How to Donate a Pet for Adoption

Many dogs find great homes through adoption.

Donating your pet for adoption is often a difficult, heart-wrenching task. Along with the emotions often come many questions, including how to know if your animal will be taken care of and who accepts pets for adoption. Researching any potential adopters and knowing who can help find the best home for your pet are usually the best routes to take. If you are benefiting your animal by finding it another home, you are making the right choice.

Instructions

1. Contact a rescue organization about the potential donation of your pet. Rescue organizations are probably the best sources for adoption because they thoroughly screen those who are interested in adopting a pet. Most will even make home visits. In addition, the animals that are in need of owners often stay in the homes of rescue volunteers until adoption.

2. Place a flier at your veterinarian's office. Many people contact local vets for animals who need homes. Include a picture of the pet, in addition to its age, breed and any behavior issues. Be sure to interview any potential candidates and ask for references of those individuals as well. Contact their own animal's veterinarian, as well, to ensure that their other pets are properly cared for. If possible, visit their home to inspect your animal's future living accommodations.

3. Send out an email to your friends and associates that you are interested in putting your pet up for adoption. In addition, social networking sites are a great way to reach a large amount of people. Therefore, make it known through status updates or other means that you have a pet for adoption.

4. Place an ad on the Internet or in a newspaper for potential adopters for your animal. The Internet and print media reach large audiences and many folks look to these places first when searching for a pet. Be sure to screen all potential adopters thoroughly.

5. Take your animal to a shelter to donate it for adoption. This should only be used as a last resort, as many shelters are overcrowded and placing your animal in there does not guarantee adoption. Look for a no-kill shelter when researching and try to find a shelter that has the best housing arrangements. This may mean visiting many local shelters, such as your animal control or ASPCA.

Tips & Warnings

• Most dog and cat breeds have their own rescues that take in pets. Some pure-breed rescues will also take in dogs who are mixed with that breed. Contact your veterinarian or animal shelter for the numbers to rescues.

References

• A New Leash on Life Dog Rescue: Placing your dog for Adoption

Resources

• Petfinder