Owner Surrender Information

IMPORTANT: Finding a home for an animal at this time is VERY difficult. Many, many people are giving up their animals these days – loss of job, foreclosure and other reasons. IF THERE IS ANY WAY YOU CAN KEEP YOUR ANIMAL, FOR YOUR ANIMAL’S SAKE, YOU MUST. Shelters are bursting at the seams, rescues are overloaded and homeless animals are being killed simply due to overcrowding. If you are not careful, your animal could end up in a shelter where s/he could be killed the minute you walk out the door. Or, your animal could end up in the hands of someone who would abuse him or her. Try family workers, co-workers, neighbors if you feel you must give up your beloved family member. Your animal’s future life is in your hands.

• From the list below, call the rescue groups in your area to see if there is room in their foster homes. If not, inquire if they hold adoption days that you can take the animal to or if you can be put in a waiting list.
• From this list, contact your local shelters and some rescues tp find out what their holding policy is. Will they keep the animal there until he or she finds a good home, or will the animal be killed after a certain period of time? It is extremely important to ask these questions before surrendering an animal to a shelter. Once you surrender, you will no longer have any control over decisions made regarding your animal.
• NOTE: Never, ever place an ad for your animal that says “free to a good home.” That will attract all sorts of unscrupulous people–those who will sell them to laboratories for experimentation, use them as bait in dog fighting, kill them in animal sacrifice rituals or, like a 2007 case in Monmouth County, torture and kill them (a man was convicted of torturing and killing 14 cats and kittens he took in from “free to a good home” ads). The danger is very real and people will put on a good front, even posing as a “family,” especially if they can get an animal who will bring them good money when sold for experimentation.

ALLERGIES: If you are considering surrendering an animal due to suspected allergies, we strongly recommend that you confirm the presence of allergies. Some studies have shown that up to two-thirds of people who think they have allergies, don’t. They can be spending money on expensive, yet totally unnecessary, medications, or making lifestyle changes (like giving up a treasured animal companion) and still not feel better. In some cases, inappropriate treatment may be making things worse. Read more here and here.

NEW BABY: If you are considering giving up an animal because of a new born baby in the family, you may want to learn more about studies which show that the presence of animals may help PREVENT allergies from occurring in children.

Guidance on Finding a New Home for Your Pet

At times, families may find themselves unable to continue caring for their beloved animal companions. Making the decision to re-home a pet is often a challenging one.

To enhance the chances of finding a suitable home and avoid bringing your pet to a shelter, consider the following tips:

• Allow ample time to find a new home for your pet, as this process can take weeks to months.
• Improve your pet's adoptability by ensuring it is spayed or neutered, groomed, and up-to-date on vaccinations.
• Utilize various channels to spread the word about your pet, including reaching out to friends, family, and colleagues. Social media platforms and neighborhood apps can also be effective tools for reaching potential adopters.

Consider using the Adopt-A-Pet re-homing tool, which allows pet owners to actively participate in the process. This platform enables users to create a pet profile and connect with interested individuals. Adopt-A-Pet employs staff to review posts, ensuring a safer environment compared to other online marketplaces.

Exercise caution when evaluating potential adopters, particularly those unfamiliar to you. Arrange initial meetings in public places and ask relevant questions to assess their suitability as pet owners. Clarify your expectations for your pet's new home and express any desire to maintain contact with the new family.

It's crucial never to abandon your animal. 

Rehoming Information