So you want to rehome your pet?
The following information explains some of the steps you can take if you are thinking about rehoming your dog or cat. Or ferret, chook, rabbit, bird etc.
1. Evaluate your reasons
If you can find an alternative solution to whatever problem is preventing you from keeping your pet, it will mean one less animal that needs rescuing or rehoming. While organisations do their best, there are always far too many pets to rescue. Please seek advice or help if you can. There is some good information available online.
See: Can We Help You Keep Your Pet
2. Try contacting the pet’s breeder
If your pet is a pure bred dog (or cat) from a reputable pedigree breeder, you should try to make contact with the breeder to let them know an animal they bred is in need of rehoming. You may be referred to their Breed Club rescue program if they have one.
3. Contact rescue groups
If the breeder can not take the pet back, try to contact a breed-related rescue group.
See: Dogzonline Rescue List
If your dog originally came from a rescue group please contact them, most would be very concerned and will try to help.
4. Try to rehome the pet yourself
If you are unable to find an alternative solution or someone who can take in your pet, then you need to try and find your pet a new home yourself.
See: Finding a new home for your pet
5. Prepare your pet
It is very important to desex your pet before you rehome them. We all need to do what we can to prevent more unwanted animals from being born. Update your pet’s vaccinations and prepare a history of your pet. Include as much information as possible about his/her likes and dislikes, current food preferences, relationship to other animals, whether he/she likes to play with certain types of toys etc. All this information will help make the transition easier on the animal. Groom and bathe your pet so that he/she looks their best.
5b. MICROCHIP! Please please make sure there is a chip and that the chip is in your name before rehoming. It is an offence to rehome unchipped pets or those in someone else's name. But having a microchip is also protection for your pet should they stray.
6. Take a good photo
A picture speaks a thousand words. When you take a photograph, use a background that is in contrast to the animal in order to highlight his/her best features. Keep it simple and clear with few background distractions.
Use a person, a tennis ball or some other means to show the scale of the pet. Take the time to get a calm relaxed photo that does not present the pet as aggressive or scared.
7. Advertise
Place an advertisement in the your local newspaper and on Internet advertising boards such as Trading Post or www.gumtree.com.au/ or a carefully chosen Facebook group. One that only lists desexed pets. Post a descriptive profile and a nice photo, making it clear that you are taking inquiries rather than selling 'first in best dressed'.
Note: Do not advertise your pet as free to good home. Ask a reasonable fee to discourage unscrupulous people such as re-sellers from responding to your advertisement. You can always waive the fee when you find a good home. Or donate the money to your favourite charity, or ask enough to cover microchipping, registration, vaccination or even just desexing if you feel uncomfortable about accepting money. Run the ad several times. You are looking to reach a wide audience. If you don't like the home offered it's OK to say no.
8. Prepare a good flyer
Describe the appearance, size, and age of the animal. Describe his/her nature and appealing qualities. Include the pet’s name. State that the pet is desexed. Define any limitations, e.g. not good with cats/small children/ other dogs/other cats. Use a good photograph. Be sure to put in your phone number, and time you can be reached.
9. Network
Take your flyers everywhere:
To your veterinarian.
To your work.
To pet supply stores.
To community bulletin boards.
Show your family and friends.
10. Interview potential new owners
When someone responds to your flyer or advertisement, you have an opportunity to interview them over the phone before introducing them to the animal. Ask questions about the person’s home environment to help you decide whether they can provide a suitable and loving permanent secure home. Use the questions on our adoption inquiry form if you need a format of what to ask. Make sure you transfer registration and or microchip details when you transfer ownership of your pet. You can leave your details in the Secondary Address part on the Change Of Owner form. In NSW this form is known as a C3A.
11. Take the pet to a pound or shelter
If advertising on your own doesn’t work, contact local pounds and shelters and seek their advice on the adoption prospects of your pet. A shelter and rescue directory is available here petrescue.com.au
Australian council impound facilities operate to provide their community a place for lost animals to be held until they are reclaimed. Once you choose to give your pet to a pound, you will pay a fee and sign a form relinquishing ownership. Once this is done, your pet is not a stray, it is an 'owner surrender' and may be rescued, adopted or euthanised at any time. Some pounds endeavour to remain low-kill, but will not hold a dangerous, feral or menacing animal for adoption.
Be aware that open intake or private shelters can have a waiting list so make sure you enquire with plenty of advance notice. Do not kid yourself if your pet has serious untreatable health or behavioural problems. There is the real possibility, that not keeping your pet will result in the pet's death, either directly at a shelter, or in not finding an appropriate permanent home. See point 12.
