When should a pet be re-homed?

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by BonBon

I understand, I'd want the same thing. But if for some reason I wasn't able to do all that for myself I wouldn't just offer them on Craigslist. I'd want someone I could trust to do all that for me and make sure that my baby only went to a terrific, loving home. As a matter of fact, I replied to that Craigslist ad this morning and offered the woman the names of some local rescue groups that I know of. In case she wasn't comfortable with the idea of rescue (some people aren't), I also offered to help her make phone calls, screen applicants, visit potential homes, etc. I just couldn't stand the thought of that beautiful little girl who'd lived her whole life loved pampered being handed off to a complete stranger off of Craigslist.

I totally agree with you. That is very nice of you to help. We need more nice people in this world!!

[Britster]

I don't necessarily think poorly of people who re-home pets for GOOD reasons. It's not really a black or white issue for me. There's so many different scenarios, etc.

I, personally, would never rehome Jackson. I can say that for a fact. Even if for some reason, he were to outlive me, my family knows how much I love him and would never let him get out of the family. He spends 2 days a week (with me) at my dads house so it's like his second home. My dad and stepmom treat him like their own and he would definitely have a place there. Besides them, I have multiple family members who love him to death, and I know would take him.

Jackson is my family, my best friend, my heart. I wouldn't re-home my child, so I won't rehome him either. I simply can't even fathom it. The thought alone makes me sick. However, if I brought in a second dog for example, and let's say after training, etc, he was attacking Jackson, or attacking family members, etc, I can't say I wouldn't rehome that dog. Jackson comes first to me so yes, his happiness and safety comes first.

My dad has neighbors who got a Lab puppy and they just keep him tied to the tree outside for more than half the day, and he's a hyper spazzy untrained dog who gets no socialization, exercise, training, etc. I wish they would find him another home. On the other hand, I dogsit an 11 month old Rottweiler who has a TON of energy, and yes they work 8hrs a day and he's in a crate most of it, but that's no reason for them to rehome him... that's why they hired me (dogwalker) to take him out 30-45 minutes per day, they walk him in the mornings before they leave, they take him to the dog park every weekend, he went to obedience classes, etc. They just make it work!

I think excuses like getting married, having a baby, etc are really lame excuses. There will most likely come a day in the next 10-15 years that I WILL be working an 8hr day or longer, and I fully plan to enroll Jackson in doggie daycare, or get a dogwalker, or take whatever means necessary to make him happy. I'm not planning on kids anytime soon, but if I do have a kid in Jackson's lifetime, then he will still be my baby boy. My aunt's Pit Bull has been her baby for the past 8yrs, and she had a baby a year ago, and she manages to split her time between the two and give them equal attention and love, and never even considered rehoming her dog.

[kdhawks]

Originally Posted by Britster

I don't necessarily think poorly of people who re-home pets for GOOD reasons. It's not really a black or white issue for me.

I think my problem with re-homing is that many people just give up on their pets. That is something I could never do. I specifically wanted a young adult dog, not a puppy, so that I would have a good feel for his or her personality before I brought them into my home. When I met Levi, it was love at first sight. He was active, social, playful...everything I needed and wanted in my little canine companion. He did have a few issues that we worked through relatively easily.

Should something ever happen to me, Levi will undoubtedly be taken care of. I've already made those arrangements, and honestly, I have 4-5 relatives/friends that I trust and who know exactly how I prefer he is cared for that would take him in a heartbeat. I am very lucky that I do not have to worry about his future. But I do wonder about pet owners who do not make specific arrangments for their pet's futures.

[LaurenPatrice]

Personally, I don't think I could rehome my two boys no matter the circumstances. I also have family that would take them in if something where to happen to my house, me, job, etc. I also got my schnauzer because a distant friend did not "want" him anymore. She had a small min-pin and two chi's. She said Winston was beating up on them since he was 25 lbs and they were 3lbs. She only bought Winston because he was cute. She never thought about how big he was going to get or how he would play with a 3lb dog. We still stay in touch with her and send pictures of Winston. I feel that Winston deserved a much better home than what he was recieving at her house. I am just SO glad she didn't bring him to the pound or give him away to anyone. Rehoming is a hard decision and I think we don't truly understand what others are going through until it is us. I can't drim of rehoming one of my babies but if faced with a difficult situation, I would do what is BEST for my babies.

[YorkieRose]

I beg people to please rehome a pet they do not want for any reason...there are so many wonderful pet lovers just dying to get a Yorkie and dote on it.

I would rather see them rehomed, then ignored, caged 24/7, left with little companionship...or go without proper vet care, grooming and dental.
Believe me a rehomed Yorkie will respond to love from a new owner who cares for them as opose to the first owner who neglects them.

