Finding your dog a new home
We get lots of phone calls and emails from worried owners who, for one reason or another, need to re-home their beloved dog. As a foster-based non-profit rescue, we spend our limited resources on saving dogs facing euthanasia in high-kill shelters -- the dogs that don't already have families who love and care for them.
To be the guardian of a companion animal is a serious lifetime commitment that can be tested by hardship. It's up to you, with a little help, to keep your dog out of the shelter system. They're counting on you!
To be the guardian of a companion animal is a serious lifetime commitment that can be tested by hardship. It's up to you, with a little help, to keep your dog out of the shelter system. They're counting on you!
First, let's see if you can keep your pup...
Pet-friendly housing
While it can be challenging to find pet-friendly housing, it's not impossible.
You can search Craigslist with pet-friendly filters, search online for "dog-friendly apartments" in your area, and websites like Apartment List (with pet-friendly filters), PadMapper and rentlingo.com help as well.
You can search Craigslist with pet-friendly filters, search online for "dog-friendly apartments" in your area, and websites like Apartment List (with pet-friendly filters), PadMapper and rentlingo.com help as well.
Behavior issues
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. We know a lot of people who'd had success doing this.
- Check our Training Resources page for suggestions
- 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
Help from Family & Friends
Maybe you really just need a temporary place for your dog to stay while you figure things out. This is where your family and friends can make a big difference, and you can reunite with your dog when things get squared away. It doesn't hurt to ask!
Rehoming 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. Use email, Facebook, or other social media to get the word out. We know many people who've found luck this way.
Craigslist
Craigslist can give you mass exposure, but you need to be careful that you attract the right kind of people. 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. Be sure to read the “Screening Potential Adopters” section below.
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.
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:
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. Use email, Facebook, or other social media to get the word out. We know many people who've found luck this way.
Craigslist
Craigslist can give you mass exposure, but you need to be careful that you attract the right kind of people. 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. Be sure to read the “Screening Potential Adopters” section below.
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.
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?
Breed-Specific Rescues
There are lots of rescues that focus on saving specific breeds of dogs and they might be able to help with your breed of dog. 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.
There are lots of rescues that focus on saving specific breeds of dogs and they might be able to help with your breed of dog. 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.
Shelters and Rescues
There are other 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.
There are other 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.
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• 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 • Valley Humane Society, Pleasanton |
• Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary, Sacramento
• North Bay Canine Rescue & Placement Petaluma • PURRS, Oakland • Pet Friends, Hollister • 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 |
