Rehoming a dog to a good home may be the only option a dog owner has when it comes to a relocation or other circumstances when your fur baby can no longer live with you.
Some see rehoming as a cruel and unnecessary act – leaving your best friend in the care of another seems cruel and unfair. After all, if you adopt a pet, they are part of the family, aren’t they?
Let's explore this much-discussed and divided topic!
Dog Rehoming and Dealing With Guilt
If you are a pet parent, you’re bound to feel guilty at some point. It goes hand in hand with the responsibilities you have over the life of another creature. You don’t always know if you’re making the right decisions for your furry friend.
Dog rehoming is one of the hardest decisions you'll make when it comes to your dog's care. However, you can rest assured that there are many legitimate reasons why somebody has to rehome a dog, and many people before you have had to make that difficult decision as well.
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Rehoming a dog is never easy, and others may judge the decision. Remember that everyone is different. The reasons behind rehoming a dog are as varied as the circumstances that prompted the decision in the first place.
Rehoming a dog may be the most sensible and caring act one can do to ensure the pet has the proper care and love required when certain circumstances arise.
The Reasons Behind Dog Rehoming
When a dog owner decides to find a new home for their four-legged friend, it usually means that their situation is a difficult one. Whether they got the dog from a shelter or rescue agency or had them since they were a puppy, a dog is part of the family.
Most people are looking for puppies for adoption, so it's not always easy to rehome an adult dog, making the decision even more difficult. Here are some of the very valid reasons why somebody would consider dog rehoming.
#1 Dogs in the family are fighting
When you adopt a pet and bring the dog into a home where one or more dogs exist, it can go very smoothly, with all the dogs getting along with the new dog.
However, there are cases where introducing a dog into a new home that has dogs creates tension.
As the dogs jockey for the alpha position, fights can break out and recur. It’s always best to avoid adding dogs if you suspect they may not get along.
#2 The dog is dangerous to a person in the household
Dogs will show you how they feel about a particular human. They could wag their tails, or they could recoil and growl.
- Bringing a dog home and getting a violent reaction to a person who lives in the house can make for a dangerous – or even deadly – situation.
- Rehoming a dog that has bitten may be tough to do, but if possible, finding the dog a new home will be best in this situation so that everyone continues to feel safe – especially the dog.
- Another problem could be that someone in the household is allergic to dogs. This could cause problems for the dog and the family, and rehoming is likely the best option.
#3 Unavoidable changes in life circumstances
Nobody likes to deal with trauma, but life happens. Illness, loss of a job, injury, or even the human owner's death could happen.
When these unforeseen circumstances occur, rehoming the dog may be the best decision.
#4 The dog has health or behavior problems
People who only wish to care for healthy dogs for adoption and then unknowingly adopt a pet that requires special physical or emotional needs may pose problems later on. Some of these needs may not present themselves in the beginning.
If the person works out of the home all day, they are not readily available to provide the dog's proper care. Costs for pet care can also add up.
The dog should go to a home that will provide whatever special care it needs, and have the financial means to do so.
#5 Not the right dog for your situation
You want a dog for a specific task, and you make a decision for the type of dog that is best suited for that task, bring them home, and the dog is not a good fit. It is not a healthy relationship for both parties, the human owner or the pet.
Let's use the example of a dog adopted to provide company for an older adult, and the dog is exuberant and needs to run and play. Neither would be suitable for one another, and it's best for the dog to go to a home with energetic young children, or perhaps a running enthusiast.
Other Reasons to Rehome a Dog
Other reasons to rehome a dog are just as valid, even when they are controversial.
We've all heard of giving a puppy for Christmas. Sometimes the dog gets bigger (less cute), and the novelty wears off.
If the family isn’t giving a dog enough love and attention, then instead of allowing them to lead a lonely life, rehoming may be the best solution.
The decision to rehome your dog is never easy, but in those situations, it is best to ask - how does a dog feel when rehomed? Then, be determined to make the right decision in finding a better-suited home for your dog.
As hard as the decision may be, sometimes it is the only one.
Rehoming a Dog: Tips That Make it Easier
You have to decide to rehome your pet. It poses not only emotional challenges - you have to consider where you take your pet or who you leave your pet with.
Below are some options to consider to help with your decision.
#1 Return the dog where it came from
Suppose you got the dog from a breeder, animal shelter, rescue agency, or pet finder agency, and it is exhibiting emotional, physical, or behavioral problems.
In that case, they are usually contracted to take them back.
#2 Rehome your dog with a friend or a family member that you fully trust
Most of the time, family or friends close to you and your dog have already initiated a bond. This helps make the transition from one family to another one a lot easier, and may eliminate some of the dog's separation anxiety around the rehoming.
#3 Advertise the dog on social media platforms
This route requires much more research. Not everyone is genuine, and some people will take advantage of an emotional situation and not give your furry friend a good home.
Spend time checking and double-checking responses, and do a physical check on your dog's potential new home. This will help you to make a well-informed decision before rehoming your dog.
#4 Take your pet to a reputable shelter or animal rescue
Do you want your dog to be taken care of at a shelter? Type in dog shelters near me online to find some options.
These sites also rely on reviews. Read the reviews carefully to see what others are saying, engage in conversation with them, and even visit the location to get your own opinion on the place before you make the choice to take your pet there.
#5 Euthanasia
As painful a decision as this is, euthanasia may be the only realistic option.
Perhaps you can no longer care for an aging dog's medical needs, the dog's behavioral problems are unfixable, or they are violent around your small children.
The quality of life of your family and the dog all have to be considered.
Sometimes euthanasia is the most humane and respectful way to help everyone.
Of course, this is by far the hardest and most painful decision to make, but in some cases, it may be the best one.
Rehoming Your Dog: Giving it a New Life
Rehoming your dog may be one of the most challenging decisions you ever make. As always, think clearly and ask for honest advice from those you trust the most in your life.
In the end, if you rehome with love, you will be making the most well-informed and caring decision possible.
Finding a new home for your dog where they are happy and can live out their days in peace could give you peace of mind, not to mention a new home and life for your beloved dog!
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