Rehoming Your Pet, Responsibly: A Practical, Research-Backed Guide

Rehoming a beloved animal is one of the hardest choices a family can face. This guide is here to remove shame, add clarity, and help you make the safest, kindest plan for your pet, whether you ultimately keep them or place them with a new family.

Why some families do need to rehome

Extensive national studies show that rehoming happens more often than many realize, and usually for serious reasons. In an ASPCA survey, about 6% of pet owners rehomed a dog or cat within the prior five years. Top reasons included pet-related challenges (behavior or health), housing constraints (moving, landlord/breed/size rules), and financial strain.

Housing barriers in particular are common and well-documented (e.g., breed/weight restrictions, pet deposits, limited pet-friendly rentals).

Some families face true crises, including domestic violence, sudden illness/hospitalization, deployment, or disaster, where a safe temporary plan or permanent rehoming may be necessary. Resources exist specifically for these situations (see “Crisis options,” below).

Before you decide: retention options to try first

Save a dog, keep yours! It’s always best to keep your dog at home with you. Here are some options that might help you to do so.

• Behavior help: Many issues improve with humane, evidence-based training. (Beezy’s Pack can help; nationally, see the APDT or IAABC directories for certified behavior pros and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists for veterinary behaviorists.)

• Financial assistance: Explore RedRover Relief small grants and the national Pet Help Finder (powered by 211) to locate low-cost vet care, food banks, temporary boarding, and more. Local humane organizations often maintain assistance lists, too.

• Pet food pantries: Many cities now host regular pet food distributions to prevent surrenders. Check local shelters, humane societies or Pet Help Finder.

• Housing navigation: Community guides and humane societies sometimes offer pet-friendly housing tips or mediation resources with landlords.

When safety risks are high (e.g., a serious bite history or escalating aggression), rehoming may not be appropriate without specialist guidance; consult a credentialed behavior professional or veterinary behaviorist before making decisions.

If rehoming is the right (or only) path

Many shelters and humane societies encourage private, home-to-home rehoming when safe. Pets skip the stress of kennels, and you can choose the adopter. Municipal shelters may also offer courtesy listings or rehoming platforms and generally accept owner surrenders by appointment if needed.

Reputable listing options:

• Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet: Owner-managed profiles with built-in screening support and meet-and-greet guidance.

• Home-to-Home: A nonprofit platform that connects pet owners directly with adopters to keep pets out of shelters.

• Breed-specific rescues: National directories (e.g., AKC Rescue Network) can help if your pet fits a breed rescue’s criteria.

Build a strong, honest profile for your dog (or cat)

Goal: help the right family see the real animal they’re welcoming.

What to include (and why):

1. Great photos: eye-level, natural light, uncluttered background; show size with a human for scale; one calm portrait + one candid doing something they love. (Best Friends has excellent bio/marketing guidance.)
2. Essentials at the top: name, age, weight, likely mix, spay/neuter, vaccines, microchip, location, adoption fee. NEVER give an animal for free.
3. Personality & routine: energy level, favorite activities, house/crate training, alone-time tolerance.
4. Home compatibility: dogs/cats/kids experience, city vs. suburban fit, fencing needs, car rides, grooming.
5. Clear needs & management: be candid about triggers (e.g., doorways, handling, resource guarding) and what already helps. (Honesty builds trust and prevents returns.)
6. Medical notes: meds, allergies, past surgeries; share records with serious adopters.
7. Your contact method and next steps: application first, then meet-and-greet.

Writing tip: Lead with strengths, then share needs plainly, no euphemisms. (Adopt-a-Pet’s editorial tips are great for writing clear, engaging descriptions.)

Safety and screening: how to choose the right adopter

• Use applications + interviews. Ask about housing (landlord/pet policy), schedule, other pets/kids, prior pet history, vet access, and how they’ll meet your pet’s specific needs. (Rescue and humane groups offer sample screening tips.)

• Charge a reasonable rehoming fee (typically modest) to deter bad actors and help cover care; this is different from high “sale” prices.

• Meet in safe places (not at home, not a dog park); public spaces like a park, pet-friendly stores, or a vet lobby you’ve arranged in advance.

• Share records and bring the pet’s supplies to set the match up for success.

• Use an adoption/transfer agreement outlining expectations (care standards, return policy/time window, who pays for what during a trial).

• Never ship animals, and be cautious of out-of-area requests that seem urgent or evasive.

After placement:
Finalize the contract, transfer the microchip, and give the adopter copies of vet records and vaccination certificates. To transfer a chip, first look up where it’s registered using the AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup; then follow the registry’s transfer steps (AVMA explains microchip basics; many registries have their own transfer pages). Because registries sometimes change or even close, always confirm your pet is registered and up to date.

Reaching out to local rescue organizations (what to send)

Even if a rescue can’t intake, many will courtesy-post your pet or advise on screening. Share:

• A concise cover note with why rehoming is needed and what supports you’ve tried.

