How to rehome a pet
Sometimes the unthinkable happens – we end up having to find a new home for our beloved pets. Here’s advice on doing it in the most considerate and least stressful way
PETS have a way of climbing into our hearts and when they arrive in our lives we imagine they’ll be our furry forever friends. But life has a way of changing the bestlaid plans and you might find yourself in a situation where you have to part with your beloved pet. Perhaps someone in your family has developed an allergy to fur, or circumstances dictate that you need to move and you can’t take your pet with you.
We asked a few experts for advice on rehoming as well as ways to make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.
CAN THE PROBLEM BE SOLVED?
Rehoming really needs to be the last resort, says Dr Anja Bezuidenhout, a veterinary physician at Garden’s Clinic in Cape Town. A behavioural problem can be worked on by implementing positive reinforcement.
“Reward your dog for good behaviour and ignore it when it’s misbehaving,” she advises.
Other options include seeking medical intervention or calling in a behaviourist. Simply passing on your pet because they’re disobedient does little more than hand the problem over to someone else.
Allergies can be treated through the use of medication but if the symptoms persist, it’s best to seek another home for your pet.
WHEN REHOMING IS THE ONLY WAY
When you adopt from an organisation you usually receive a contract that states that if you can’t keep the dog, you should return it to the organisation. If you wish to rehome an adopted pet, notify the organisation you got the animal from so they can do a thorough inspection of the new home. Let your pet meet prospective owners and judge their interaction, advises Julia Evan, the general manager at Cluny Animal Trust. “Both pet and owner need to be comfortable with each other,” she says. “Choosing a pet isn’t like buying from the local supermarket.” Consider the needs of your pet. A Jack Russell terrier, for example, shouldn’t be sent to a complex or flat. “They’re active animals and need a lot of stimulation and space,” Evan says. “A Yorkie, on the other hand, ideally needs to be placed in a home similar to the one it’s just come from,” Bezuidenhout adds. Inspect your furry friend’s potential new home. Whether the new owners are wealthy shouldn’t influence your decision. “Check whether the property is fenced and secure, where the pet will sleep and if there’s shade,” Evan says. Take your dog’s favourite toys and bedding to its new home. The new owners should provide something from the new home for 24 hours before the move so the pet can get used to that smell.
A month before the big move, put your pet on calming tablets, Bezuidenhout suggests.
Get your pet up to date with routine care (such as tick and flea control and annual check-ups) to limit the burden on the new owner.
Hard as it is, it’s better to cut contact with the pet afterwards, Bezuidenhout says. Not only will it break your heart, but it’s confusing and possibly distressing to the animal too.
“Rather arrange to have the new owners send you pictures every now and then,” Evan suggests.