If you can't keep your dog, give it a chance to go to a new home by placing it in a no-kill shelter.
Your four-legged friend might be part of your family, and having to give it up can be heartbreaking. If you can no longer afford to keep your dog, or if your lifestyle no longer allows you to have one, it is your responsibility as an owner to find a new home for your dog. According to the Human Society of the United States, between 3 million and 4 million pets are euthanized in the U.S. every year. Find your dog a home yourself or place it in a no-kill shelter to ensure that it won't meet the same fate.
Instructions
Find Your Dog a New Home
1. Take color photos of your dog and attach them to fliers. List your dog's name, age and breed on the fliers, along with your contact information. Mention that your dog needs a new home, and provide a brief description of its health and personality.
2. Place fliers in your area advertising your dog's availability. You can tape them to telephone poles and talk to store managers about posting them on bulletin boards. Post the fliers around your office as well. A coworker or family in your area could be looking for a new dog, and you might find a home that way.
3. Ask your friends and family if they are looking to adopt a dog. Tell them you can no longer keep yours and that it needs a new home. You will feel better if your dog is with someone you know. You also have the option of making a temporary arrangement with one of your friends if you think you can take your dog back in the future.
Turn Your Dog Over to a No-Kill Shelter
4. Look for no-kill shelters in your area. No-kill shelters won't euthanize dogs, regardless of how much time they spend there. Look online for local shelters and visit pet stores such as Petsmart and Petco. Shelters take their dogs to these locations every weekend to be adopted. Talk to directors at these shelters until you find one that can take your dog.
5. Make your dog one last appointment with a veterinarian. Ask for a thorough physical examination, and update your dog's vaccinations. Get your dog's health records from the vet's office so that you can give them, along with proof of vaccination, to the shelter. These papers will be helpful for your dog's new owner, and their availability can make your dog more adoptable.
6. Write a letter describing your dog. Use as much detail as possible. List its habits, its personality, its likes and dislikes, its favorite toys, its daily routine and any health problems it has. Give the letter to the shelter to display on adoption days. This will help potential families get to know your dog and increase its chances of being adopted quickly.
7. Arrange a time to drop your dog off at the animal shelter. In some cases, you can take your dog in on an adoption day and it will be placed up for adoption immediately. Some shelters require a dog to be with them for a week or two for evaluation before they are put up for adoption.
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