Thinking of Giving Away Your Pet?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, 6 to 8 million animals enter shelters each year and 3 to 4 million end up being euthanized, while 3 to 4 million are adopted. Many of the animals that enter shelters are the result of people relinquishing their companion pets. According to a study done by the National Council on Pet Population, here are the top 10 reasons for dog and cat relinquishment to shelters in the United States.

PETS 911 wants to help you consider all options that are available to you - before you give up your pet. There may be a solution that will allow you to keep your beloved pet with your family instead of becoming a shelter statistic.

1) Moving and landlord issues - With a little advance planning most people are able to find short and long term housing with their animal companions. There are many resources available on the internet. A common myth is that Fido needs a yard and cannot be happy living in an apartment. Daily walks have proven to suffice for most breeds. Dogs living in houses with a yard spend most of their time sleeping in them not gallivanting around in them.

• Consult this list of pet friendly apartments and houses to find a place that will accept Fido too.
• If you are moving long distances or outside the country, Air Animal Movers is one company that specializes in moving pets long distances by air nationally or internationally.
• If you are a military person who is being deployed or transferred Military Assistance Programs is available to help you find foster or permanent homes for your companion pets or assist you with the transportation and relocation of your pet to your new location.

2) Cost of pet maintenance - There are many ways to minimize these costs to fit almost any budget.

• Learn to do basic grooming for your pet. For the cost of one professional grooming, you can purchase the necessary tools to do basic pet grooming yourself.
• Find low cost spay/neuter services on Pets911.com.
• Contact your local animal care and control agency, humane society, or local vets for referrals to low cost routine care programs in your community.
• Ask your vet to recommend moderately priced pet food brands and treats that meet the nutritional needs of your pet.
• Purchase a pet insurance policy to cover routine vet care.

3) No time for a dog. - Many people assume that their dog will be happier elsewhere. Sadly, they’re often wrong. Adjusting to a new home is stressful and can cause separation anxiety, fearfulness, destructiveness and other behavioral issues. These problems may lead the dog’s new owner to abandon the animal as well. Before you give up your dog due to lack of time, take an honest look at your daily life and then consider these tips.

• Take Fido to doggy day care a few days per week or hire a dog walker/pet sitter to spend an hour of quality time with him every day or every few days. These services are usually reasonably priced and the activity and quality time and attention that Fido receives can go a long way towards a happier life for both of you.
• Is there a responsible neighborhood child that you can hire for a small fee to play with your Fluffy every day?
• Walk with Fido to the mailbox instead of driving to it on the way home from work. With just a few extra minutes, this short walk will help you to bond with Fido and build trust, plus the exercise is good for both of you. Are there other activities in your daily life that you could include Fido in?
• Can you consistently find 10 minutes per day in your busy schedule to spend working with Fluffy? The results from just 10 minutes each morning or night practicing some basic commands or games will amaze you. This is a bonding experience that will improve your relationship with her and reinforce good behavior too. Once you have a well mannered dog, perhaps she can be included in more of your daily activities out in public.
• Do you belong to a gym? Perhaps some days you can switch to outdoor physical activity that Fido can enjoy too such as walking, running, or biking. A tired dog is a good dog.

4) Pet illnesses/age - Re-homing an elderly or sick pet is unlikely. The hard truth is that if you, the person who knows and loves your pet the most, are unwilling to provide the care for a health problem or senior years, it is unlikely anyone else will. If the problem in keeping your pet is because of the lack of financial resources, read the Veterinary Bills article in this section, for some helpful information about assistance that may be available to you for unexpected veterinary expenses.

5) Too many pets in your home/unable to find homes for litter mates/does not get along with other pets in the home. - First, make sure that no future litters are born by having all of your pets spayed or neutered immediately. There are five million homeless animals in the United States. If you are allowing animals to breed and cannot find homes for all of their progeny, quite frankly then, you are contributing to this problem.

• For the animals that have already been born, search Pets911.com for agencies and rescues willing and able to accept “owner surrendered” animals.
• If you are willing to keep the animal until a new home can be found, contact agencies and rescues to see if they would be willing to place a “courtesy listing” for your animals to be re-homed.

6) Behavioral problems - If your pet is exhibiting behavioral problems, you may consider consulting with an animal trainer/behavioralist. Many ill-behaved dogs and cats are simply unhappy dogs and cats who are ‘acting out’ in a way that makes sense to them. Many of these issues are easily dealt with by exercise, training, patience, and time. The Humane Society of the United States has a wealth of information about behavioral problems and how to train your pet so that their place in your family can be preserved.

7) Allergies - There are over the counter and prescription drugs available to help people with mild to moderate allergies to pet dander. Air filters and air purifiers can also be a tremendous help in alleviating allergies. If the symptoms are life threatening or serious, you may still have to give up your pet, but you owe it to your animal companion to make sure that it finds a good home. You may think that taking it to a shelter is enough but older animals are hard to adopt and they may linger for long periods of time and eventually may be euthanized to make room for other adoptable pets.

• Try to find a trusted friend or family member to take your pet. At least you will get to visit.
• Contact local shelters and rescues to see if they take owner surrendered pets.
• Contact local shelters and rescues to see if they would be willing to place a courtesy listing for your pet along with their adoptable pets, to help you find a good home for your pet.

Note: PETS 911does not endorse any resource listed in this article. These tips are meant as a starting point to help you keep your pet with its family. Please be sure to do your own research into which options work best for you.