Pet Rehoming – Finding a Forever home

You may find yourself in the upsetting position of a pet purchase that just isn’t working. In an ideal world, all pets would find their perfect forever home the first time around and would spend their entire life with their sole beloved family. Owning a pet can be such an enriching experience but sometimes it just doesn’t work out, and for one reason or another, the pet will need to be rehomed. Don’t feel guilty if you need to rehome your pet, you just need to continue to be a responsible pet owner and do the utmost to find them their perfect forever home. 

Many families welcome a young pup or kitten and it’s not until they begin to age and develop that you can understand their personality and determine if they are truly the right fit for your family dynamic. Sometime the fit is just not right and rehoming is the best option for both your family and the pet. 

Why do people rehome their pets? 

Behavioural issues 

Behavioural issues are the most common reason that people choose to rehome their pet. 

• Perhaps the pet doesn’t like being around young children and may even show signs of aggression. 
• The pet may show signs of aggression toward other animals or strangers. 
• The pet may be experiencing separation anxiety, especially when their owner goes out for longer periods of time. 
• The pet keeps escaping their enclosure/yard/property and run the risk of becoming lost or injured. 
• Maybe there is an energy mismatch between the owner and the pet. Sometimes an over energetic pup can begin to show destructive behaviours. In some instances these behaviours will improve with age and training and so you should look into this as a first step.

Consulting with a professional dog trainer or veterinarian can help with sorting out behavioural issues and may just turn things around.

Moving house 

• Moving to a small property.
• Moving to a property that doesn’t have a secure space that is suitable for your pet. 
• Some pets can’t move to the new location.  e.g. For examples some landlords have restrictions on pet ownership or if you happen to be moving to the state of Queensland, you won’t be able to keep a pet rabbit. 
• Moving interstate or overseas may be too much stress on the animal to be moved such a distance. 

A bigger commitment than first thought 

• There may have been a change in your circumstances, such as getting a new job or no longer working from home meaning there is less time available for your pet. 
• You may simply find that there is not enough time to play with or walk your dog and you may be short on time to clean up adequately after them. 
• A pet may become a financial burden and you might be unable to financially support the care of the pet especially if health issues are involved. 

The pet in not fulfilling the reason they were purchased 

Some families get a pet as a therapy pet for their child but the child does not respond well to the pet i.e they might be scared of a therapy dog. 

A new pet doesn’t fit in well with the family members or other existing pets 

Changes to the family 

• Welcoming a new baby – owners may no longer have enough time for their pet or the pet doesn’t adapt well to the new addition. 
• Owner is elderly and no longer able to care for their pet. 
• Change in owners relationship.
• Deceased owner. 

Before making the final decision to rehome your pet, think to yourself; 

• What is your ideal pet like? 
• What is the ideal home for your pet? 
• What is causing the mismatch between you and your pet? 
• Is it possible to work through this mismatch? 

After answering these questions, you may still feel that rehoming your pet is the best option. So what is the next step to help your pet find their ideal home? 

What to do if you need to rehome your pet? 

Once you have made the decision to rehome your pet you will need to consider which method of rehoming is most suitable for your pet. One owners pet mismatch situation may actually be the perfect fit for another owner. One owner may find a dog too energetic while another owner may be searching for a dog that loves to go on long runs together. 

• Return the pet to the breeder/adoption centre. 
• See if family or friends are willing to adopt the pet from you.
• Advertise your pet for sale. 
• Surrender your pet to an animal refuge. The RSPCA offers a pet adoption for animals in need. 

Be honest with potential new homes and let them know why you are rehoming your pet, if the pet is suitable to be around children, what level of training they have, if they have been vaccinated, de-sexed or have any health conditions. These are all important factors for new owners to consider so that they can determine if they are a good fit for the animal. As we said earlier we want to do the utmost to find your pet their perfect forever home.

It’s never easy to decision to rehome your pet, but sometimes it’s the best and most responsible option. Keep in mind that giving your pet up, might actually be what’s best for you and your pet. There are multiple rehoming options available to you find the best forever home for your pet.