REHOMING A PET
We understand there are some situations in life where rehoming your pet may be unavoidable or in the animal’s best interest. There is a right and a wrong way to go about finding a new family for your pet. We are here to help navigate you through this process as painlessly and professionally as possible.
First, we do NOT recommend listing your animal on craigslist or online yard sale sites.
People who are looking for a quick, cheap (or free) way to obtain a pet without having to undergo any background or reference checks may not have your animal’s best interest in mind. Fido may find himself used as a bait dog, research animal, or perhaps more commonly but no less sad for the animal…chained in a yard with little to know human contact once the novelty wears off. Craigslist, free pages, and yard sale sites generally do not attract the right kind of adopters. They also, unfortunately, tend to give off the impression that adopting the animal is more akin to acquiring a used washing machine.
Reputable rescues have an adoption process to help ensure the animal’s next home is not only his/her LAST home, but also a loving home. Rescue organizations can also update vetting as needed to make sure the animal is healthy, and provide spay or neuter to help control pet overpopulation. Maybe the most important thing that rescues can offer is a contract that states that if the adopter cannot keep the animal, then he or she must be returned.
We do NOT recommend listing your animal for “free.”
Zero cost upfront too often leads to zero thought upfront. When you are looking for a forever home for your furry friend, you want potential adopters to put careful thought, consideration, and time into taking ownership of the pet. Free also implies that pets are worthless. Pets are living, breathing, amazing animals that are our family… why not add a rehoming fee to help encourage adopters to put some thought into the decision?
We DO recommend asking questions!
Asking potential adopters questions is a simple and easy way to help find your furry friend the right home. Are they prepared for the financial responsibility of owning the pet? What type of home do they have? Do they have a fenced in yard? What is their plan for acclimating the pet into their home? Do they have resident animals? What will they do if the pet doesn’t adjust to their home?
We DO recommend performing checks!
It is perfectly reasonable to request a home visit, a personal reference, and inquire about resident pets veterinary records & care. Public property records can be checked on local county or city GIS websites if you want to know if a potential adopter rents or owns their own. Be aware that adopters who rent may or may not be allowed to have another pet in their home; you can ask for a copy of the lease agreement or request for confirmation from a landlord if you are unsure.
We DO recommend making sure your animal is spayed/neutered and UTD on vaccines
Rehoming an unfixed, unvaccinated animal is both irresponsible and careless. The animal could go on to produce countless litters of more unfixed animals that creates a cycle leading to more unwanted, homeless animals being brought to shelters. Additionally, it is proven that a spayed/neutered animal is healthier, more well-behaved, and lives a longer life! Males that aren’t neutered are more likely to roam in search of mates, mark or spray, and initiate fights with other animals. Females that aren’t spayed are more likely to develop uterine infections, reproductive system cancers, and may yip, yowl, pace, or attempt to escape when in heat.
An unvaccinated animal is at risk of contracting certain diseases, many of which are fatal. If dogs aren’t vaccinated at as puppies, they will be vulnerable to diseases such as rabies, canine distemper, hepatitis, canine parvovirus, Lyme disease, canine influenza, leptospirosis, and kennel cough. If cats don’t receive vaccines during kittenhood, they will be susceptible of contracting feline calicivirus, rabies, feline distemper (panleukopenia), feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), feline leukemia (FeLV), chlamydia, & feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Rabies vaccine is required by Virginia state law for any companion animal (cats & dogs) 4 months in age or older.
There are low cost options available for both spay/neuter and vaccines! A quick internet search of low cost spay neuter clinics in your area is a great place to start. Shelters and rescues may be able to point you in the right direction or may even be able to assist you with the costs or setting up an appointment. Another route you could take would be to borrow the money from a friend or family member and require a rehoming fee that covers the cost of spay/neuter and any necessary vaccines that you could then use to pay them back.
If you find yourself in a position where you are unable to have the animal spayed/neutered and vaccinated due to time constraints or financial problems, surrendering the animal to a shelter or rescue may be the best path forward. While it’s scary to consider, bringing your unfixed & unvaccinated animal to the shelter may actually be in their best interest. This helps prevents the spread of diseases, eliminates the risk of future litters, and gives the animal an opportunity to get vetting & find a new home.
So what is the process of rehoming your pet?
*** Unfortunately due to an increasingly large number of rehoming applications, we are currently unable to assist with rehoming animals at this time. Please contact your local shelter or try back with us at a later time. ***
