Giving Up Your Pet
Finding another home for your pet is a very serious decision. Please consider all your options. And consider the dangers of offering your pet "free to good home"
If you wish to find another home for your pet, please read the following carefully. The pet overpopulation problem in the U. S. is overwhelming. Approximately 10-12 million animals are taken to animal shelters around the country every year. Of those animals, about 4-6 million are put to sleep. There are just not enough homes for all the animals who need homes. So, finding a GOOD home for your pet will not be easy.
The following is a list of things to consider before opting to give up your pet:
Is the reason you are giving up your pet due to medical or behavioral problems? If you answered yes, please read further. Many medical and behavioral problems can be easily solved.
- Litter Box Problems? - Is your cat using the litter box appropriately? If you answered no, then ask yourself this question – Am I keeping the litter box clean? Litter boxes should be scooped at least once a day. For multiple cat households, boxes should be scooped several times a day and multiple litter boxes are recommended, about one per cat. The box should also be dumped every 2 or 3 weeks and cleaned thoroughly. If you are keeping the box clean, then your cat probably has a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection or crystals. A trip to the vet for a urinalysis is in order. Please do not assume that your cat is mad about something and getting even with you, because although we would like to think so, cats are not vindictive like humans. A cat that is not using the litter box, or one that is straining while in the box, usually has a urinary tract problem. We also have "Your Adopted Cat" DVD's for $3.00 each.
- Allergies? – If you, or someone in your family, are allergic to your pet, there are wonderful products on the market that prevent allergic reactions. One such product is AllerPet. Just rubbing down your pet’s coat once a week with this product will sometimes totally eliminate allergy problems. Some Veterinarians carry allergy products, but you can also order these products through pet supply catalogs, such as Jeffers, PetsMart, and Fosters and Smith. Check online for other pet supply websites.
- Jumping or Digging Out of the Back Yard? – If your dog is an escape artist, installing a hot wire may be the perfect solution. Hot wires are inexpensive and very effective for discouraging jumping and digging out. They do not cause any permanent damage to your dog, but they certainly make him/her think twice before going near it again. In many cases, you can turn the hot wire off after your dog has been “popped” a couple of times. Just check with your local hardware or feed and seed store for pricing and directions for installing.
- Behavioral Problems, Such as Biting, Jumping, etc? – Dogs, as well as pet owners, benefit tremendously from dog obedience classes. If your dog is exhibiting behavioral problems that you just don’t know how to correct, please contact the Humane Society for a list of dog trainers in your area. A good training class and good advice can help solve just about any problem. Recommended reading – GOOD OWNERS; GREAT DOGS by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson. We also have dog training DVD's for $3.00 each.
As you can see, there are many things you can do to solve problems that you may be experiencing with your pet that will allow you to keep it in your home. However, if you still have to give up your pet, please read these helpful hints below.
- Never advertise your pet “Free to Good Home.” Advertising in this way can be a death sentence for your pet. Unfortunately, “free” is too often seen as worthless. People tend to put more value on something they pay for. Please see below how people sometimes view a “free” pet.
- Always screen potential adopters thoroughly. The Humane Society offers screening applications to help you ask the right questions.
- Always do a home visit, vet check, and landlord check. It may be time-consuming, but it will be worth the effort to ensure that your pet is going to the best home possible.
- Charge a small fee. The Humane Society has a Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program. Charge the adopter the amount of the spay or neuter. Then you take responsibility for scheduling the spay or neuter when the pet comes of age. Use the fee to cover the cost. However, the Humane Society recommends spaying or neutering pets before they are adopted and charging a fee to offset the cost.
- Always get names and numbers of adopters so you can follow up, and have the adopter sign a contract agreeing to return the pet if they can’t keep it for any reason.
- If you can’t find a home on your own, you can take your pet to the local Animal Shelter. This is not always a death sentence as most people assume. If your pet is healthy and has a friendly personality, its chances of being adopted may be quite good. If your pet "has to go" immediately, the only solution is the animal shelter. Please do not just turn your pet loose to fend for itself; this is cruelty!
- You can contact a Breed Rescue organization. Just go online and do a search for the type of breed. For example, if you have a poodle, do a search for "Poodle Rescue." It will probably give you lots of contacts all over the country. The Humane Society recommends using a rescue that is close enough that you can go and check out personally. Check out their web site, ask questions about their screening of potential adopters. Ask if they do home visits. Ask how the pets are kept until they are adopted – foster homes vs. kennels. Just because an organization claims to be a rescue doesn’t necessarily make it reputable. You can make an informed decision of whether or not you want to give them your pet once you check them out carefully.
Just remember that your pet is depending on "YOU" to find it a GOOD home. Please be patient and do your homework. Your pet’s life may depend on it.