Whether it’s due to an unwanted litter, a lost pet whose owner cannot be located, or a change in living situation such as a death of an owner, every day people face the decision of how to rehome a pet. Guardians for Rescue has some excellent tips for rehoming an animal to ensure that they don’t wind up in a dangerous situation. “If someone does feel they need to place their animal, they should make every effort to find it a safe and loving home,” explains Dori Scofield, vice president of Guardians of Rescue, an organization dedicated to helping animals in need. “It is all too easy for the animals to fall into the wrong hands.”
Guardians for Rescue suggests:
- Finding someone you personally know to take the animal. You should always start by asking friends and family if they would like to take the pet.
- Asking for references, including a veterinarian to make sure other animals in the home are spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines and annual check-ups.
- Never advertise the animal as being free. This opens the doors to the animal ending up with someone who will not care for it properly.
- If someone you don’t know very well is referred to you for taking the pet, visit the potential home so you can see first-hand the type of place the animal would live. Notice whether there are other pets and, if so, how they are being cared for. Discuss with the person whether they will have the time and funds that it takes to care for the pet.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It is important to be aggressive in this matter so that you can learn more about the person and help protect the pet.
- Call a local rescue group to see if they can help with referrals or any paperwork that needs to be done.
- Only use trusted sites, such as AdoptAPet and PetFinder, to offer information about your pet. Other advertising sites are often targeted sites for predators looking to collect animals.
- Always charge something for the pet. Your pet should be spayed/neutered and up to date on vaccinations and health care. People tend to value things more that they pay for, and those looking to collect them for research or other abusive means will most likely not want to pay anything for them.
“The best thing to do is first try to keep your pet and address the issue at hand,” added Scofield. “After exhausting those avenues, if you still need to re-home the pet, always take these precautionary measures to help keep it safe when it leaves your house. It makes a big difference in assuring that the animal can continue to live out its life in a healthy, happy home.”
The Guardians of Rescue is an organization that has a mission of helping all animals in distress, providing rehab, rescue, foster care, and help to families having economic difficulty with their pets. To learn more, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, visit www.guardiansofrescue.org.
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