In this section you will find information on locatinga temporary placement, a permanent adoptive home,considering help from a rescue organizationand how to screen a potential adopter.
Temporary Relocation
Is it possible a temporary placement is all you need? Some problems are resolved with time. Consider a temporary home, pet sitter, boarding facility, doggy daycare, or a rescue group who might be willing to take care of your pet until you are in a position to reunite with them.
Consider temporary or emergency housing assistanceand resources.
Permanent Re-homing
If permanently re-homing your pet is your last option before surrendering them to ashelter, start lookingfor a home as soon as possible!Re-homing a pet takes time and energy and the more time you have, the better the chance that you will find a home before any deadline you might have.
WHERE to look first: Are any of your trusted friends,family members or coworkerswilling to give your pet a loving and responsible home?
WHAT to do next: Start with agreat photoand awell-written descriptionwhich are essential to spread the word about your pet. It is better to have one striking photo than several average ones. Remember, a picture speaks a thousand words. Focus on your pet’s face and body and try to capture them looking directly into the camera.
Also, you’ll want to write something that will capture someone’s attention and make them want to meet your pet. Give details about your pet’s uniquecharacter and personality: Do they have a favorite toy? Why they were given their name. Instead of just saying “loving” or “affectionate”,be specific–let people know your dog loves to have her ears rubbed and rests her head in your lap.
Also, include somekey detailslike their age, gender, breed, size, activity level, how they get along with children and other animals, whether they’re house trained, spayed or neutered and vaccinated. While it is important to not misrepresent your pet in any way, always start with and focus on the positive.
If your animal has (unresolved) behavioral problems or medical concerns, be honestwith potential adopters. Try to find a home that is the right environment and fit and one that has experience.
You may also include why you are in need of rehoming your pet. Some people and organizations will want to know what steps you took to find resolution and keep your pet. If the reason has to to do with the pet this information informs them what has not yet been tried, which may offer ideas to make the next home successful.
HOW to get the word out:
FLYERSare inexpensive and can be highly effective. Information can be edited down for fliers. Be sure to cut the bottom of the page into pull-off strips, so that people can rip off your contact information. Post them in as many places as possible (vet clinics, dog parks, coffee shops, supermarkets, bookstores, health clubs, pet supply stores, religious institutions, libraries, etc.) Pass them out to your friends and family and ask them to post them in their neighborhoods or offices as well.
ONLINE RESOURCES and SOCIAL NETWORKS
The following locations allow you to upload photos and text. BE CAREFUL!Not everyone who responds to your ad will have your pets’ best interest in mind. The second part of this guide will give advice on screening potential homes.
Craigslist
Craigslist has become a popular place to network lost/found animals, and adoptable pets. Again, exercise extreme caution. Plan to re-post your pet at least once a week. People sometimes flag ads for removal, so check that your ad has not been removed. If you have a deadline, you can include it in the subject line on such sites. Never offer your pet for free on Craigslist or any other advertisem*nt. Charge a reasonable rehoming fee ($25). Include in the ad that you will be checking with their veterinarian for a reference. The vet may request permission first, but will be able to tell you if this person’s current pets are spayed/neutered, up to date on shots and receiving routine medial care.
Facebook, twitter and Instagram.
Social networks are a great way to advertise.
On Facebook, in addition to your own page, use Re-home Arizona Pets and Keep Them Out of Shelters and Tucson Networking an Rescue.
Post on nextdoor.com (you can easily join if you have not already). Your neighborhood may have another group as well.
Free Rehoming Services
If you are in Pima County, you can utilize the Home To Home program, partnering with PACC. Another resource is rehome.doptapet.com
Advertise anyplace you can!
Consider any local newspapers available to reach those who aren’t online. Is your pet perfect for a senior? “Mature orange tabby with great personality ready to steal your heart and sit in your lap! Simba is a 9 year old neutered male. Up to date on all shots. Call Susan at 301.555.1234. Adoption fee required (adoption fee explained later under “Screening Adopters”).
Rescue Groups
Did you purchase your dog from abreederor adopt it from a rescue group orno-kill shelter? You may have signeda contractagreeing to first offer to return your pet to them. If any of these are the origin of your pet,they should be contacted first. Please keep in mind, that while rescue organizations want the opportunity to rehome their original pets, many organizations are stretched to their limit. They may strive to help you find a way to keep your pet and often haveextensive knowledge about available community resources.
Sometimes, luck is on our side and animals in need of rehoming CAN be placed with a rescue group or no kill shelter even if you didn’t get your pet from one.
If your animal is a purebred or has a strong resemblance thereof,search local or national rescue groups for your pet’s breed. Potential adopters that contact a purebred rescue group are fans of the breed and knowledgeable breed specific rescue groups are usually very successful in finding the right match for the individual animals they take in. While policies vary, many purebred rescue groups accept mixed breed animals, especially if there appears to be a predominant breed.
If your animal is not a pure breed, look forlocal or regional all breed rescue groups. Contact them through email, phone and/or posting and messaging through their facebook page. Always include a picture. Timing is everything with rescues- do they have an opening in one of their foster homes?
These are small groups of volunteers that do not operate out of a physical shelter, but foster animals in their homes until a permanent one is found. A home environment is ideal to a shelter.
Some rescue groups will take owner surrenders, depending on how much room they have and each individual situation. Consider if you are able to offer a onetime or ongoing sponsorship of your pet until it is adopted. Other groups can offer what is commonly referred to as “Place Assist”, where you ready your animal for adoption based on their criteria and then they allow you to participate in one of their adoption events and/or post on their online pet listings.
Find nearby rescue groups online by reviewing which groups are posting animals available for adoption within your vicinity on www.petfinder.com or 24petconnect.com/.
