We get lots of phone calls and emails from worried owners who, for one reason or another, need to re-home their beloved dog. While we wish we could take in every dog and puppy that needs to find a loving home, it’s logistically not possible. We're a foster-based non-profit rescue, so we do not have a facility to take dogs to and we spend our limited budget on saving dogs facing euthanasia in high-kill shelters.
While we might not be able to take in your dog, we'd like to offer anyone who is looking to re-home their dog some resources. To be the guardian of a companion animal is a serious lifetime commitment that can be tested by hardship. We have included suggestions and resources below to help people do what is best for the animals in their lives.
Behavior Issues
If you are looking for a new home for your pet because of a behavior issue, please consider consulting with an animal trainer, online resources, or books. Often many behavior issues can be corrected in a relatively short time frame with some professional guidance.
• Check out our Training Resources page for some suggestions on trainers we have worked with.
• Free “Ask the Behaviorist” service at Humane Society Silicon Valley
• Humane Society Silicon Valley Online Resources
• Peninsula Humane Society Behavior Programs
• Peninsula Humane Society’s Online Resources covering topics such as digging, chewing, jumping up, separation anxiety and many
more.
• Cesar Millan, “Dog Whisperer” has an online site
• Can we help you keep your pet?
• Your local library
Re-Homing Options
Reach Out
Reach out to family and friends, and ask them to reach out to their family and friends. Go out for walks with your dog in the community and talk to people you meet. An email or Facebook posting profiling your animal could get seen by
Craigslist
A popular website, Craigslist can give you mass exposure. When creating your ad, be sure to highlight the endearing/unusual/creative things your dog does. If your dog has the cutest snore, tell people about it! If your dog is perfectly house-broken, let them know! You also want to include any serious behavioral issues (for example, if your dog doesn’t do well with cats) so that any potential-adopter that can’t accommodate such behaviors, doesn’t waste your time and theirs. Be sure to highlight the WONDERFUL things about your dog, so that any potential adopters can see in “Rover” what you do! Update your post every few days, and include photographs.
ALWAYS request (and post) at least a nominal adoption fee so that you can be sure the potential adopter is serious about owning a dog. Overall, if you feel like someone is a good match, it is probably safe to go with your gut instinct. But, if you get a bad vibe, for any reason, it is your right and responsibility to say “no” to a potential adopter. Craigslist is a great resource, as long as you are alert and conscientious about how you post you ad and choose the new owner. Remember, this person will hopefully have your dog for many years to come, make sure they are prepared and ready! Be sure to read the “Screening Potential Adopters” section below.
Local Newspaper
Take out an ad in your local or major metropolitan paper.
Flyers
Post flyers around your community with a photo of your animal and contact information.
Screening Potential Adopters
Screening individuals who respond is important in order to get a sense of how they will care for your pet. Visit the person’s home to make sure they are legitimately willing to care and provide for your pet. Questions to consider asking:
• What is their living situation? Are they allowed to have animals where they live? If leasing, ask for the landlord's number to verify pets are allowed.
• Would the animal be an indoor or outdoor pet? Do they have a yard? Is their fence, if so, how high?
• How often and for how long would the animal be left alone each day?
• Have they had pets before? If so, what happened to them?
• Are their children in the home? If so, what are their ages? (Children can be inexperienced with appropriate boundaries and handling of animals).
• Who is your veterinarian?
No-Kill Shelters and Rescues
There are no-kill shelters that accept owner-surrendered pets on a case-by-case basis. Listed below are those in the area. Keep in mind that shelters are over-burdened already.
• 10th Life Foundation, Santa Barbara
• Alpha Canine Sanctuary, Bakersfield
• Animals at Risk Care Sanctuary, Modesto
• Benicia-Vallejo Humane Society, Vallejo
• Berkeley East Bay Humane Society, Berkeley
• C.A.R.E., Campbell
• Delta Humane Society Stockton
• East Bay Animal Referral, Oakland
• Friends of the Fairmont Animal Shelter San Leandro
• Hayward Animal Shelter
• Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary, Sacramento
• North Bay Canine Rescue & Placement Petaluma
• PURRS, Oakland
• Pet Friends, Hollister
• Pet Network, Saratoga
• Pets In Need, Redwood City
• Pets Lifeline, Sonoma
• Project Purr, Santa Cruz
• The Senior Dogs Project, San Francisco
• Tri-Valley Animal Rescue, Pleasanton
• Tony LaRussa Animal Rescue Foundation, Walnut Creek
• Valley Humane Society, Pleasanton
Breed-Specific Rescues
There are lots of rescues that focus on saving specific breeds of dogs. For most breeds, there is a rescue, though it may not be located in the Bay Area. Still, it could be beneficial to call the appropriate breed-specific rescue and see if they can re-home your dog, or can help you re-home your dog. Some rescues also allow you to post a picture and bio of your dog on their website, either for free or for a nominal price. This is one avenue you could try as well. Do a web search of “rescue + [breed of dog]” and you should find an applicable rescue. To narrow your search, you could also try adding the state you live in.