12. Last resort
Realistically, if your pet doesn’t stand much chance of being successfully adopted: by that I mean, if your pet has critical health or behavioural issues that you can't deal with, don't make them someone else's problem. For example, if your dog is a danger to itself or others, then please take responsibility for your pet and take him or her to your own vet for euthanasia. Stay with him or her to the end, as painful as that might be for you. It will be the last great gift of love you can give.
13. Never abandon your pet
Releasing any pet into the wild is a death sentence.
Whatever you do, do not turn your pet loose in the street or ‘out in the country’. This is one of the cruelest fates any domestic pet could meet. The danger, fear, and suffering they will encounter is heartbreaking even if they manage to survive for any length of time. Your domesticated pet isn't going to suddenly know how to live without you.
That includes pocket pets, birds, poultry, rabbits, ferrets, cats and dogs. All will fall prey to dehydration, starvation, disease or predators within hours or days.
A special note regarding ferrets; they can in no way survive in the wild. They are a domestic breed, about as close to a wild stoat or weasel that a chihuahua is to a wolf.
1. Evaluate your reasons
If you can find an alternative solution to whatever problem is preventing you from keeping your pet, it will mean one less animal that needs rescuing or rehoming. While organisations do their best, there are always far too many pets to rescue. Please seek advice or help if you can. There is some good information available online.
See: Can We Help You Keep Your Pet
2. Try contacting the pet’s breeder
If your pet is a pure bred dog (or cat) from a reputable pedigree breeder, you should try to make contact with the breeder to let them know an animal they bred is in need of rehoming. You may be referred to their Breed Club rescue program if they have one.
3. Contact rescue groups
If the breeder can not take the pet back, try to contact a breed-related rescue group.
See: Dogzonline Rescue List
If your dog originally came from a rescue group please contact them, most would be very concerned and will try to help.
4. Try to rehome the pet yourself
If you are unable to find an alternative solution or someone who can take in your pet, then you need to try and find your pet a new home yourself.
See: Finding a new home for your pet
5. Prepare your pet
It is very important to desex your pet before you rehome them. We all need to do what we can to prevent more unwanted animals from being born. Update your pet’s vaccinations and prepare a history of your pet. Include as much information as possible about his/her likes and dislikes, current food preferences, relationship to other animals, whether he/she likes to play with certain types of toys etc. All this information will help make the transition easier on the animal. Groom and bathe your pet so that he/she looks their best.
5b. MICROCHIP! Please please make sure there is a chip and that the chip is in your name before rehoming. It is an offence to rehome unchipped pets or those in someone else's name. But having a microchip is also protection for your pet should they stray.
6. Take a good photo
A picture speaks a thousand words. When you take a photograph, use a background that is in contrast to the animal in order to highlight his/her best features. Keep it simple and clear with few background distractions.
Use a person, a tennis ball or some other means to show the scale of the pet. Take the time to get a calm relaxed photo that does not present the pet as aggressive or scared.
7. Advertise
Place an advertisement in the your local newspaper and on Internet advertising boards such as Trading Post or www.gumtree.com.au/ or a carefully chosen Facebook group. One that only lists desexed pets. Post a descriptive profile and a nice photo, making it clear that you are taking inquiries rather than selling 'first in best dressed'.
Note: Do not advertise your pet as free to good home. Ask a reasonable fee to discourage unscrupulous people such as re-sellers from responding to your advertisement. You can always waive the fee when you find a good home. Or donate the money to your favourite charity, or ask enough to cover microchipping, registration, vaccination or even just desexing if you feel uncomfortable about accepting money. Run the ad several times. You are looking to reach a wide audience. If you don't like the home offered it's OK to say no.
8. Prepare a good flyer
Describe the appearance, size, and age of the animal. Describe his/her nature and appealing qualities. Include the pet’s name. State that the pet is desexed. Define any limitations, e.g. not good with cats/small children/ other dogs/other cats. Use a good photograph. Be sure to put in your phone number, and time you can be reached.
9. Network
Take your flyers everywhere:
To your veterinarian.
To your work.
To pet supply stores.
To community bulletin boards.
Show your family and friends.
10. Interview potential new owners
When someone responds to your flyer or advertisement, you have an opportunity to interview them over the phone before introducing them to the animal. Ask questions about the person’s home environment to help you decide whether they can provide a suitable and loving permanent secure home. Use the questions on our adoption inquiry form if you need a format of what to ask. Make sure you transfer registration and or microchip details when you transfer ownership of your pet. You can leave your details in the Secondary Address part on the Change Of Owner form. In NSW this form is known as a C3A.
