Responsible Rehoming: What to Do If You Can’t Keep Your Dog

Realising you can no longer care for your dog is one of the most difficult situations a pet owner can face. A change in finances, health, housing, relationships or family circumstances can leave even the most devoted owner wondering whether their dog would be better off elsewhere.

Rehoming can bring feelings of guilt and grief, but needing help doesn’t make you a bad owner. Sometimes, finding a safe and suitable new home is the most responsible and loving choice you can make.

If you’re considering rehoming your dog, here’s how to approach the process carefully, honestly and with their welfare at the heart of every decision.

Before making a final decision, consider whether additional support could help you and your dog stay together.

Common reasons for considering rehoming include:

• Financial difficulties

• Behavioural problems

• A lack of time

• Moving home or experiencing housing difficulties

• Changes to your physical or mental health

• A new baby, relationship or family commitment

• Conflict with children or other pets

• A temporary crisis

Depending on the situation, you may be able to access pet food banks, low-cost veterinary care, dog-walking support or advice from an accredited trainer or behaviourist. Organisations such as the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Blue Cross provide guidance for owners who are struggling.

If the problem is temporary, a trusted friend or family member may also be able to care for your dog while you get back on your feet.

However, not every situation can be fixed. If you’ve explored the available support and rehoming remains the best option, there’s no shame in choosing a different future for your dog.

At Waggel, we’ll always advocate for responsible pet ownership, but we’re never here to judge an owner for making a difficult decision in their pet’s best interests.

If your dog originally came from a breeder or rescue organisation, contact them before looking for another home.

Many responsible breeders and rescue centres ask for dogs to be returned to them if an owner can no longer provide care. This may also form part of the agreement you signed when you bought or adopted your dog.

Even if they cannot take your dog back immediately, they may be able to offer advice, recommend a trusted organisation or help find an appropriate new owner.

Rehoming charities and rescue centres have experience assessing dogs and matching them with suitable homes.

A responsible organisation may:

• Assess your dog’s health, behaviour and individual needs

• Vet prospective adopters

• Carry out home checks

• Arrange safe introductions

• Provide veterinary treatment where needed

• Offer support after adoption

• Take the dog back if the placement is unsuccessful

Rescue centres often have limited space and waiting lists, so contact them as early as possible. Some organisations offer home-to-home rehoming, meaning your dog can remain with you while a new family is found. Dogs Trust offers a Homestay service in some circumstances, while Blue Cross operates a Home Direct scheme.

You can also look for organisations belonging to the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, whose members must meet recognised welfare and rehoming standards.

If your dog belongs to a particular breed, a reputable breed-specific rescue may be able to help. These organisations often have a detailed understanding of the breed’s exercise, training and health needs.

Posting your dog on social media or an online marketplace may feel like the quickest way to find someone, particularly if your situation is urgent. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to verify a stranger’s intentions or determine whether they can offer a safe and permanent home.

Giving a dog away for free may also attract people who have not properly considered the financial and emotional responsibility involved. In the worst cases, animals advertised online can be passed between homes, bred irresponsibly or placed in unsafe situations.

Working through a reputable organisation provides safeguards for your dog and gives prospective adopters a proper opportunity to consider whether they’re the right match.

If you do arrange a private rehoming through somebody you already know, take the same precautions a responsible rescue would. Ask questions, arrange several meetings and make sure every member of the new household is comfortable with the decision.

Honesty is essential when rehoming any animal, but it’s particularly important with dogs. Hiding health or behavioural concerns could place your dog, their new family or other animals at risk. It also makes a failed placement more likely, creating further disruption and stress.

Share clear information about:

• Age, breed and medical history

• Vaccination and neutering status

• Medication or ongoing treatment

• Diet and daily routine

• Exercise requirements

• Training and recall

• Behaviour around adults, children and other animals

• Experience of being left alone

• Separation anxiety

• Resource guarding

• Fears, triggers or noise sensitivities

• Any history of growling, snapping or biting

• Behaviour at the vet, groomer and in the car

• Any legal restrictions that apply to the dog

A behavioural difficulty doesn’t necessarily mean your dog cannot be rehomed. It simply means they may need a particular environment or a more experienced owner. A reputable rescue needs the full picture to make that decision safely.

Think of your dog’s profile as an introduction rather than an advert. Alongside clear, recent photos, describe their personality, routine and the type of home in which they’re likely to thrive.

