RESCUE PREVENTION: Can we fix a problem to prevent a rescue??
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(helpful articles from HSUS)
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(PetEducation.com)
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FINDING A NEW HOME FOR YOUR PEI: pet placement guide
- Whether the dog is young or old, please contact the breeder (if known) and/or rescue organization you adopted from, to ask for placement assistance. Most reputable breeders and rescue groups will have a notification / return policy stated in their contracts regarding rehoming of their placements. Don't assume they don't care, even if they may have not kept in touch or stayed in your area. No matter what the circumstances, all breeders should be at minimum willing to help you look for a new family.
- When you start to advertise, keep in mind, marketing a pet's adoption is not a business transaction, not a final sale of second hand merchandise, and should definitely not be hyped up with any phony sounding first come first serve, deal of a lifetime, rare opportunity sales pitches. This has been a loyal devoted creature that is totally dependent on your judgment to ensure he/she can continue a safe and happy life with another family.
- Jot down a brief biography: name, age, male or female, neutered, color, good with other pets and children, etc. To best help your pet, please be honest and fair in your descriptions, including all health and temperament issues your pet may have. When going to a pet home, it's always best to have your pet spayed/neutered prior to rehoming, in addition to having any other needed vaccinations and medical care, to avoid any unnecessary transition issues or stressful veterinary visits before fully bonding with his/her new family.
- Mention to your friends, family and co-workers that your are searching for a new home for you beloved companion due to whatever reason applies - financial difficulties, health, lifestyle
change, etc. Ask them to pass the word to their circle of friends in order to broaden the circle and increase the possibilities of your dog finding a new home.
- Visit your local vet offices and pet supply stores. Talk with the employees and leave a picture and biography about your dog, along with your phone number.
Remember these people see several DOG PEOPLE every day, more candidates for your buddy finding a great new home.
- Advertise in your local paper. The ad should read something like this: Chinese Shar-Pei, 3 years old, cream male, looking for a loving family home. Call
555-1212. Additional phrases such as "Adoption Fee / Home Visit Required" can be added if space is available; such details help to screen out potential illicit breeders and people posing as families who buy for research labs or fighting rings. NOTE: YOUR AD DOES NOT STATE PRICE AND ESPECIALLY DOES NOT SAY FREE!
- Post a free profile. While local advertising usually generates by far your best new home opportunities, we are also happy to do what we can to also promote most pet's rehoming needs. Please visit our network submission page for network details and listing requirements.
- As inquiries come in and candidates ask for more information, tell them you are looking for a good, responsible pet home and not interested in discussing dollars, but let them know there will be a ($....) adoption fee (actual amount will vary according to age, condition status, and any remaining health / temperament needs). Adoption fees rarely "break even" your investment in your pet but can somewhat defray the costs of getting your pet ready for rehoming. The less the dog needs to go to a vet (or other stressful places) until fully bonded with his new family, the better chance they will have a successful transition.
- Would you like to come visit? Illicit inquirers will probably lose interest after this question, but true candidates will be glad to set up an appointment to visit your
pet. If your pet is a nervous or insecure animal, make it a comfortable meeting place or with favorite toys/treats to help relax both you and your dog. If your pet is very territorial, it's sometimes easier to make it a very neutral place for the intial meeting. Take the time during this first visit to discuss any of these special temperament problems or any health needs/issues in further detail to help the prospective owners decide if they can handle your pet's needs. If the interested family is new to our breed, make sure to include any breed information or resources you have collected through your own learning experiences as a Shar-pei owner. If they have questions you can't answer yourself, please feel free to contact us or refer them to our site.
- When you have chosen the best family/individual, ask them to go home and review their decision with all family members. It's very helpful to have them come back for several interviews as well as meet with any other pets and family members they may have, prior to making your final adoption decision. The more your dog gets to know his new potential family, the easier the transition will be for him to feel more comfortable when he moves to their home. Click here for any other questions you may want to ask to help you determine what the prospective home is like.
- Set up an appointment and get directions to bring your pet to their home, explaining how this may help reduce any further transitional stress. This automatically gets you an invitation into their home to visit so you see for yourself you've made the best decision for your pet’s happiness as well as gives you the final opportunity to offer whatever last minute suggestions they should consider for fulfilling your dog's known needs and preferences. Please also remember you always have the right to still reject your choice should the you (or the dog) see signs the new family's home or lifestyle is not living up to expectations. If you find the dog is not ready to transition but you are still happy with the home, offer to visit again to give your dog the chance to gradually get used to his new home.
- Once you are ready to make a final break, remember to take along his leash, collar, bedding, food, toys, medical records and notes about his daily schedule. It's best to protect your pet's future by having all the adoption terms in writing. Here is a sample contract to use when adopting your pet to a new family. Please feel free to edit your terms as needed, but make sure to include a return policy and right of first refusal to take the dog back should the new owners decide they can't keep the dog.
- Most important of all, please follow-up with the new family to ensure your dog is being properly cared for and receiving any necessary promised treatments/training. Even though he/she is no longer your personal pet, it's still your personal responsibility to make sure you have made a good choice in the new home, so that everything has worked out in your dog's best interest and welfare.
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