Dogs are pack animals and would love nothing more than to be a part of your family. If you are unwilling to let them live inside with you, please make sure they are safe & comfortable outdoors.
SUMMER TIPS FOR OUTSIDE DOGS
Make sure your dog has plenty of clean drinking water. Refill often - before the bowl is empty. A dog cannot sweat to regulate body temperature and heat stroke is deadly. A dog house is not sufficient shelter from the heat. The sun turns them into heat boxes. Your dog does not enjoy laying in the direct sun without shade for hours in this heat or laying inside these "cookers." Provide your dog with alternate shade from the sun with a cross breeze or better yet - bring your dog inside your home or basement to keep them safe.
REHOMING
Pet-related problems can be frustrating, and you may feel that giving up your pet is the only solution. But before you take that step, check out the resources available to help pet owners resolve problems that may seem overwhelming. Best case scenario: You won’t have to part with your friend after all. But if you do, our tips can help you find your pet a loving new home.
If you’re struggling financially, annoyed by your pet's behavior, experiencing pet allergies or having trouble finding housing that welcomes your pets, our resources can help.
If you have exhausted all options and still must find your pet a new home, please do not wait until they need placement urgently as it takes time for people to see the listings and for you to ensure they are going to a good home. Think of what is best for your friend and get them listed for re-homing as soon as you can before you have to resort to sending them to a shelter or handing them over to just any old person from the street that comes along first.
ADVERTISING YOUR PET
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Create a flyer with your pet's photo and information. Display it in as many pet related businesses as you can, such as groomers, pet supply stores, vet offices, etc.
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It’s important that you take several good photos of your pet indoors (if he is an inside pet) and outdoors. A pet profile with a great photo will get the most attention by potential adopters. Videos are also encouraged as they provide a quick easy way to showcase your pets personality.
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Determine an appropriate re-home fee for your pet. Listing an animal as $0 or "Free to a good Home" can invite unwanted characters. When deciding your re-home fee, please consider this important point — that if someone can’t afford to pay you an appropriate re-home fee, then they may not be able to afford the basics for your pet, such as a good quality food, vaccinations and regular check-ups, plus all the other things that will keep the pet healthy. If your pet has been vetted such as spayed/neutered, microchipped, and/or vaccinated, you may want to check with your local animal shelter or a local rescue group to find out what their adoption fee is for your type of pet. This will help you come up with an appropriate re-home fee. Ideally your fee would be at least equal to the shelter or rescue’s adoption fee.
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Be as thorough and honest as possible when completing the bio and include as much information as possible. People are looking at: breed, age, weight, good with cats, dogs and kids, and activity level. This information will help prospective adopters decide whether or not your pet may be a good match for their family and their lifestyle. It is important so that the animal does not find themselves being bounced around from home to home.
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Share your pet on social media, including your Facebook page, local garage sale and rescue pages. Encourage your family and friends to share your post.
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Complete a Courtesy Post Listing with Us.
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Creating a listing with us will put your animal's bio in front of hundreds of prospective adopters on our website and on various search engines such as Petfinder.com. This is a free service, however donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.
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After you submit your pet’s photo(s) and bio, we will send you an email letting you know that your pet’s listing has been posted and include their unique link for you to share.
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Prospective adopters' inquiries regarding your pet will be forwarded directly to you for your follow up. We encourage you to send them an Application to aid in your screening process.
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Please notify us immediately when you no longer need our services so we may remove your listing
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**This is a free service, however please consider making a DONATION as our rescue relies solely on donations.
Note: If the pet’s information appears to support the breeding of animals or selling animals for profit, it will not be posted.
REVIEWING APPLICANTS
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Before calling an applicant to discuss your pet and the applicant’s home and family life, send them a Re-Home Application.
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Ask if you can contact their vet for a reference. If your pet is a breed that will need regular grooming, ask if you can contact a groomer they may use (or have used) for a reference.
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If you like what you hear from the applicant, their vet, and their groomer (if applicable), then you may want to schedule a meet-and-greet in a public place. If you feel comfortable meeting at their home, you can see where your pet will be living. For your safety, take someone with you who can also interact with your pet while you get to know the prospective adopter.
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If it isn’t possible for you to do a meet-and-greet at the applicant’s home, ask them to send you photos of their home, yard, family, and any pets they already own. Or ask them to do a video or speak with them live via Skype or another comparable program.
MEET AND GREET / ADOPTION
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Just in case the meet-and-greet turns into adoption day, take your pet’s ID, bed, favorite toys, medicine/medical records, and food.
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If the applicant doesn’t seem to be a match for your pet or you simply want to think about it further, you can say so tactfully and return home with your pet. You are under no obligation to hand your animal over to anybody you do not feel comfortable with. Go with your gut.
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If you can, a two week trial period is ideal. Call the adopter after the first 48 hours, and then once a week during the trial period. Encourage the adopter to call you if any problems arise.
More rehoming tips HERE
