Can I Drop My Australian Shepherd Off at an Animal Shelter?

In most cases, you can’t simply drop your Australian Shepherd off at an animal shelter. They don’t take walk-ins. Instead, you will need to find a shelter in your area and then call them to set up an appointment. When you call and let them know that you want to surrender your dog, they’ll typically ask you several questions before setting up the appointment.

Today, most shelters understand that the best course of action is to get the owners to keep their pets. They try to work with the owners who may want to give up their animals to find alternatives. For example, they can suggest training programs, doggy daycare, and even financial resources that can help with many issues owners are experiencing. This helps pets to stay in the home, and it reduces the number of animals crowding the shelters.

Of course, it’s not always possible to keep your dog. In those cases, the shelter will set up an appointment for you to drop her off and fill out the paperwork. You need to realize that once you surrender your Australian Shepherd to the shelter, you are giving up your legal rights to your pet.

Is a Shelter the Right Choice?

Shelters try hard to do a good job taking care of the animals that come into their care. Yet, it’s not always possible. Often, the shelters are crowded, and dogs don’t have enough space. To make more room, shelters will have to euthanize some of the animals. Typically those that have been there over a certain amount of time are first on the list. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a reality you have to consider. Fortunately, there are other options to try first. The shelter should always be a last resort.

Other Options to Consider

You might want to try a local rescue instead of a shelter. Rescues will keep the animals until someone adopts them, which can give you some peace of mind. However, there is no guarantee that someone will adopt your Australian Shepherd. Additionally, rescues are often at capacity and will not have room to take on more animals.

Rather than a shelter or a rescue, you may want to consider seeing if someone in your group of friends or your family might be interested in adopting your dog. This is a good option because it means you may still be able to see her occasionally, and she may already know the people in their new home.

Another option that could work well is to rehome your dog using Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. This platform lets owners post information about their pets in a profile, which can then be viewed by people looking to adopt. When people are interested in adopting your Australian Shepherd, they will fill out an adoption application, which you can review. This will make it easier for you to find the ideal person or family to adopt your dog. It’s safe and easy to use.

What Happens When A Dog Eats Too Much?

When your dog eats too much it can lead to bloat, obesity, and, in puppies, skeletal issues. While it’s tempting to give in to those puppy dog eyes and feed your pet as much as they want, it’s not what responsible pet owners do. Instead, feed your pet according to proper guidelines so they maintain a healthy weight and stay on the path towards a long, happy life. 

Obesity In Pets 

While all overfeeding won’t result in such an extreme case of obesity, even being slightly overweight can diminish your pet’s health. Overweight dogs are more prone to develop:

  • Heart problems
  • Diabetes
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Joint issues
  • And more 

Bloat From Overfeeding 

Bloat is a dangerous condition and one potential cause is overfeeding. Food bloat occurs when the dog’s stomach gets too full, causing it to expand. This puts pressure on other organs and can cause the dog to have difficulty breathing, restrict blood flow to his heart, and cause tears in his stomach lining.

This condition is potentially life threatening, so see your vet immediately if you notice the following symptoms:

  • A swollen stomach
  • Pacing
  • Restlessness
  • Trying to vomit but not producing anything
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath 

How Much Should I Feed My Dog? 

Many pet owners who overfeed their pets aren’t aware of how much food is a proper amount. While most dog food packages have guidelines printed on them, the best way to be sure you’re feeding your dog a proper diet is to talk to your vet.

Just as with humans, a healthy diet for your dog is an important key to a healthy, happy, long life. 

How Do You Get an ESA Letter for Housing?

To get an emotional support animal (ESA) letter for housing, you must ask your licensed therapist or other medical professional to write one for you.

Why You Need An ESA Letter 

While emotional support animals do not enjoy the same broad protections as service animals, there are two areas in which they are protected: housing and airline travel. Having a letter ensures that you’ll be able to meet the requirements to have no-pet policies waived and to find rental housing and bring your ESA on a plane with you.

Some landlords may not require the letter, but it’s better to have it just in case. For airline travel, all airlines require an ESA letter and some may even ask for vaccination records and other paperwork.