We wish you the best of luck in finding a loving, forever home for your pet!
Behavior Issues
If you are looking for a new home for your pet because of a behavior issue, please consider consulting with an animal trainer, online resources, or books. Often many behavior issues can be corrected in a relatively short time frame with some professional guidance.
• Check out our Training Resources page for some suggestions on trainers we have worked with.
• Free “Ask the Behaviorist” service at Humane Society Silicon Valley
• Humane Society Silicon Valley Online Resources
• Peninsula Humane Society Behavior Programs
• Peninsula Humane Society’s Online Resources covering topics such as digging, chewing, jumping up, separation anxiety and many
more.
• Cesar Millan, “Dog Whisperer” has an online site
• Can we help you keep your pet?
• Your local library
Re-Homing Options
Reach Out
Reach out to family and friends, and ask them to reach out to their family and friends. Go out for walks with your dog in the community and talk to people you meet. An email or Facebook posting profiling your animal could get seen by
Craigslist
A popular website, Craigslist can give you mass exposure. When creating your ad, be sure to highlight the endearing/unusual/creative things your dog does. If your dog has the cutest snore, tell people about it! If your dog is perfectly house-broken, let them know! You also want to include any serious behavioral issues (for example, if your dog doesn’t do well with cats) so that any potential-adopter that can’t accommodate such behaviors, doesn’t waste your time and theirs. Be sure to highlight the WONDERFUL things about your dog, so that any potential adopters can see in “Rover” what you do! Update your post every few days, and include photographs.
ALWAYS request (and post) at least a nominal adoption fee so that you can be sure the potential adopter is serious about owning a dog. Overall, if you feel like someone is a good match, it is probably safe to go with your gut instinct. But, if you get a bad vibe, for any reason, it is your right and responsibility to say “no” to a potential adopter. Craigslist is a great resource, as long as you are alert and conscientious about how you post you ad and choose the new owner. Remember, this person will hopefully have your dog for many years to come, make sure they are prepared and ready! Be sure to read the “Screening Potential Adopters” section below.
Local Newspaper
Take out an ad in your local or major metropolitan paper.
Flyers
Post flyers around your community with a photo of your animal and contact information.
Screening Potential Adopters
Screening individuals who respond is important in order to get a sense of how they will care for your pet. Visit the person’s home to make sure they are legitimately willing to care and provide for your pet. Questions to consider asking:
• What is their living situation? Are they allowed to have animals where they live? If leasing, ask for the landlord's number to verify pets are allowed.
• Would the animal be an indoor or outdoor pet? Do they have a yard? Is their fence, if so, how high?
• How often and for how long would the animal be left alone each day?
• Have they had pets before? If so, what happened to them?
• Are their children in the home? If so, what are their ages? (Children can be inexperienced with appropriate boundaries and handling of animals).
• Who is your veterinarian?
No-Kill Shelters and Rescues
There are no-kill shelters that accept owner-surrendered pets on a case-by-case basis. Listed below are those in the area. Keep in mind that shelters are over-burdened already.
• 10th Life Foundation, Santa Barbara
• Alpha Canine Sanctuary, Bakersfield
• Animals at Risk Care Sanctuary, Modesto
• Benicia-Vallejo Humane Society, Vallejo
• Berkeley East Bay Humane Society, Berkeley
• C.A.R.E., Campbell
• Delta Humane Society Stockton
• East Bay Animal Referral, Oakland
• Friends of the Fairmont Animal Shelter San Leandro
• Hayward Animal Shelter
• Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary, Sacramento
• North Bay Canine Rescue & Placement Petaluma
• PURRS, Oakland
• Pet Friends, Hollister
• Pet Network, Saratoga
• Pets In Need, Redwood City
• Pets Lifeline, Sonoma
• Project Purr, Santa Cruz
• The Senior Dogs Project, San Francisco
• Tri-Valley Animal Rescue, Pleasanton
• Tony LaRussa Animal Rescue Foundation, Walnut Creek
• Valley Humane Society, Pleasanton
Breed-Specific Rescues
There are lots of rescues that focus on saving specific breeds of dogs. For most breeds, there is a rescue, though it may not be located in the Bay Area. Still, it could be beneficial to call the appropriate breed-specific rescue and see if they can re-home your dog, or can help you re-home your dog. Some rescues also allow you to post a picture and bio of your dog on their website, either for free or for a nominal price. This is one avenue you could try as well. Do a web search of “rescue + [breed of dog]” and you should find an applicable rescue. To narrow your search, you could also try adding the state you live in.
We wish you the best of luck in finding a loving, forever home for your pet!
