Giving up a pet is a heart wrenching decision, but sometimes there seems to be no other option. We urge anyone in that situation to try the following before bringing an animal into a shelter.
- Check with family and friends who know the pet and might have an interest in adopting it. Pets re-homed with people they already know undergo much less stress than pets who are taken to shelters
- Ask friends, family, and coworkers to ask their friends, family and coworkers if anyone might be interested in a ready made pet.
- Check with your veterinarian. He or she may know of someone looking for a pet.
- Check with local breed rescues. These groups foster pets in homes while they look for permanent placement. Most have websites that are easily searched.
- Carefully advertise and screen applicants.
- Check Petfinder.com or other websites that allow individuals to post adoptable pets
If these don’t work, a shelter is an option but it should be your last resort. Pets who have been spoiled by family members find themselves in kennels, with strange people and animals surrounding them. Many are so scared they shut down. Others act aggressive. For some, the situation is so stressful that they become physically sick. Some animals don’t make it because they simply don’t do well in the kennel environment.