it can be done!)
- Vacuum more frequently.
- Talk to your doctor about medicines.
Expensive veterinarian bills: Pets cost money, and often people under-estimated what it costs to own a
pet. We urge people to think long and hard before getting a pet because even "typical" pets cost a lot to keep over
a year.
SCHS has a small fund to help qualifying County residents who have run into expensive veterinarian bills for a pet.
Click here for a Josh Diehm Application.
Click here if you are interested in donating to the Josh Diehm Fund.
Remember: When you got your pet you (probably) planned to keep it through thick and thin. Do not be too hasty about
giving up. Try to solve the problem!
Still Want to Get Rid of Your Pet?
If you still feel you must get rid of your pet, the most responsible thing to do is to find the new home yourself.
The Shelter does not have the resources to take in many "surrenders." Here are ways to find your pet a new home:
- Ask your vet if you can put up signs advertising your pet.
- Put up posters about your pet in local pet stores and grocery stores.
- Run ads in the local papers.
- List the pet on www.petshelter.org or other websites.
- Talk to friends and relatives about taking your pet.
- If you pet is very old, seriously ill, and/or has serious issues like aggression, be responsible. Face the
fact that your pet will be very hard for SCHS to re-home. Consider surrendering it to us with the instruction from
you to humanely euthanize it.
By doing this work yourself, your pet is not traumatized by coming to the Shelter. Also, you can select the best new
person for your pet.
Here are some questions to ask people who inquire about your pet:
- Why are you looking at this pet?
- Have you had pets before?
- What sort of experience do you have training pets?
- How much time do you have for a pet?
- Are there lots of people in your family, or just a few? How about children?
- Who is your vet - and can I call him/her for a reference?
- Who else can we call for a reference?
Surrendering Your Pet to SCHS:
Can't find a home for your pet, or don't have the time/willingness to find a new owner yourself?
If we have space, and if the pet is "adoptable", SCHS will consider taking it as an "owner
surrender." There is a $50.00 fee for SCHS to try to re-home your pet. And please note:
We cannot guarantee that we will find a new home for your pet. We cannot guarantee that your pet will remain healthy
while in the Shelter environment (which stresses some animals a great deal) awaiting an adopter.
If you decide to surrender your pet, please do the following:
- Call the Shelter to set up an appointment before surrendering your pet. We will want to get accurate
and honest information from you about the pet, in order to increase the chances for re-homing it successfully.
- Bring all your veterinary records.
- Seriously consider making an additional donation to SCHS. Our $50.00 Surrender Fee seldom covers our
cost for trying to re-home an animal. We rely on donations, fundraisers, memberships, and grants for over 50% of our
annual budget because our adoption fees and surrender fees do not cover our costs for caring for the animals. We
need your support. Donate today!
created by E. Chiquoine, updated 3/6/07
