Turning a Dog in to a Shelter

Turning a Dog into a Shelter: A Last Resort for Responsible Pet Owners

Turning a dog into a shelter should be the last resort for any responsible pet owner. When you decided to purchase or adopt a dog, you made a commitment to provide that dog with a home for the rest of its life. Whatever circumstances or behavior are now causing you to back out of your commitment should be considered carefully. There may be solutions to the problems that make you feel like you need to give up your dog.

When you turn your dog over to a shelter, you lose all control over what happens to your pet. While you might think animal control will find your pet a good home, there is no guarantee of that. One woman, who turned in her four cats to animal control, had second thoughts and returned the next day to bring them back home. To her horror, one of her perfectly healthy young cats had already been euthanized because the shelter was low on space.

Even if you turn your pet into a no-kill shelter, the conditions there may still be substandard. Additionally, there is no guarantee how the pet will be treated in the home of whoever adopts them.

The right thing to do is to try to keep your pet. Below are some common reasons why people turn their pets into shelters, along with possible solutions to these problems.

Solutions to Common Pet Behavior Issues

They Chew/Destroy Belongings or Make a Mess While I’m Away (or Other Behavior Problems)

This is a common source of frustration for pet owners, but it’s also one of the most easily remedied. Be sure to provide your pet with plenty of chew toys. Praise them when they chew on their toys, so they will learn the proper way to meet their need to chew. Dogs are not “being bad” when they chew shoes or furniture—they’re simply being dogs! They must be taught what is acceptable and what is not. Obedience training may be all that is needed to stop unwanted behavior. Many local shelters offer low-cost classes.

To eliminate the problem completely, crate your dog while you are away. With proper crate training, your dog will view the crate as a place of refuge. Proper crate training can take a few weeks, so be patient.

We Have a New Baby

Unless your dog has shown aggression toward people, there is no reason to think they cannot live peacefully with your new baby. While the baby is still in the hospital, bring home an item of clothing that the baby has worn so your dog can become familiar with the scent. Always supervise interactions between the dog and your baby.

Animals and babies or small children should NEVER be left alone together, regardless of the size or breed of the animal. However, there is no need to rid the house of all pets when a baby is coming.

We Are Moving

If you had children, would you move to a place that didn’t allow children? Then why, if you have pets, would you move to a place that doesn’t allow them? Your pets are part of your family. If you need to move, there are plenty of pet-friendly housing options, and many local shelters provide lists of such places.

While there may be some extreme circumstances that require a pet owner to turn their animals over to a shelter, most people who choose to abandon their pets do so for reasons that are easily remedied.

If you find that you must rehome your pets, try to find a shelter or rescue group that is “no-kill.” At least then, you will know that your dog or cat will be offered a second chance to live with a loving family.