Anonymous wrote:I volunteer at a shelter. We often bring in transports, and literally name the pets ourselves shortly before they get adopted. In this case, it's fine to rename.
In other cases, we get owner surrenders that have had their name for years. I would not rename then.
I volunteer for a rescue, too. I think the lesson here - whatever the dog's history is - is that dogs are fine with being renamed!
OP, when my organization gets updates about past adoptees I would say 99 out of a 100 have been renamed.