11. Take the pet to a pound or shelter
If advertising on your own doesn’t work, contact local pounds and shelters and seek their advice on the adoption prospects of your pet. A shelter and rescue directory is available here petrescue.com.au
Australian council impound facilities operate to provide their community a place for lost animals to be held until they are reclaimed. Once you choose to give your pet to a pound, you will pay a fee and sign a form relinquishing ownership. Once this is done, your pet is not a stray, it is an 'owner surrender' and may be rescued, adopted or euthanised at any time. Some pounds endeavour to remain low-kill, but will not hold a dangerous, feral or menacing animal for adoption.
Be aware that open intake or private shelters can have a waiting list so make sure you enquire with plenty of advance notice. Do not kid yourself if your pet has serious untreatable health or behavioural problems. There is the real possibility, that not keeping your pet will result in the pet's death, either directly at a shelter, or in not finding an appropriate permanent home. See point 12.
12. Last resort
Realistically, if your pet doesn’t stand much chance of being successfully adopted: by that I mean, if your pet has critical health or behavioural issues that you can't deal with, don't make them someone else's problem. For example, if your dog is a danger to itself or others, then please take responsibility for your pet and take him or her to your own vet for euthanasia. Stay with him or her to the end, as painful as that might be for you. It will be the last great gift of love you can give.
13. Never abandon your pet
Releasing any pet into the wild is a death sentence.
Whatever you do, do not turn your pet loose in the street or ‘out in the country’. This is one of the cruelest fates any domestic pet could meet. The danger, fear, and suffering they will encounter is heartbreaking even if they manage to survive for any length of time. Your domesticated pet isn't going to suddenly know how to live without you.
That includes pocket pets, birds, poultry, rabbits, ferrets, cats and dogs. All will fall prey to dehydration, starvation, disease or predators within hours or days.
A special note regarding ferrets; they can in no way survive in the wild. They are a domestic breed, about as close to a wild stoat or weasel that a chihuahua is to a wolf.
When contacting SSR
Remember, SSR also has a breed specific rescuer of all ages Silky Terriers and Yorkshire Terriers. See the contact form on this website if you are rehoming these breeds.
For general inquiries SSR will usually ask you to give a good description of your dog and the circumstances behind your surrender request.
Sending an email (which we get 99% of the time!) saying "Please call me regarding getting rid of my dog" gives us zero information to work with. We always respond politely, and always ask questions, 99% of our replies go unanswered.
So please, give your dog it's best chance. Read the above list about how to rehome your pet, and read the below list when your options have been exhausted.
Important things:
Where are you?
Where is the dog?
Are you the legal owner?
Your contact details.
What breed is the dog?
Is the dog desexed, chipped and vet checked?
How old is the dog?
Are there any health or behavioural issues.
The circumstances behind your need or urgency to rehome. Time frame etc.
What methods you have tried in order to rehome?
What other rescue groups have you contacted?
What would need to be done if you wish to keep this dog and really would rather not rehome but feel out of options?
Is there family able to help you?
And as much as it pains us, sometimes there is nothing we can do to help but please understand, we're a small group with limited spaces and limited funds. A nasty reply to us helps nobody.
Anna@SSR
admin@seniorsandsilkies.org.au
n.b feel free to share, copy or print this page for your own reference or that of a fellow rescue group.
For general inquiries SSR will usually ask you to give a good description of your dog and the circumstances behind your surrender request.
Sending an email (which we get 99% of the time!) saying "Please call me regarding getting rid of my dog" gives us zero information to work with. We always respond politely, and always ask questions, 99% of our replies go unanswered.
So please, give your dog it's best chance. Read the above list about how to rehome your pet, and read the below list when your options have been exhausted.
Important things:
Where are you?
Where is the dog?
Are you the legal owner?
Your contact details.
What breed is the dog?
Is the dog desexed, chipped and vet checked?
How old is the dog?
Are there any health or behavioural issues.
The circumstances behind your need or urgency to rehome. Time frame etc.
What methods you have tried in order to rehome?
What other rescue groups have you contacted?
What would need to be done if you wish to keep this dog and really would rather not rehome but feel out of options?
Is there family able to help you?
And as much as it pains us, sometimes there is nothing we can do to help but please understand, we're a small group with limited spaces and limited funds. A nasty reply to us helps nobody.
Anna@SSR
admin@seniorsandsilkies.org.au
n.b feel free to share, copy or print this page for your own reference or that of a fellow rescue group.