Are they an energetic dog who loves long walks and learning new tricks? Do they prefer a quiet home without young children? Can they live with cats? Are they happiest curled up beside somebody on the sofa?

Include the lovely details that make your dog unique, but avoid presenting an unrealistic version of them. The aim isn’t to appeal to the largest number of people. It’s about finding someone whose home, lifestyle, and experience genuinely suit your dog.

If you’re rehoming privately, don’t rush into accepting the first offer.

Ask prospective owners about:

• Their experience with dogs

• Who lives in the household

• Any existing pets

• Their working hours and daily routine

• The amount of exercise they can provide

• Whether they rent or own their home

• Who will care for the dog during holidays

• Their plans for training and veterinary care

• Whether everyone in the household agrees with the adoption

Arrange for them to meet your dog more than once, ideally in different settings. If they have another dog, introductions should be gradual and carefully managed.

Be cautious of anyone who puts pressure on you, refuses to answer questions or wants to collect your dog immediately without meeting them first.

Before your dog moves, collect everything their new owner or rescue organisation will need.

This may include:

• Veterinary records

• Vaccination certificates

• Microchip details

• Medication and dosage instructions

• Neutering records

• Insurance information

• Details of allergies or previous conditions

• Training notes

• Food and feeding instructions

• Details of their usual routine

Send familiar belongings such as bedding, toys, a lead or an item carrying a familiar scent. These can provide reassurance while your dog adjusts to an unfamiliar environment.

If your dog is insured, contact the insurer before the ownership change. Policies don't automatically transfer to a new keeper, so the new owner will need to ensure ownership is transferred. They should understand that conditions already recorded in the dog’s medical history may be treated as pre-existing by a new insurer.

All dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. When your dog is rehomed, their microchip record should be updated with the new keeper’s details.

Contact the database where the chip is registered and follow its ownership transfer process. If you don’t know which database holds the record, you can check the chip number using an approved chip-checking service or ask a vet or rescue centre for help.

Make sure the transfer has been completed rather than simply handing the chip number to the new owner. Accurate details give your dog the best chance of being reunited with their new family if they ever go missing.

Moving home can be confusing and stressful for a dog, particularly if they have lived with you for a long time.

You can make the change easier by:

• Keeping their routine consistent before the move

• Providing their usual food

• Sending familiar bedding, toys and equipment

• Writing down their feeding, walking and sleeping routine

• Sharing the commands and cues they understand

• Explaining how they show stress or ask for space

• Keeping the handover calm and unhurried

Allow the new owner to build trust at the dog’s pace. They should avoid overwhelming them with visitors, busy outings or too many new experiences during the first few days.

It may be tempting to visit frequently, but this can sometimes make it harder for a dog to settle. Agree in advance whether updates or future contact will be appropriate, taking guidance from the rescue organisation where relevant.

If your dog needs to leave immediately, contact reputable charities and local rescue organisations and explain the urgency clearly. Dogs Trust advises owners in an emergency to call its rehoming team on 0300 303 2188.

Rescue spaces are limited, so an organisation may not be able to take your dog straight away. Ask whether it can suggest emergency fostering, temporary boarding or another trusted service.

Never abandon a dog outside a rescue centre, leave them tied up in a public place or deliberately allow them to stray. This can expose them to serious danger and does not guarantee that help will reach them.

If anyone is in immediate danger because of a dog’s behaviour, separate the dog safely without putting yourself at risk and contact an appropriate professional, such as your vet, a qualified clinical animal behaviourist or the emergency services.

Rehoming a dog can feel like a bereavement. Dogs become part of our routines, homes and families, so feelings of guilt, sadness and doubt are entirely understandable.

Try to remember that responsible ownership isn’t about keeping a dog at any cost. It means recognising when their needs can no longer be met and taking thoughtful steps to protect their future.

You may find it helpful to speak to somebody you trust, write down why you made the decision or request updates through the rescue organisation if this is possible. Give yourself permission to grieve without losing sight of the care behind your choice.

Rehoming a dog should never be rushed, but it doesn’t have to be approached with shame. Explore the support available, speak to reputable organisations early and be completely honest about your dog’s health, behaviour and needs.

The goal isn’t simply to find another home. It’s to find the right home: somewhere your dog can feel safe, understood and loved for the rest of their life.