Need to rehome dog. Best way to do this?

[Anonymous]

I lost my job a few months ago. I am struggling to find a new one and simply can’t afford the dog anymore. If they were to have an emergency vet bill I wouldn’t be able to cover it. The dog is 2 years old. What is the best/fastest way to do this? I’m trying to be fair to the dog and would not have done this if it weren’t for my job situation.

[Anonymous]

The odds of an emergency vet visit are pretty low with a 2 year old. I certainly wouldn’t be rehoming on the notion that something MIGHT go bad. Can you afford feeding your dog? Or is that bad?

[Anonymous]

You can contact Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation in Falls Church, VA:
https://www.lostdogrescue.org/rehoming/

Your dog won't be an automatic admit, but they will talk to you and redirect you to other rescues or shelters as needed.

[Anonymous]

If you want help caring for the dog, the local shelters offer pet food pantries and have low cost vaccine clinics. They want you to be able to keep your dog.

If having the dog right now is more stress than it is worth and even knowing there are supports in place doesn't change your opinion, then I'd reach out to local rescues and ask if they'd do a courtesy listing on pet finder. Say you are willing to keep the dog until someone adopts it from you so it doesn't cost the rescue anything, but let them vet the applicants so you don't have to worry about skeezeballs.

Or just start sharing with friends and neighbors. Everyone knows someone who is looking for a dog, and a 2 year old house trained, not full of trauma dog is going to be desirable.

[Anonymous]

If you’re in Fairfax County you can reach out to the shelters for their surrender policy. You can also reach out to breed specific rescues.

[Anonymous]

Where did you originally get the dog from? They might take it back.

[Anonymous]

Look for rescues specific to the breed you have. If you surrender to a shelter, be forewarned that you'll never be allowed to adopt from them again. Many shelters also share the surrender list to other counties as well.

That said, many rescues also keep a list of those who surrender pets to ensure they can never adopt from them in the future. The rescue I currently volunteer with shares its list with 5 other local rescues and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re in Fairfax County you can reach out to the shelters for their surrender policy. You can also reach out to breed specific rescues.

You can also ask the Fairfax County Animal Shelter for help with food if that would help. The shelter runs a Pet Pantry program for situations just like this. They also run monthly low cost vaccine clinics ($20 per vaccine). That might help you keep your dog with you for now and if down the road you do happen to run into a large vet expense, you could always contact them about surrendering then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost my job a few months ago. I am struggling to find a new one and simply can’t afford the dog anymore. If they were to have an emergency vet bill I wouldn’t be able to cover it. The dog is 2 years old. What is the best/fastest way to do this? I’m trying to be fair to the dog and would not have done this if it weren’t for my job situation.

OP , where are you located? If on moco, there are many resources. I would start by posting your concern on Nextdoor and they will be many rescue volunteers that will answer and give you direct contact info.

Please do not leave your dog at a shelter- unless you do the paperwork to surrender it, but even then, it may not be a no- kill shelter.

Your neighborhood is the best place to get help.

So sorry that you lost your job.

[Anonymous]

Return him where you got him you probably signed a contract stating you have to do this.