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Consider the Options |
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Is it really necessary for you to give up your pet, or
can you make other changes that will allow you to remain together?
Can it be “fostered” by a friend or animal welfare
organization until your situation changes? Would proper training for your pet change your decision?
Consider all options before
deciding to give up this family member. Remember, when you
brought this animal into your life, you promised to love and
care for him or her. This is not a decision to make
lightly. Click
here for a list of
solutions to some of the common reasons that dogs lose their
homes.
There are far too many
abandoned animals, and not enough homes for all of them.
Just because you think that Fido might prefer to live on a large
ranch rather than your new condo doesn't mean that these
opportunities exist for most dogs. Sadly, millions of
animals die in our animal shelters every year because there was
no one willing to adopt them! Don't leave your pet's life
up to his or her chances of being adopted at a shelter.
Most shelter animals do not make it out alive.
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Get
ready for adoption |
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Before trying to find a new home for your pet, you should get him or
her ready to be adopted. If you haven't done so already, have
the animal spayed or neutered, and get the pet up-to-date on
vaccinations. Have a veterinarian address any current medical
problems. Give the pet a bath. A healthy and happy pet
is much more likely to find a good home. Get all of the
paperwork together, including all medical records. The new
owner will want this information.
If you need a low-cost spay/neuter
or vaccination clinic, please call your local animal control
department, or call 1-800-SPAY-4-LA for a referral to a clinic
near you. Some shelters will even issue vouchers to help
pay for the cost of the surgery. Please get this done
before placing ANY companion animal into a new home. We
have so many unwanted pets that are dying in animal shelters.
Don't let your pet add to the problem! |
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No “Free To Good Home” Ads! |
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No matter how desperate you are, don’t ever place an ad
that offers your pet “Free”.
Some people scan the newspapers looking for these ads to find
animals to use for medical research (or worse).
If someone isn’t willing to pay a fee to adopt your pet,
chances are they aren’t adopting your pet for the right reasons,
and would not provide the love and care that your pet is used to.
We recommend asking for a minimum fee of $50-$75. |
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Post Notices |
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Post notices at local veterinary offices, shelters,
dog parks, and pet-related
businesses such as pet supply stores. Contact
local humane organizations regarding their placement capabilities.
Ask all of your friends, family members, co-workers, church members,
and neighbors if they or someone they know might be interested in
adopting the animal. Use your circle of friends to find the
pet a new home. |
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Post to the Internet |
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Post the animal on the internet. Take a cute photograph of
your pet to your local copier store and have it converted into a
digital image. You can also borrow a digital camera, or have
the picture scanned by someone with a scanner. Visit the
following websites and follow the directions to post your pet to the
site:
www.petfinder.org
(look under 'Classifieds')
www.amrt.net (look
under 'Private Adoptions')
www.petshelter.net (look
under 'Find a Home')
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Apply for our
Owner Turn-In Waiting List |
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If your dog is a
purebred German Shepherd, click here
to fill out an application to be considered for our "Owner
Turn-In" waiting list. The list is always long, and
submitting an application is not a guarantee that we can take
your dog. Because we have so many people asking us to
take their dog(s), it can take several weeks before we can
clear a space to bring him or her into the rescue, so please
continue your efforts to re-home your dog in the
meantime. All dogs coming into the rescue must be
spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations. |
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Interview Thoroughly |
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Find out what the potential new owner expects from a pet, and why
they’re interest in your pet.
Ask them what they’ll do if, for some reason, the
relationship with your pet doesn’t work out.
Be prepared to turn down an unqualified applicant. When
you do find the right adopter, ask them to sign a written agreement stating they will
contact you in the event of any future problems. |
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Check the New Home |
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Insist on seeing the home where your pet will live to make sure that
there is ample space and a good environment for it.
Check for adequate fencing, and find out where the dog will
sleep at night.
Ask the new owner if you can visit your pet in the future. |
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I.D. and References |
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Obtain driver’s license information, home and office telephone
numbers, and references. Learn
as much as you can about the prospective adopters before making any
decision that will impact your pet. Make sure that you know
that this will be a good home for your pet. |
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Follow-up |
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A week after the
adoption, contact the adopter to find out how things are going.
Be sure to let them know that you will take the pet back if
things are not going well. The last thing you want to find
is that the new adopter dumped your beloved pet at the local
animal shelter after it didn't meet their expectations in some
way. |
