Occasionally, a pet parent has to face the tough decision of giving up a canine companion. Regardless of whether the separation is due to a move, a new baby, changing life circumstances or a demanding new job, saying goodbye is never easy. If you have found yourself in a position where you need to give up your dog, read on to learn more about what you can do to smooth the re-homing transition.
Deciding When to Re-home
Deciding to give up a pet is a large step and, before you say goodbye to Fido, it is worthwhile to consider whether re-homing is truly necessary. If your pet has non-aggressive behavioral issues such as chewing, barking or digging, it is worth noting that these behaviors can often be remedied through increased obedience training and more socialization and dogs with these issues often do not need to be re-homed. On the other hand, if your dog has displayed aggressive behavior toward humans or other dogs, re-homing may be in everybody’s best interests.
If you are considering re-homing your dog due to housing issues, try contacting the humane society in your area for helpful advice about pet-friendly housing. Additionally, you can board the dog until you are finished moving or place him temporarily with a friend or family member.
Finally, if you are considering re-homing the dog due to time constraints and a busy schedule, take some time to consider the fact that there are many ways to provide a fulfilling and active life for your dog even when you are very busy. Consider doggie daycare, puzzle toys, early-morning walks or a canine companion to alleviate boredom and boost your dog’s quality of life.
Moving Through the Re-Homing Process
Re-homing a pet is hard but these tips will help you move through the process as easily as possible:
- Take the dog to the vet to ensure that he is healthy, that his vaccinations are up-to-date and that he is receiving any additional care needed.
- Take some high-quality photos to show to potential re-homing environments. The photos should showcase your dog’s age, size, breed, color and personality.
- After you have taken the photos, write your dog a brief bio that goes into detail about his favorite games, social skills, and experience with other pets, children and dogs, as well as any quirks, preferences or special circumstances that may apply to the dog.
- Once you have prepared your dog’s adoption packet spread the word to friends and family that you are trying to re-home your dog. Contact the local animal shelter to learn about any connections they may know of and consider contacting other local doggie establishments, such as obedience and sporting groups.
- Once you have found somebody interested in adopting the dog, screen the applicant very carefully by asking question about the dog’s potential living environment, activities and diet as well as other pets, or children and the would-be parent’s experience with dogs. In most cases, it is wise to charge an adoption fee in order to dissuade anyone who is not serious about adopting a dog.
- If the applicant screens well, help the dog adjust to his new home by making the transition slowly.
Although nobody wants to have to give up their canine companion, sometimes it is a necessary part of dog parenting. Fortunately, these guidelines can help you streamline the re-homing process, choose a good adoption environment and ensure that your dog lives happily ever after.
Photo ©iStock.com/DebbiSmirnoff
