How can I rehome my dog?
January 24, 2011 9:09 AM Subscribe
Where can I find a place/person to take care of my dog for 3 months (possibly permanently)?
I'm moving to China for 3 months in mid-march and have been looking to rehome my dog to no avail.
I understand that there are a lot of pets out there in need of a good home and it'll be extremely difficult to find a new home for my dog. But wanted to see what you guys have to say.
About my dog: He's the smartest dog I've ever owned, generally great but exhibits a bit of resource guarding behavior and leash aggression (working on that). He's a great dog that deserves a great home (preferably with space to run around). His age and a streak of aggression makes him a difficult candidate. He was a rescue dog, possibly abused and I don't think he was properly socialized with other dogs when young. Gets along extremely well with people, rarely barks, fixed, has all of his shots.
I'm currently looking for a temporary home, but due to my life going through big changes I think it would be better for him to have a more permanent home.
I'm moving to China for 3 months in mid-march and have been looking to rehome my dog to no avail.
I understand that there are a lot of pets out there in need of a good home and it'll be extremely difficult to find a new home for my dog. But wanted to see what you guys have to say.
About my dog: He's the smartest dog I've ever owned, generally great but exhibits a bit of resource guarding behavior and leash aggression (working on that). He's a great dog that deserves a great home (preferably with space to run around). His age and a streak of aggression makes him a difficult candidate. He was a rescue dog, possibly abused and I don't think he was properly socialized with other dogs when young. Gets along extremely well with people, rarely barks, fixed, has all of his shots.
I'm currently looking for a temporary home, but due to my life going through big changes I think it would be better for him to have a more permanent home.
From your posting history, I think you're in NYC; if you are, then contact the Humane Society and ask about Pets For Life. It's a program intended to help folks who were displaced from their homes b'c of job loss, the economy, etc., by finding temporary homes for their animals. I fostered a cat for about six months through PfL. I don't have a contact, but the woman who runs the program is Jenny Olsen, iirc.
posted by LOLAttorney2009 at 9:19 AM on January 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by LOLAttorney2009 at 9:19 AM on January 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
When we decided to go to Japan for a month, we had the same challenge with our dog. Anyway, we were taking her for a walk one day and a family stopped to pet her. We asked if they would like to look after her for a month, and they said yes. She now lives with them (we have had to move into a condominium).
posted by KokuRyu at 9:32 AM on January 24, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 9:32 AM on January 24, 2011
As someone who has done a lot of humane society volunteering, dog walking and pet sitting, the first thing that comes to mind in this rough economy (and this is assuming you would be able to pay for supplies and a small weekly fee to a caretaker), is to find an unemployed dog lover who could use some extra cash. This could be a person who already has a dog they care for/walk/ etc, or even someone who would love a dog but doesn't feel they can afford one currently.
I am thinking more of your short-term needs rather than long-term, although you never know, dog lovers tend to form attachments to dogs pretty quickly. I can't tell you how many humane society critters I wished I could have taken home.
Anyway, if you could provide the food/medications/toys and maybe an additional $75-$100 per week?, I think that's something I personally would consider doing if I hadn't found a job (or if, for instance, I was only working part-time). Of course this might not be in your budget at all, but I'm not sure exactly what your situation is.
You could try posting a notice at local shelters for the volunteers. (Animal volunteers are pretty great people, in my experience, but you'd probably want to spend some time with the person, see their house, meet their dog/family, etc.) Another option might be calling local dog-walking/grooming businesses (I know in Chicagoland there are quite a few) and asking them to ask their employees if this is an opportunity they might be interested in. Maybe try craigslist. Good luck to you.
posted by Glinn at 9:55 AM on January 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I am thinking more of your short-term needs rather than long-term, although you never know, dog lovers tend to form attachments to dogs pretty quickly. I can't tell you how many humane society critters I wished I could have taken home.
Anyway, if you could provide the food/medications/toys and maybe an additional $75-$100 per week?, I think that's something I personally would consider doing if I hadn't found a job (or if, for instance, I was only working part-time). Of course this might not be in your budget at all, but I'm not sure exactly what your situation is.
You could try posting a notice at local shelters for the volunteers. (Animal volunteers are pretty great people, in my experience, but you'd probably want to spend some time with the person, see their house, meet their dog/family, etc.) Another option might be calling local dog-walking/grooming businesses (I know in Chicagoland there are quite a few) and asking them to ask their employees if this is an opportunity they might be interested in. Maybe try craigslist. Good luck to you.
posted by Glinn at 9:55 AM on January 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ah, apologies, I did not read your post as thoroughly as I should have. With his issues I would still try the same route but in a home with no children and probably with no other dogs.
posted by Glinn at 9:57 AM on January 24, 2011
posted by Glinn at 9:57 AM on January 24, 2011
Response by poster: Yep in New York, I'll ask the humane society. Tried Bide-a-wee and various other no-kill shelters but they all couldn't take him in due to age and temperament. I'm leery of just dropping him off at a shelter though.
Yep, tried family/friends to no avail.
Thanks for the advice y'all!
posted by pakoothefakoo at 6:48 PM on January 24, 2011
Yep, tried family/friends to no avail.
Thanks for the advice y'all!
posted by pakoothefakoo at 6:48 PM on January 24, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
My aunt and uncle moved to the midwest when I was incredibly young. They asked my parents to keep their dog until they could get her. Well, they never did get her back, so she became our dog.
Outside of friends and families, you're looking at either privately contracting/locating a stranger or shelters.
posted by zizzle at 9:13 AM on January 24, 2011