To increase your chances of finding a home and the likelihood of success in the new home, we strongly encourage you spay/neuter your pet before it is rehomed. This will help your pet, the adopter and the future of all homeless animals.
Shelters
While our goal is to keep pets out of shelters, sometimes it is your only option, particularly in an emergency. In Pima County we are now fortunate to have a municipal shelter, Pima Animal Care Center, which does an excellent job at finding foster homes and adoptive homes for pets, even with medical or behavioral problems. They will also provide life-saving medical care to sick and injured pets. Shelters are a last resort because the space should be reserved for pets with no other resources. They may be overcrowded and it is much more stressful on a pet than going into a foster home or another adoptive home directly. If it is not an emergency you will need to make an appt.
There are also a variety of other shelters in Pima County for dogs and/or cats and again, they are ALL relatively safe places for pets now.
Tips for Screening a Potential New Home
You know your pet best and therefore you MIGHT be the best person to find a new home. BUT that is only true if you know how to screen a home and make a proper match. As desperate as you may be to find your pet a new home-it is strongly recommended that you thoroughly screen any interested party and remember, even honest and well-intentioned people may not be a good match or have the right home for your pet.
It is your job to ask questions. Be prepared to screen potential adopters over the phone. Ask them questions to understand why they are interested in your animal, what kind of prior experience they have had with companion animals, and what sort of environment the pet will be in. Some specific examples will follow under“Interview Questions”and many reputable rescue groups post theiradoption applications onlinewhich you can use as a reference. How potential adopters answer these questions can tell you a lot about the person’s understanding of how to be a good pet guardian and what their expectations are for the new pet.
If an adopter is truly interested, they should be asking youabout your pet’s health, behavior, likes/dislikes, and why you are re-homing your pet. Be honest- don’t set your pet up for failure and many more future homes.
Once you are ready to move on to the next step with a potential adopter, set up a time tomeet in person. Because animals are often uncomfortable when out of their normal surroundings, you may start with initial introductions by having the personcome to you.
If you live alone, make sure you have another friend there for your safety or consider a public place. Maybe your cat’s veterinarian would allow you to reserve a room for 20 minutes. If they have a pet you may want to arrange the meeting with their pet present and it is best they meet on neutral territory (not your house or theirs).
The meet and greet can also serve as aHome Visitto the potential adopter’s home. Never let a person adopt your dog that won’t allow you to view the home it will be living in. That is an absolutered flag. On a home visit, be sure to screen the home carefully and consider every element, such as if the owner has children or other pets, a securely fenced yard etc.
Recommended Interview Questions for Potential Adopters:
If they have any previous pets, ask about them.What happened to them? The best answer is “Yes; It died at age 17.” What you really don’t want to hear is that their last pet was hit by a car, died of a preventable disease, ran away, or was turned in to a shelter.
Do they have a pet now?Already having a pet is good. It demonstrates that they already know what is involved in having one. May want to ask how long they have had this pet and prior pets.
If you have another dog/cat, is it altered? Is it vaccinated? Hopefully they aren’t wanting your pet for breeding purposes and they can demonstrate good preventative health care standards.
Do you own your home or rent?If they rent, what are the requirements in the lease about pets (number of pets or weight/breed limits) Doyou have a fenced yard?
Will the pet be a member of your family ora giftfor someone else?
Are you willing to allow a home check?
Would you be willing to provide references? If they have pets, or recently had pets ask if it will be OK to get a reference from their vet. The vet can at least verify their pet receives routine preventative healthcare.*** (It is not unreasonable to ask for references from a job, friends, and for identification like a drivers license that you can use for your records. Rescue groups do this on their applications and contracts.)
How will they help the pet adjust to the new home?There are many article to explain the best ways to properly introduce new cats/dogs to other cats/dogs in the house. Expecting instant bonding is a set up for failure.
How will you handle unwanted behaviors or medical issues? If the pet has an accident in the house, what type of correction do you plan to use? (Use real examples for your pet- none are perfect- ask: what will you do when he…….?). If your pet has medical needs make sure the new owners are comfortable with the costs involved.
How many hours per day will the pet be alone? Where is the pet kept when you are not home?
Who else lives in the house?If there are other adults, do they all agree with getting a pet? Will they all be available to meet? If there arechildren,how old are they? Have they ever been around pets? Children should not be expected to be responsible for the pet.
Will the pet be going outside? Cats that go outside have a significantly reduced expected life-span, get hit by cars, poisoned intentionally, poisoned unintentionally, get lost, can contract illness etc. You want to hear that this will be an indoor cat. Outdoor/indoor is okay for dogs, but remember, dogs are pack animals and want to be where you are. Leaving a dog outside when the rest of his family is inside is a lonely experience for a dog.
Will you be declawing the cat? Declawing a cat is NOT OK.
Do you realize that dogs can live for more than 15 years and cats for 20 or more?
If you’re satisfied with their answers you may suggest aTrial period-so that the potential adopter can spend some real time getting to know your pet and you can visit to see how she is doing. During this time, either side can cancel the arrangement.
If you feel certain about the new home, consider creating acontractwith them that requires them to contact you if they ever have to re-home your pet themselves in the future. Many rescue organizations post their adoption contracts online you can use as an example or template. Both parties should have their contact and an emergency contact on the contract, sign it and retain copies.
“Free to good home” pets may attract people who will sell animals to research facilities or have other ill intentions such as dog fighting. To eliminate the largest risks associated with rehoming charge a small rehoming fee, somewhere around $25-$75. Please consider and let them know that you will give the fee to a non-profit organization that helps animals.
Lastly, make sure youprovide the new guardianwith any of your animal’s medical records, microchip records and favorite toys and special food or treats. Be prepared to follow up and stay in touch, but allow time and patience to let your pet bond with it’s new guardians.
