DO YOU NEED TO REHOME?
Please note: We are not a drop-off shelter. Due to the overwhelming number of cats and kittens in our care at this time, foster home space is at a premium. If you need to give up your pet, please read below:
Do you need to give up your pet?
Before you decide to surrender your pet, please consider the following:
Rethink the reasons you want to give up your pet. Often an unwanted behavior or new situation at home seems overwhelming, and rehoming seems like the only option. Take a breath, think about it for awhile, talk to family & friends, ask for suggestions from area shelters and rescues. Many times, with some research and some helpful suggestions, a seemingly unworkable situation can be corrected and the pet may not need to be rehomed.
Moving? Why can't your pet come too? He is part of the family and would be much happier moving with you than being sent to live with strangers. If the reasons are due to your landlord or current living situation, try to find alternative arrangements. Temporary boarding may be possible. Family or friends may be able to help. Many apartments take pets. With a little time and effort you could find a pet friendly apartment so the whole family can be happy. Even a move out of state with your pet is not impossible.
If your pet is having medical issues, schedule an appointment at your local vet. The treatment may be easier and less expensive than you think. Few adopters are willing to take on an animal with unresolved pre-existing medical conditions. You owe it to your pet to provide him with medical care.
Behavior training: Are current pets in the household not getting along? Or perhaps the pets are not doing well with children in the home? There are resources available to seek behavior training. Many times the behavior can be corrected with proper training.
Are you considering rehoming an older pet because it doesn't get along with the new puppy/kitten? Older pets have a very hard time being rehomed. They are the least likely to be adopted from a shelter or rescue, and their holding time while awaiting placement is very stressful for them. If everything has been done to try to make the situation work and rehoming is the only option, please rehome the young, new pet - not your older pet. We know that new puppy or kitten is cute, but you made a commitment to your older pet when you adopted him (he was a cute puppy or kitten once). Your 10 year old dog or 12 year old cat has a higher likelihood of being euthanized at an animal shelter than being adopted.
Is this a stray or feral cat that you are attempting to place? Have you made an effort to locate the owner? Posting flyers and a found ad in the paper should be the 1st step. If the cat is friendly, put a collar on him with your phone number, so his owner can call and identify him. Owned cats are often thought to be strays, and owners seldom claim their cats at area shelters. Please verify the animal is homeless before removing him from the area.
If all alternatives have been explored and you still need to rehome your pet:
Give yourself plenty of time to rehome your pet. If you wait until the last minute ("We're moving on Friday...") you will probably not be successful, and risk placing your pet in an unsafe situation.
Consider placing an ad for your pet in the newspapers, on Craigslist (www.craigslist.org) or other online sites, post flyers in area pet stores or vet offices...etc... but do not let your desire to rehome your pet cause you to give your pet away to just anyone. Ask a lot of questions, vet check current pets, call their landlord, require meeting their children and current pets. You are the best advocate for your pet, and it is your responsibility to ensure they will be properly cared for & loved in their new home.
Always charge a small rehoming fee. "Free to a good home" ads get attention, but often the people who respond are not the best choice for your pets. Free pets could be sold for animal research, used to train fighting dogs or often times are just considered disposable and are not cared for. Your pet trusts you to take care of him, so taking the time to find him a caring, responsible guardian is essential.
Remember, rescues and shelters don't have a magic wand. Their employees and volunteers work very hard to find new homes for unwanted pets, but there are not enough homes for them all. Please be an advocate for your pet. If he truly needs a new home, don't dump him on someone else to deal with. He loves and trusts you - you owe it to him to find him the best home possible.