Tips for Rehoming Your Pet

Before making the decision to find another home for your pet, consider the problem and whether or not it can be fixed. For instance, if the animal is misbehaving or is not housetrained, try to teach the pet or consider consulting an animal trainer. If you are worried about your pet being alone for long periods of time, consider hiring a pet sitter or asking friends and family to stop in to check on your pet. Also, if allergies seem to be affecting the relationship with your pet, see your doctor to find out if there is anything that can be done to prevent it. Make your best effort to try and keep your beloved pet before considering alternatives.

If there is no other option and you cannot keep your pet, before you bring him or her to the Brevard Humane Society, you can try and find a new home on your own. This can reduce the stress of an animal being brought into an overcrowded kennel and provide peace of mind knowing where your pet’s new home will be. Here are some helpful tips for rehoming your pet:

  • Call anyone you know who may be interested in adopting your pet.
  • Post flyers that include information about your pet around town, at your local animal shelter, or veterinarian’s office.
  • Put an ad in the newspaper.
  • Use social media or reputable websites to post pictures and information about your pet.
  • If your pet is a purebred, there may be a breed-specific rescue organization in your area that will accept him and work to find him a new home. Breed-specific rescue groups are usually run by people with in-depth knowledge of a specific breed and they keep adoptable animals until they can be placed in loving, permanent homes. To locate a rescue group that specializes in your pet’s breed, search the Internet or check the classifieds section of the newspaper. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Information to include about your pet:

  • A recent photo, name, age, gender, general health, special health needs, vaccination status
  • Behavioral information, such as: are they good with other dogs, do they get along well with cats, are they housetrained, kid-friendly, prefer a quiet adult household, etc.
  • Contact information

Tips for safe, successful adoption:

  • Charge an adoption fee to help ensure potential adopters are serious about taking the financial responsibility of your pet
  • Ask for pets veterinary records of the potential adopter’s current pets
  • Arrange a home visit
  • Ask for personal references
  • Consider drafting a contract