• Your full profile, high-quality photos, and any video links.

• Medical/behavior details, including bite history if applicable.

• Timing (how soon you need placement) and any non-negotiables (no stairs, no cats, etc.).

• Whether you can foster until adopted.

Find organizations via Best Friends’ Network Partner search (for shelters/rescues) and AKC Rescue Network (for breed-specific groups).

Copy-and-paste email template

Subject: Courtesy Post/Advice Requested for [Pet Name], [Age/Weight/Breed mix] in [City]

Hi [Rescue Name] Team,
I’m seeking help rehoming [Pet Name], a [age], [sex], [spayed/neutered], [vaccinated] [breed mix] in [city].
Reason: [brief, factual (e.g., housing restriction, medical crisis, temperament mismatch despite training)].
Behavior/Needs: [energy level, training, dog/cat/kid notes, triggers, management that helps].
Health: [conditions/meds/allergies]; records available.
Photos/Video: [link]
Timeline: [ideal date range]. I can [foster X weeks / foster until adoption / not able to foster].
Would you be able to (a) courtesy-post, (b) advise on screening, or (c) refer me to a foster or partner rescue?
Thank you for any guidance you can offer,
[Name] | [phone] | [email]

Crisis options (temporary care when you intend to keep your pet)

If you’re fleeing domestic violence or facing medical hospitalization or military deployment, look for temporary foster programs and pet-friendly shelters:

• Safe Havens for Pets (AWI): national directory of DV programs that can shelter pets or coordinate foster/boarding.

• The Hotline: Safety Planning for People with Pets.

• RedRover Safe Escape/Safe Housing: grants and boarding assistance tied to DV situations.

• PACT for Animals (Operation Foster): temporary fosters for military or medical crisis.

• Dogs on Deployment: boarding network for service members.

Step-by-step checklist

1. Decide: Can behavior training, financial/housing aid, or temporary care solve this? If yes, pursue support; if no, continue.
2. Prepare your pet: vet check, update vaccines, spay/neuter if possible, gather records.
3. Create your profile (see section above).
4. List safely: Rehome/Home-to-Home, and reach out to breed-specific rescues and local partners.
5. Screen & meet: application, interview, references/landlord, meet in a public place, and agree on a return policy.
6. Finalize: transfer microchip, share records, sign a transfer agreement, and check in after placement.

A note on shelters and surrender

If private rehoming isn’t safe or feasible, contact your local municipal shelter or humane society. Many accept surrenders by appointment and can offer behavior counseling, medical triage, or courtesy postings to widen exposure. Surrender should not be a surprise walk-in; call first to understand options and wait times.

SOURCES

ASPCA rehoming press release: https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/more-1-million-households-forced-give-their-beloved-pet-each-year-aspca
ASPCA blog on rehoming study: https://www.aspca.org/blog/new-study-spotlights-need-help-people-keep-their-pets
ASPCA shelter statistics: https://www.aspca.org/helping-shelters-people-pets/us-animal-shelter-statistics
Weiss et al., 2015 (re-homing study PDF): https://file.scirp.org/pdf/OJAS_2015100914300959.pdf
Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet: https://rehome.adoptapet.com/
Rehome – How it works: https://rehome.adoptapet.com/how-it-works
Home-to-Home – About: https://home-home.org/about
Home-to-Home – How it works: https://home-home.org/how-it-works/
Best Friends – Write a Pet Adoption Bio: https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/pet-profiles-how-write-pet-adoption-bio
Best Friends – Promoting Dogs for Adoption: https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/animal-shelter-dogs-promoting-them-adoption
AKC Rescue Network: https://www.akc.org/akc-rescue-network/
IAABC Consultant Locator: https://iaabc.org/certs/members
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists – Find a Diplomate: https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709
AVSAB Directory: https://avsab.org/directory/
RedRover Relief – Urgent Care Grants: https://redrover.org/relief/urgent-care-grants/
Pet Help Finder (locator): https://www.pethelpfinder.org/m/phf
211 on Pet Help Finder: https://www.211.org/partner-us/pet-help-finder
HSUS – Tenant info for renters with pets: https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/tenant-information-renters-pets
Best Friends – Pet-Inclusive Housing: https://bestfriends.org/advocacy/pet-inclusive-housing
Best Friends – Pet-Friendly Rentals Guide: https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/pet-friendly-rentals-guide-finding-housing
AWI – Safe Havens for Pets: https://awionline.org/content/safe-havens-pets
Safe Havens directory: https://www.safehavensforpets.org/
The Hotline – Safety Planning with Pets: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/safety-planning-with-pets/
PACT / Operation Foster: https://pactforanimals.org/
Dogs on Deployment: https://www.dogsondeployment.org/
AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup Tool: https://www.aaha.org/for-veterinary-professionals/microchip-search/
AVMA – Microchipping FAQ: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/microchips-reunite-pets-families/microchipping-faq