BUT...this does not apply to most people on YT...most can never think of letting cherished pet go...
I would rehome all mine if I was unable to care for them, had no family or money for food and care...what peace of mind could I have if my pets suffered..not all people have family and friends to help in a difficult time...I see this fact all the time here in south Florida..odl people with no money or family.

[hugz4all4]

I have re-homed 2 animals... one being a very obnoxious maltese puppy that I got when he was 10 weeks old. I had him for about a year and he was just awful, he woudnt train, he was mean had the worst personality I had every seen on a dog. He wouldnt get along with any of the other animals that we in the house at the time, even though he was brought in the house after they were already here, he bit, chewed and tore up everything. He wouldnt even let you pet him without trying to bite you. I was younger at the time and I will be honest had no clue how to train an animal. I gave him to an a older couple who fell in love with him. The last time I had heard anything about him (its been years) he was doing well.
And last week, Rosie went to her new home. .. We had no plans on keeping her but I still considered this her home for the time she was here. She went to a retired gentlemen where she is the only dog, on 300 hundred acres of farmland that she has free roam of. The last update I recieved on her was on sunday where she was sitting on the guys 8 thousand dollar leather couch watching tv and was told that she sleeps in bed with him. .. She finally has the life she so much deserves!!
As far as my other animals, I couldnt rehome them..they have been part of my life for so many years I coudnt imagine my life with out them. If someone had to come in to take care of me they woud have to take care of my pets too!

[hugz4all4]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I beg people to please rehome a pet they do not want for any reason...there are so many wonderful pet lovers just dying to get a Yorkie and dote on it.

I would rather see them rehomed, then ignored, caged 24/7, left with little companionship...or go without proper vet care, grooming and dental.
Believe me a rehomed Yorkie will respond to love from a new owner who cares for them as opose to the first owner who neglects them.

BUT...this does not apply to most people on YT...most can never think of letting cherished pet go...
I would rehome all mine if I was unable to care for them, had no family or money for food and care...what peace of mind could I have if my pets suffered..not all people have family and friends to help in a difficult time...I see this fact all the time here in south Florida..odl people with no money or family.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by hugz4all4

I have re-homed 2 animals... one being a very obnoxious maltese puppy that I got when he was 10 weeks old. I had him for about a year and he was just awful, he woudnt train, he was mean had the worst personality I had every seen on a dog. He wouldnt get along with any of the other animals that we in the house at the time, even though he was brought in the house after they were already here, he bit, chewed and tore up everything. He wouldnt even let you pet him without trying to bite you. I was younger at the time and I will be honest had no clue how to train an animal. I gave him to an a older couple who fell in love with him. The last time I had heard anything about him (its been years) he was doing well.
And last week, Rosie went to her new home. .. We had no plans on keeping her but I still considered this her home for the time she was here. She went to a retired gentlemen where she is the only dog, on 300 hundred acres of farmland that she has free roam of. The last update I recieved on her was on sunday where she was sitting on the guys 8 thousand dollar leather couch watching tv and was told that she sleeps in bed with him. .. She finally has the life she so much deserves!!
As far as my other animals, I couldnt rehome them..they have been part of my life for so many years I coudnt imagine my life with out them. If someone had to come in to take care of me they woud have to take care of my pets too!

I didn't know you'd found a great home for Rosie, but that really makes me happy for her. It sounds like she's living the life of Riley.

[Sweet Apple]

I can't think of any reason to rehome a pup, unless, like the first post, there is a circumstance where the parent is, totally, unable to care for the pup due to disabilities...If someone does rehome a pup, due to inconveniences, then the pup is probably better off going to a new home, because he/she wasn't loved unconditionally, anyway...

[dinkyweil]

If I had to make a decision about rehoming a dog, I am sure it would be very hard and painful. I know I will always do the best I can for my pup, and if that meant that for some reason, he had to go to another loving home, I would do what I had to do for him. I hope and pray that I never have to be in that position.
I know some would judge me if I made a decison to rehome, but I would know that I did the best thing. This is kind of a life rule for me about many things.
Because we love our dogs so much, it's hard to imagine making the decision, but really, even is someone "gives up", it's probably for the best. At least the owner is admitting to not being up to the task of caring for the dog with a happy, willing, loving heart.

[misslissa]

I can say that this is something I had to sit down and think about.
When I was 15 (I'm 22 now) I was hit by a Drunk Driver while standing at the side of the road looking for a lost phone. Well I knew that I had hurt my back but at the time it was the last of my worries (I had a broken hip and mangled knee not to mention the head injury) well I was just walking around on what was basically a broken back and everyday I was in more and more pain.Finally this last year the doctor decided I had to have surgery,however Thear was a small chance I would never walk again after.
for the weeks leading up to the surgery i debated on what i would do with Gatsby if this happened and i had almost decided to write it up so that he would be turned over to a rescue if i was paralyzed when my best friend stepped in and told me that if anything happened she would not be able to let me part with him.

