Putting a pet up for adoption

[Anonymous]

Has anyone ever put their pet up for adoption? After seven years it's time for me to give my Yorkshire Terrier up for adoption. Between my busy schedule at work and being a new mom (husband travels a lot) I simply can't give him all the attention he had prior to the baby arriving. It absolutely breaks my heart but I want him to go to a good home where someone can walk him regularly and play with him whenever he picks up a ball. Any suggestions on where to begin? How to find a good owner? How you handled the 'loss'? He is my dear friend, has traveled on planes from coast to coast and was my constant companion wherever I went. He is absolutely spoiled, too! I want to make sure he finds a good family or perhaps an active single who just wants some companionship as I did when I first laid eyes on him.

Thank you in advance.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, from your own description of your dog, my money is on you seriously regretting your decision once the dust settles and you get used to having a child. Most people think their pets are a pain in the ass and an overwhelming and unnecessary burden when a new child first arrives. That feeling goes away. Do you have a sibling who can take him for a couple of weeks, then give him back?

[Anonymous]

We also have a yorkie, very spoiled and g all the attention before baby. At first, after we had our son, it was tough. She's used to having a daily walk, a long one at that, and had to adjust to a new schedule. It was quite awhile before evrything fell into place but I know she's happier with us with less attention than having a new mommy and daddy. What's is so amazing is my son's relationship with her-he loves her with all his heart and vice versa. They tease each other, and we've taught him how to be gentle, especially because she's only 8 lbs, but she'll grab his toy and run with my son chasing her. So instead of a daily walk, she might get 4-5 a week. She still sleeps with us and seems to be very happy. I get frustrated with her sometimes, but it's on the days that I'm frustrated with life, and she's always at my feet. I'd give it some time, and let life fall into place. The relationship between children and a dog is incredible, I know my son would be very affected by her absence.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for giving it some time. I think you'll seriously regret it, by your description.

Buuuuut, if you decide to go forward, there are a lot of "no kill" rescues in the area, as well as municipal shelters that will help you place. You just have to call around. Try metropets.org and scroll to your jurisdiction and start calling. Some will require a donation to place the animal and they may require the dog to continue to live with you pending placement. But, small dogs (of a young age) tend to go fast. . . not sure about a 7 y.o. dog though.

Honestly, it will be hard on you and (depending on the animal) the pet as well. It is a loss.

[Anonymous]

I volunteer regularly at a shelter, walking and caring for dogs and looking for potential families for them, and your posting makes me really sad. I remember when my first baby came along, what a PIA my rambunctious dog was, and how I resented him. Within a few months, though, everything got sooo much easier, and now both of my children learned to stand by grabbing hold of their beloved dog and pulling up, and he is the best dog in the world and I can't imagine life without him. So please think carefully about whether you really want to get rid of your dog, or whether you could just use a break from him right now for a while. It is MUCH easier to find a foster situation than an adoptive situation, in my experience of four years of working in a shelter.

If you do decide to give him up, here are some things to do. First, if your pet is a pure-bred or looks very much like one, please contact the breed-specific rescue organizations around. Those organizations will place your pet, assuming their screening shows he will be adoptable, into a fostering home where he will be cared for and further evaluated, so that he ends up in a good home. This is the best option for him.

If none of the breed-specific rescues pan out, then please find a NO KILL shelter, one that does not give pets a short window to find a home and then euthanizes them if they aren't adopted by that time. MANY shelters are kill shelters, so find out a shelter's policy before surrendering your dog.

Third, a good course is to ask a shelter to list your pet and allow you or someone else to SHOW your pet through their auspices, on weekends at adoption days, while he is still living with you or in a foster home. Your pet will be adopted much more quickly if SOMEONE is showing primary concern for him. This is why as a volunteer I take pets to adoption days, list them in the paper using my own contact info, etc. Many people who are scared to adopt pets from shelters would have no problem adopting them from a person. So find someone - a close friend, even someone you pay - who can act as the primary care-taker for your pet (including if he is in a shelter), so that he has a better chance of finding a home.

Fourth, YOU place ads for him and send around a flier with good clear pics. Ask people to forward on your flier to everyone they know. Post through the bestfriends.org website. Post everywhere you can. You never know where a potential home may come from.

Next, if your pet has any issues (other than neediness) such as peeing in the house or pulling unduly on a leash, invest in two sessions of training for the new owner as an enticement to make sure that the new relationship works and that your pet doesn't get dumped back in a shelter (esp a kill shelter this time).

Finally, CHARGE something, even minimally, for your pet if you try to adopt him out on your own. Don't keep the money of course - require that the adopting family pay a donation to a shelter. Why do this? Because many labs scour papers for free pets and then pretend to be loving adopting parents to get the pets, then take them into terrible situations in labs that would turn your stomach. So do dog fighting rings looking for bait. So please please please do not give your beloved pet away, even if someone "seems" like he or she is going to be a loving owner. If someone really wants your pet and is going to be able to care for the pet and pay for food and medicine and vet visits, then he or she can afford a small donation to a shelter.