If a landlord refuses to rent to you once you’ve shown him your ESA letter, he is in violation of the law and you can file a complaint with HUD. Most rentals are included, but there are a couple of exceptions:

  • Single family homes rented out without the help of a realtor.
  • Buildings with four units or less in which the landlord lives in one. 

It is also of note that the landlord is not allowed to charge you a pet fee for your ESA even if other tenants are required to pay a pet deposit. You can, however, be charged for any damage caused by your ESA.

It shouldn’t be difficult to find a rental just because you have an emotional support animal, and the law is on your side. Know your rights, secure your letter, and you should have no problem finding the perfect rental. 

How Do I Give Up My Pit Bull?

If you’re asking how do I give up my pit bull, you’ve likely made the difficult decision to surrender your pet. There are a few options, including surrendering him to a local shelter, working with a private rescue group, or rehoming him yourself. Below we look at the pros and cons each.

Local Shelters

Municipal shelters run by the city or county may not take owner surrenders. Each location is different, so it’s worth checking. Organizations like the SPCA usually do accept owner surrenders.

Pros

  • It usually only takes a day or two, and some might take the dog right away.

Cons

  • Some shelters must euthanize pets due to overcrowding and limited resources. Your dog may be at risk for being put down if he ends up at one of these shelters.

Tips

  • Research the live release rate before surrendering your pit bull (or American pit bull terrier) to a shelter.

Private Rescues

Privately run rescues are another option. Here are the pros and cons of surrendering your pit bull to a reputable rescue.

Pros

  • Rescues usually have stricter adoption policies to ensure pets are placed in homes that fit their needs.
  • Even if your pet does not find a new home, rescues will usually care for your pet indefinitely.

Cons

  • Many rescues are volunteer run and house pets in foster homes which can be full, so you may have to wait for a spot.

Tips

  • Look on social media to find reviews of the rescue.
  • Visit the facility, talk to fosters and former fosters, and do as much rehome_research as you can.

Rehome Your Pit Bull Yourself

This method allows you to choose the new home and to vet any potential adopters. If you have to give up your pit bull, this route will give you the most control and peace of mind.

Pros

  • You get to choose his new family.
  • You give your pit bull the best chance at a safe and happy home.
  • Your pet can stay with you in a stress-free environment while he waits to find his new forever home.

Cons

  • It can take some time to find the right family.

Tips

  • Never list your pet as free to a good home. People who want dogs for fighting, or otherwise want to harm your dog, often look for ads like this.
  • Always charge a rehoming fee.
  • Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com is a free peer-to-peer adoption service that provides information on properly screening adopters, allows you to create a profile for your pit bull, and get him seen by millions of adopters on Adopt-a-Pet.com.

If you have to give up your pit bull, make sure you’re putting him in safe hands!   

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Jack Russell Terrier?

When you surrender a Jack Russell Terrier, it means that you’re giving up your rights to your dog. To surrender your dog, you’ll take him to a shelter or a rescue. However, you need to be sure that you’re following the guidelines of the facility. You’ll also want to know the difference between shelters and rescues, along with other options for giving up your dog.

Contact the Facility

Before you can bring your dog to a shelter or a rescue, you need to get in touch with the facility. They all have their own regulations and rules when it comes to surrendering dogs. Check their website and then call them to learn exactly what you need to do to surrender your dog. They’ll let you know what the surrender fees will be, as well as what paperwork you’ll need to have and fill out when you surrender your dog.

They’ll also want to know why you need to give up your dog. In some cases, they may have some resources to provide you that will allow you to keep your dog. For example, if you spend a lot of time at work and you can’t walk your dog each day, they might suggest that you use a pet sitter or dog walker. They want to give you every opportunity possible to keep your dog.

If you aren’t able to keep your, dog, you can set up an appointment to surrender him to the shelter or rescue. Once you do, you’ll no longer have legal rights to him.

Why Are There Surrender Fees and Adoption Fees?

When you drop off your dog at the facility, they’ll charge a surrender fee, as mentioned. However, when someone adopts a dog through the facility, they’ll have to pay an adoption fee. Fees are charged for incoming and outgoing dogs to help ensure that the organization has enough money to continue operating. The adoption fees, similar to rehoming fees, ensure that there’s enough. 