After my surgery when i was in bed and then using a walker and could not do the things for my little man i knew he needed(like walks and baths and tug and feeding and watering him) i know that if i had been like that permanently I would have had to give him up he was not happy and could not have lived out his life like that.

Sometimes rehomeing is just the best option and when you love something as much as we love our little ones you want the best for them.

[YorkieRose]

I took one Yorkie because the owner complained it peed on her expensive carpets..so it lived in the laundry room 24x7...she asked me if I thought badly of her for not wanting it...no way, you can not force kindness or love out of people....what kind of life did it have? Why guilt anyone into keeping a dog they really do not enjoy or want to spend time and money on...plenty of wonderful homes begging for a companion.

[ArmaniMan]

To answer your question a pet should be rehomed any time a person wants to. Why? because if they want to re home the dog and are convinced to keep it, they aren't going to give it a good home.

However, if a pet is rehomed for a stupid reason, then I think the person needs to think long and hard about getting any other animals in their life. Pets are not disposable things that can be bought and then given away whenever you please.

Moving, having a baby, peeing on the carpet, and most of the other reasons you see on craigslist are not good reasons in my opinion. You may have to look harder but you can always find a place that takes pets, even if it is more costly. If you are going to rehome a pet the second you get pregnant you shouldnt get a pet. Give the dog a chance, they may end up being wonderful with your baby. Dog pees on the carpet? chews carpet? ruins your laptop & hot rollers (thanks Armani!)? TRAIN them, hire a professional if you can't do it yourself. I also hate when people say they don't have enough time for their pets- before they get pets they need to realize they require feeding, walking, grooming, etc. You can even hire people to help- there are people who walk dogs and even run with dogs for a living.

However, if someone like this lady on craigslist can physically no longer care for their pet- that is sad and might be in the pets best interest to be rehomed. I wish someone in this ladies life could take care of her pet for her because having the dog with her would probably be good for her mental wellbeing.

So anyway- a lot of rambling to say- most, but not all, of the reasons people get rid of their pets for are excuses and nothing more- but I still think the dogs are better off rehomed because no pet should live in a place where they are unwanted and plenty of yorkies on this site prove how lucky a rehomed yorkie can have it.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

To answer your question a pet should be rehomed any time a person wants to. Why? because if they want to re home the dog and are convinced to keep it, they aren't going to give it a good home.

However, if a pet is rehomed for a stupid reason, then I think the person needs to think long and hard about getting any other animals in their life. Pets are not disposable things that can be bought and then given away whenever you please.

Moving, having a baby, peeing on the carpet, and most of the other reasons you see on craigslist are not good reasons in my opinion. You may have to look harder but you can always find a place that takes pets, even if it is more costly. If you are going to rehome a pet the second you get pregnant you shouldnt get a pet. Give the dog a chance, they may end up being wonderful with your baby. Dog pees on the carpet? chews carpet? ruins your laptop & hot rollers (thanks Armani!)? TRAIN them, hire a professional if you can't do it yourself. I also hate when people say they don't have enough time for their pets- before they get pets they need to realize they require feeding, walking, grooming, etc. You can even hire people to help- there are people who walk dogs and even run with dogs for a living.

However, if someone like this lady on craigslist can physically no longer care for their pet- that is sad and might be in the pets best interest to be rehomed. I wish someone in this ladies life could take care of her pet for her because having the dog with her would probably be good for her mental wellbeing.

So anyway- a lot of rambling to say- most, but not all, of the reasons people get rid of their pets for are excuses and nothing more- but I still think the dogs are better off rehomed because no pet should live in a place where they are unwanted and plenty of yorkies on this site prove how lucky a rehomed yorkie can have it.

Great post! I thought a lot about this last night and this is the same conclusion I came to (you just said it much better ).

[gemy]

This made for very interesting reading. I think it would be wonderful, if there were more programs a potential dog owner could get involved in that would give them a real "trial" run at dog ownership.

There is one program here in Ontario, I believe for service dogs, where a family fosters a pup for a few months. That fostering is supervised by the organization, but the family is responsible for socializing the pup to people, places, other dogs, basic obedience, children and so on.

And then I think that while there are from a lot of organizations questionnaires designed to help a future owner "select" the right dog for you, there is a need for maybe a more "visual" and basic video, portraying the joys of and the challenges of dog ownership.

You all know, you've come home for work tired and cranky, to find that your pup has been sick in his crate, had diarrehea all over, and well you just got to clean up him, and his area.
There is the housetraining challenges, barking, nipping, and other behaviours that pups and sometimes older dogs have.

Where to do on vacation? What to do with the pup? How about just a wkend away? Having dinner out.

Much like children. dogs and cats change your life forever.