I hope this helps. I also want to add, not to scare you but so that you know, that older dogs tend to be harder to find homes for. Most people want young dogs whom they will have a long time. I always have a harder time finding homes for the 5 yrs + dogs.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, this is one of the PPs . . . agree with the above poster. DO NOT GIVE to a "free to good home." Do not. The PP is absolutely right.

[Anonymous]

First, to answer your question. I would contant rescue groups. They may be able to find a foster home for the dog so that the dog is always in a loving home. You may want to see if there are any breed specific. If not, we got our dog through HART and it seems like a good organization. I don't know what you have to do to "get the dog in". But a rescue group would be better at making sure your dog gets a new home.

Second. How old is your child? Is this a newborn? Or do you have an older child and your situation has just changed or you are just fully realizing the dog is not getting enough attention? Honestly, babies and dogs are tough. But I found that I could learn to walk the dog with a stroller. In fact, my dog is 100 times better on a leash when we have the stroller. And the older my child gets, the easier (you can suddenly throw a ball without worrying about the dog trampling the kid).

Is your husbands travel temporary or permanent. If it is just temporary, could you hire a dog sitter? Or maybe a neighbor to help out with the dog. We have a neighbor near us that is always walking the other neighbors dog.

Anyways, I'm NOT trying to make you feel bad about your decision. At some point it is more humane to acknowledge that the dog is not getting enough attention and find a dog a loving home. I just wanted to throw out the idea that if anything was temporary, you might want to hang in there. I know our dog was a bit depressed for awhile (new baby got too much attention). But now she is a very happy dog again (toddler can reach the can of dog treats).

[Anonymous]

can't you walk the dog and the baby at the same time??????????
play with the dog outside when you take your child to the daily walk...
there's always a way around it. later on, when your child grows older you'll regret your decision.
pets and only children make wonderful playmates. you can get a lot done while dc is playing with the dog. it also teaches them how to handle pets, how to be gentle and not be afraid of animals.
another point is, later on the child will beg for a pet. you don't want to potty train another dog do you?

[Anonymous]

I agree with OP. Adoption is the most loving thing to do here. Not the easiest thing, but the best thing for your dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with OP. Adoption is the most loving thing to do here. Not the easiest thing, but the best thing for your dog.

Are you OP's DH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with OP. Adoption is the most loving thing to do here. Not the easiest thing, but the best thing for your dog.

oh yeah.. in a shelter the dog will get all the walking/exercising and attention it needs.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it sounds like adoption is the best thing for the dog, although of course only the OP knows for sure. From what she has said, though, it sounds like adoption would be far sadder for all concerned than for the dog to just get a little less attention for awhile -- at least he's in his own home, with his own people. How old is OP's child? I have a 10-month-old and already she and our dogs are interacting on a really sweet level (supervised, of course). Yes, I sometimes feel guilty that we can't give our dogs the same type of attention we did before, but I am CERTAIN that they are getting enough to be satisfied. We might not play fetch the way we used to, but they still love us, they LOVE the baby, and they know we love them. And they are in the home they love, and on the beds they love, eating the treats they love -- I have to think that counts for a lot even if we don't throw their toys for them as much as before.

How much exercise does a seven-year-old Yorkie need anyway? That's not a breed I know well, but I'd guess it can't be THAT much. We have a much bigger dog who doesn't require too terribly much in the way of long walks and playing -- though achieving even that would be harder on all of us if my husband were gone all the time, it's true. But as baby grows, it will be easier to walk dog and baby at the same time.

I believe that when we adopt a dog into our family, we make a commitment to take care of that dog as long as humanly possible. I know that sometimes things happen where a dog has to be given up, but I think it warrants a LOT of soul-searching and pretty dire circumstances... and I can't help but believe in this case the dog would rather be with his family even if he's feeling a little neglected at the moment.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand this. Do people not realize that the decision to adopt a pet should be a commitment to care for that pet for his entire life. I know at times major health issues and financial issues come up, but ditching a pet because of the temporary turmoil of a new baby is just plain cruel. Dogs are very sensitive. This thread makes me very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this. Do people not realize that the decision to adopt a pet should be a commitment to care for that pet for his entire life. I know at times major health issues and financial issues come up, but ditching a pet because of the temporary turmoil of a new baby is just plain cruel. Dogs are very sensitive. This thread makes me very sad.

Perhaps you don't realize, but your patronizing, holier-than-thou tone is doing your cause more harm than good.

[Anonymous]

I have an eight year old dog and a 1 year old DC. 95% of child and dog responsibilities fall on me.The dog went from being the top priority to significantly lower on the list but she's pretty happy. She has someone home all day. She likes the baby and she's older now. I never ever thought about giving her up.

Don't give your dog up because you are busy. You did commit to the dog - not just for your "active single phase" but for his lifetime. Just hang in there. Everyone will adjust.