RE-HOMing A PET
Alternatives to Re-Homing
Re-homing a pet is a difficult decision. There are many factors to consider and it can be heartbreaking for the whole family. Before attempting to find a new home for your animal companion, there are a few resources that you can utilize to keep your pet home.
If you are looking for pet-friendly housing, visit our resource page> and follow the steps to find a place where you can take your family member with you.
If your animal is in need of spay/neuter or vaccinations that you cannot afford, visit our listing of low-cost and free resources.
If your animal is having behavioral issues, for cats click here and for dogs click here to visit the ASPCA website for tips on fixing those problems.
In addition to these steps, you can contact us at (513) 732-8854 or through our online form and we will attempt to assist you in keeping your pet in their home.
If the above steps to avoid re-homing your animal have not worked, we have listed a few tips on how to responsibly and safely re-home your companion to give them the best potential outcome.
First, prepare the animal for adoption. To increase the chances of finding a home and the success of the new home, it is important that the pet is:
- Spayed (for females) or neutered (for males).
- In good health and up-to-date on vaccinations.
- Clean and groomed.
If your pet isn’t spayed or neutered, have it done. Placing an animal who has not been spayed/neutered into a new home can result in unwanted litters and undesirable mating behaviors, such as mounting or howling. For more information, and low-cost resources, please check the spay/neuter resource section on our website.
Next, show your pet in the best light. If you want to catch a potential adopter’s attention, this is where your pet needs to shine! Photos and descriptions really help people make a connection to an animal. Take several good-quality digital photos of your pet. Make sure your pet is well-groomed, is looking at the camera, and can be seen clearly in the photos. Then, tell their story. Explain the circumstances leading to your need to surrender, and help the reader get to know your pet. Click here for some great tips from the organization HeARTs Speak for writing your pet’s bio.
And finally, advertise widely and wisely. Get the word out in as many places as possible to increase your chances of success in finding a new home for your animal. Ask your friends and family to help get the word out but screen applicants well, asking for a vet reference if they already have pets.
“Free to Good Home” is a dangerous way to re-home a pet. There are, unfortunately, many people out there that scour these ads, on sites like Craigslist and others, to find cats and dogs for malicious reasons such as dog fighting bait. Call references for your pet’s potential new family and be selective.
Here are some sites that will help you connect with prospective adopters and responsibly re-home your pet.
- Adopt-A-Pet North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website helps hundreds of thousands of pets be seen and adopted.
- Get Your Pet An online community that connects people who want to adopt a pet with people who need to find their pet a new home.
- How I Met My Dog Offers custom matching based on 30 levels of human and dog compatibility.
If you have tried all alternatives to re-homing your pet, are still in need of assistance, and live in Clermont County, contact us at (513) 732-8854 or through our online form.
Source: BestFriends.org