How to Find a New Home for Your Dog

When we bring a dog companion into our family, we should be able to commit to its care for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, realities of your own life may get in the way. You may need to find a new home for your dog because of poor economic conditions that make it difficult to buy dog food and pay vet bills, or even keep a roof over your own head. You may become ill and unable to physically care for your dog, or there may be severe allergy problems in the family. Giving up a beloved pet is a difficult thing to do, but finding a suitable home and knowing that your dog will be treated well and loved by his new family can make the loss easier to deal with.

Dropping your dog off at an animal shelter may be the quickest and most convenient way of removing your dog from your home, but is not a good option. Animal shelters and humane societies are there to care for stray and abused dogs, and should be your very last resort when finding a new home for a well-behaved and even-tempered family companion. Once you place your dog in an animal shelter, his fate is in the staff members' hands. There is no guarantee he will be adopted, even if he is a pure breed.

Dogs who are elderly, unfriendly toward strangers, or have medical problems have slim chances of being adopted from a shelter. Unless you place him in a no-kill shelter, he may face euthanasia. No-kill shelters are often full up and may not have room for your pet. Some people won't adopt dogs of certain breeds that have reputations for being overly aggressive, and no-kill shelters may refuse to take yours, no matter much room they have or how mild-mannered he is.

Placing your dog in a new home yourself can give you the peace of mind of knowing where he is and that he will be contented in his new surroundings. Consider these options when you are trying to find a family who will love your dog as much as you do:

Ask friends or family if they will adopt your dog.
The first step in finding your dog a new home is to ask any dog-loving friends and relatives if they'd like to adopt your wonderful dog. If your dog is considered wonderful by people other than yourself, they may be thrilled to have him. As a bonus, when a family member or friend adopts your dog you may be able to visit your pet's new home and continue your relationship.

Your veterinarian may be able to help you find a new home for your dog.
Your veterinarian is well acquainted with many dog owners, and may be the best place to start. He'll know which of his patients have caring and considerate owners, and may know of someone who is looking for another dog and may be willing to adopt yours. Most vets' offices have community bulletin boards where you may advertise that your dog is available for adoption, if your vet isn't able to help you himself.

Advertise through classified ads and community bulletin boards.
Advertising your dog for adoption through classified ads in the local newspaper or on community bulletin boards is an option when friends and family can't help you out. Post basic information about your dog (breed, age, size, etc.) and his most desirable character traits that may help potential owners determine whether or not this dog might be right for their family. Don't try to hide his faults, but describe them in a positive light. If your dog barks at everything that moves, you could honestly say he is a good watch dog! If he doesn't care for children, specify that he requires a home without children. New owners may take time to retrain your dog, but they deserve to know up front what problems they may be dealing with. If they aren't willing to accept your dog's bad points as well as the good ones, he may end up abandoned to a shelter anyway.

Ask each person who contacts you why he wants your dog. Be sure his motives are the right ones. It's possible that this person may just be collecting dogs to sell to a research facility or to engage in dog fights. Smaller, non-aggressive dogs are often used as training bait for fighting dogs. It happens more often than you might realize! To prevent their dogs from coming to an unpleasant end, many dog owners will sell their dog to a new owner instead of offering it for free. Never specify that your dog is "free to a good home." People who are willing to make an initial investment in your dog are more likely to be legitimate, and you can refuse their money if you feel they truly have your dog's best interests at heart.

Check with reputable dog breeders in your area.
Contact reputable breeders, perhaps even the breeder who produced your dog, and ask if they can help you find a good home for your dog. The breeder may have contacts who would be happy to adopt your dog, or they may be interested in buying it themselves as breeding stock (if it hasn't been spayed or neutered, of course, and is AKC registered). Before allowing a breeder to adopt your dog, check out the kennel facilities to make sure that your dog will have a clean and comfortable place to live, and won't be confined to a small, dirty cage. Reputable breeders will keep their dogs in top physical condition and provide a comfortable home and plenty of exercise. Ask to see the other dogs the breeder owns and the place where the dogs are kept. If the breeder's own dogs appear to be unhealthy, have substandard qualities for the breed, are poorly socialized and untrained, or confined in cramped quarters, don't allow them to buy or adopt your dog.

Register with pet-finder web sites.
When you haven't had any luck finding a new home locally for your dog, consider registering with a pet-finder website. These sites can help place pets in new homes as well as finding lost ones! You may search and find a suitable dog lover who would be tickled pink to adopt your dog, and if not, you can place an adoptable-dog classified ad on the site to find your dog a new home.

Animal rescue agencies may be able to help you place a difficult dog.
A dog with behavioral issues may be hard to place in a new home, and may not adapt well to his new family. Find a local or regional animal rescue facility that may take your dog and work to correct his problems before the staff places him in a new home. A local animal shelter or online search will direct you to the resources you need.

How to choose the best adoptive owner for your dog.
You'll want to be sure that prospective owners will protect your pet's health and safety, provide the affections that he craves, and have the time and experience to care for pets properly. You don't have to give your sweet pup away to the first family that responds! Imagine that this is one of your own children whom you are entrusting to another person's care. You wouldn't hand little Johnny over to a perfect stranger whom you knew nothing about (although most parents know how tempting that idea is sometimes).

Ask prospective owners questions about their previous pet owning experience. Have they owned other pets in the past, and if they don't have them any longer, what happened to them? You don't want to place your dog with a family whose pets have a history of being hit by cars, dying from untreated illnesses, or were placed in shelters when the owners became frustrated with them. Your dog will probably fall victim to the same circumstances.

Take your adoptable dog to the prospective owner's home instead of allowing him/her to pick the dog up at your house. If they insist on picking the dog up at your house, don't let them have your dog! This way you can see for yourself what sort of living conditions your dog will have if you let this person or family adopt him.

It doesn't matter much to your dog whether the home is small or large, plain or fancy, or cluttered or clean. What matters is how much affection the family displays toward one another and towards other pets they may have. Does this family make you feel welcome, do they greet you and your dog warmly and spend time in conversation, or do they want to hurry through the introduction and get on with their lives? Your dog will be happiest in a home where love and friendship abound, even if it's a hovel. Dogs who are kept as status symbols or accessories, or whose owners are cold and uncaring towards other people and pets, won't receive the love and attention they deserve.

Your dear companion has trusted you to look after his welfare, so don't let him down now! Take time to find the best possible home for your dog, and although you may miss him terribly you will at least have peace of mind knowing that your dog is safe and content with his new family.