Surrendering and Finding
a Responsible New Home

These are frustrating problems and sometimes people feel the only solution is to give up their pet.
But did you know that drastic step may not be necessary? There is a wealth of resources available to pet owners just like you that help you deal with these overwhelming issues.

Behavior Concerns

If you are dealing with a pet behavior problem, talk to your vet. Many behaviors have a treatable medical cause, and your vet is the best place to start finding help. For example, a pet urinating in the house could have a urinary tract infection instead of a behavior problem.
Free initial consultations for behavior problems are available through:

Housing Concerns

Lists of rental housing that allows pets are readily available. Pick up the free grocery store flyers advertising rentals, or visit the web sites of the Oregon Humane Society and Humane Society for Southwest Washington for more pet friendly housing options.

Health Concerns

If your allergies are causing you to consider giving up your pet, there are things you can try before taking such a drastic step. Air filters and clean air machines that remove dander from the home work wonders! Bathing and grooming regularly will help, as will a good quality vacuum cleaner. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend foods that alter the chemical make-up of your pet's dander, rendering it harmless. Sometimes limited exposure to pets helps allergic persons gradually build a tolerance to pet dander, so are less affected by it. Many people take allergy medications or shots to reduce the effects, and limit pets to one part of the home.

Finding a Responsible Home for Your Pet

When finding a new home is the only solution left, you have many choices:

Before placing your pet at a traditional humane society, please understand that those facilities euthanize nearly 18,000 animals yearly in Clark and Multnomah Counties, so your pet may not be adopted. Ask about reclaiming your pet if a good home cannot be found within a short time.

Choosing a Responsible Home for Your Pet

If you feel you want to find a new home for your pet yourself, here are some tips for success:

Advertise through family, friends, neighbors, veterinarians and local businesses first. Then try the newspaper as a last resort. Be sure to check references.

Visit the new home to get a look at the environment in which you may place your pet. Talk to prospective adopters and tell them the pet is part of your family and you want to make sure she will be cared for properly and you want to see how she takes to the new home. Screen potential homes carefully.

If anyone refuses to let you visit their home, don't place your pet there! They may be a 'buncher' answering 'free to good home' ads, when in fact they sell pets to animal dealers. Dog fighters have been known to pose as kindly adopters.  These people can fool you by bringing people posing as children  or mothers with them to look legitimate when they come to pick up the pet. Some people are 'hoarders' who will house your pet in deplorable conditions with hundreds of other animals. Check ID, and match names and addresses with an electric bill to see that the home you visit is the home where your pet will actually reside.

Be sure your pet is spayed or neutered before they go to their new home. This prevents your pet from being adopted by a backyard breeder and living a horrible, neglected confined life producing litter after litter and then being euthanized or discarded when it is too weak to continue.

If your pet is chronically ill or has behavior problems, it may be difficult to find him a suitable home.
Please phone our shelter to find help placing special needs animals. We have qualified, trained staff to help you screen and counsel adopters. Relinquishing your pet to a shelter can be difficult but may be the best choice.

To avoid euthanasia, please consider the alternatives: sanctuaries, behavior modification techniques, free trainers, help hot-lines, web sited, foster homes, veterinary advice and treatment, and new products for you to home and to train your pet.