How to tell when the right decision for your dog is rehoming

The idea of having to rehome or give away one’s pet is something that most animal lovers cannot even imagine, and many of us are also quite judgemental and harsh about people who do surrender their pets to a shelter. It is certainly true that the majority of dogs in rehoming shelters are surrendered due to failings on the part of their owners-either in their willingness or ability to provide for their dogs properly and take care of all of their needs, or because they failed to give the proper gravitas and consideration to the idea of getting a dog, and ended up rushing into things or biting off more than they could chew.

However, in some cases, even conscientious, highly caring dog owners who do everything right and could not possibly foresee a future scenario of surrendering their dog can run into difficulties and situations in which being able to care for their dog themselves is no longer possible, and this means that the really difficult decision of whether or not to rehome your dog has to be answered.

While it would be impossible to cover every potential scenario when it comes to rehoming, there are certain situations in which the only truly responsible decision is to surrender the dog for its best interests-and in this article, we will look at some of the most common of these scenarios and how to tell when it is time. Read on to learn more.

If you inherit a dog that you cannot care for

One scenario that often leads to rehoming through no fault of any of the parties involved is when a loved one dies and their remaining family are left to deal with the pets of the deceased. Ideally, one of the family or friends would be not only willing but happy to take the dog on, but this is simply not possible for everyone, and even for those that could and might take on a dog, the dog in question might not be the right fit.

In cases such as these, turning to a rehoming shelter or organisation for help can help to ensure that the dog finds the right home and continues to enjoy the love and care of a dedicated owner for the rest of their life.

If you cannot afford to pay for the appropriate care for your dog

Dog ownership can be expensive, and even if you can cover the day to day costs such as food and other essentials, one big bill, an unexpected veterinary visit or any manner of other things can soon lead to a struggle.

Having pet insurance and a contingency fund can help to avoid such issues, but if for any reason you are unable to afford to care for your dog properly and have exhausted the various different avenues of help that might be available (such as subsidised veterinary care from a charity such as the PDSA), the only responsible choice is to rehome your dog to someone who can afford to fund their care.

If you do not have enough time to devote to your dog

Once again, when you first decide to get a dog, you should critically assess your ability to commit to giving them the time and attention that they require, and also, look to the future and assess how you would be able to continue to do this if your situation changed.

However, no one can make plans for every eventuality, and if for some reason you find that you simply cannot give your dog the amount of time and attention that they deserve and need to be happy and you are unable to make changes that would ensure that you can, you may have to look at rehoming.

If you cannot provide a stable routine and home life

Dogs need routine, stability and familiarity in order to thrive, but most dog owners have to weather at least one period of change or uncertainty at some point too. If you go through a marriage breakup or other situation that means that your dog’s future is uncertain and that you cannot provide them with the routine and stability that they need, and you cannot foresee that situation ending any time soon, you might have to give your dog up.

If you become ill and unable to care for your dog

Finally, injuries and illness can befall anyone at virtually any time, and the impact that these unexpected issues can have on one’s life can be massive and life-changing. If you become immobile, ill or injured and find that this either means that you are physically or mentally unable to care for your dog, or that you are unable to afford to due to the knock-on effects of your condition, you may be able to get help from friends, family and certain charities such as The Cinnamon Trust-but again, if you cannot honestly say that keeping your dog under the circumstances is in their best interests as well as your own, it might be time to rehome them.