Find a new home

Helping you and your pet when life gets tough

When troubles confront you and your pet

• Are you feeling frustrated with a behavior problem?
• Has someone in your family become allergic?
• Having trouble finding rental housing that accepts pets?

People feel they must give up their pets for a variety of reasons. At WCG Humane Society, we always want to see companion animals remain in their homes as cherished family members.

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.

We often see companion animals surrendered at our shelter for behavior problems, lack of time, or because the owner is moving to a place that doesn't allow pets. If these situations are the reasons you are considering surrendering your animal, we do ask that you read the following information on our web site to see if your pet can better fit into your lifestyle.

For example, if you keep your dog outdoors only, you are probably seeing behaviors like jumping, barking, digging, chewing or escaping the yard. Dogs are social animals. When they are isolated and alone in the backyard, they deal with their anxiety by acting out in ways you don't like. By letting your dog inside when you're home, allowing it to sleep indoors at night and by following a few training tips found on this web site, your pooch can turn into a relaxed, well-behaved member of the family. Click here to see our dog-related behavior topics and tips. Click here for Pet Behavior Help with tips of resolving this problem.

Perhaps your cat is not using the litter box and you are tired of cleaning up Click here to read about cat-related behavior topics and tips. Click here for Pet Behavior Help page with tips for resolving this problem.

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.

Housing Concerns

Lists of rental housing that allows pets are readily available. Pick up the free grocery store flyers advertising rentals, or visit ApartmentGuide.com or www.Rent.com for more pet friendly housing options.

Health Concerns

If 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 Home For Your Pet

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

Internet Resources: Visit Petfinder.com, Pets911.com and Adopt-A-Pet.com , and bestfriends.org. Breed rescue groups on-line: www.AKC.org/breeds/rescue, and PurebredCatBreedRescue.org.

Call attention to your pet's need for a new home: Put an 'adopt me' scarf around your dog's neck when you walk him.

Advertise: Advertise through family, friends, neighbors, veterinarians and local businesses first. Then try the newspaper as a last resort. Be sure to check references. Post photos and biographies at Petco, PetSmart, veterinarians and other stores.

Animal Shelter Options

Before placing your pet at a traditional humane society, please understand that those facilities euthanize nearly 18,000 animals yearly from Clark, Skamania, and Multnomah Counties, so your pet may not be adopted.

Be sure to ask about reclaiming your pet if a good home cannot be found within a short time.

Consider making a donation to a shelter upon surrender to help the organization care for your pet while they are finding a new home.

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:

Screening potential new owners: Screen contacts thoroughly and in person. 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.

Beware of 'Bunchers':The person offering to take your pet 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.

Screen potential homes: Take time to screen port en ti al homes carefully. Visit the new home to get a look at the environment in which you may place your pet. If anyone refuses to let you visit their home, don't place your pet there! 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.

Spaying and neutering: 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.

Pets with illnesses and behavior issues: 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. WCG Humane Society has 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.

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

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