What About Rehoming?

You don’t have to surrender your dog to a shelter or a rescue when you have to give him up. You also have the option of rehoming, which could be a better solution for your dog. One of the first methods of rehoming is to find someone you already know that might be willing to adopt your dog. You could have a family member that’s been thinking about adopting, for example.

You can also rehome your dog with people that you find online. Using a platform like Rehome is a great option. It’s part of Adopt-a-Pet.com, and it allows you to create a profile, complete with images and videos, for your dog. The profile lets you detail your dog’s traits and personality, along with things that he might not like or issues he has. Being honest in the profile will help to ensure that your dog has the best chance possible of finding a perfect new home.

Do Male And Female Cats Get Along Better?

When introducing a new cat into your household, gender is generally less important than matching energy level, age, size, and personalities.  

Things To Keep In Mind: 

  • Cats don’t like change in general. Sure, you may get lucky and find that your cat is thrilled to have a new friend, but there is a better-than-average chance this won’t be the case. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get another cat, but it does mean you’ll have to be realistic with your expectations and take the time for proper introductions.
  • Don’t force your new cat to share items. Purchase an additional litter box (it’s best to have one litter box per cat plus one additional box), bed, and bowls for the new cat, so everyone can have their own.
  • Don’t just toss them together. Keep the new cat isolated for the first few days and feed your resident cat by the door. After a few days, open the door slightly so they can see other. Then, try a short meeting and slowly increase the time they spend together. This proper introduction provides a better chance for success. Check out our blog article Introducing a New Cat or Kitten to Your Cats for more guidance. 

Over time and with a little patience, it’s likely that your cats will learn to tolerate each other. It may take several months or even longer, but as long as they aren’t fighting with each other, it’s fine to let them move at their own pace. 

Can I Drop My Dog Off At An Animal Shelter?

Depending on the rules of your local shelter, you can sometimes drop your dog off at an animal shelter, but they may need advanced notice or to follow specific shelter procedures to do so. Some do allow walk-in surrenders, but some do not. Instead, they require pet owners to work with an intake specialist. Once that process is complete, the owner can bring the pet to the shelter, pay the fee, and sign over the dog.

What Happens When a Dog is Surrendered?  

Organizations such as the SPCAs, Humane Societies, and other limited intake organizations only have so much room. That’s why, in many cases, you’ll have to wait weeks or even months before they can take your dog. Once they do, what happens to the pet is completely up to them.
An alternative to surrendering your dog to a shelter is to rehome the dog yourself.

Rehoming Your Dog Yourself

This may take a bit of time and a little work, but it is well worth it knowing that the outcome will be a safe, happy home for your pet. Of course, the best option is to find a way to keep the dog in your home. Sometimes, that’s not possible and it’s not the owner’s fault—and it’s certainly not the dog’s fault.

Fortunately, resources exist that can help you find the right home for your pet so you can avoid surrendering them to a shelter. One example of such a resource is a site called Rehome. Simply create a profile for your pet (you can even add a video to get him noticed!) and wait for applicants. The site provides tips about what to look for in an application, how to screen potential adopters, and more.

If you’re asking “can I drop my dog off at an animal shelter,” consider the rehoming option instead. As the responsible pet owner you are, you’ll be glad to be in control of where your beloved pet goes and rest easy knowing he’s in a loving home. 

What is the Fastest Way to Rehome a Rottweiler?

The fastest way to rehome a rottweiler is to talk with people that you already know about adopting. When you have a friend or a family member who is looking to adopt a dog, there’s a chance they might want to adopt yours. This is especially true if they already know and get along well with your dog.

Rehoming with People You Know

Of course, even if you’re rehoming with someone you know, you’ll still want to be sure they’re the right person. Take some time to think about your rottweiler and her personality.

She’s going to need to be walked and given plenty of exercise. Will the person adopting be capable of providing that for her? Does she get along well with cats and small dogs or not? If she doesn’t you wouldn’t want your friends with a house full of cats to adopt her. Does the person who wants to adopt her have the financial means to care for her properly. Always consider whether she’s going to the right home.

One of the benefits of rehoming with someone you already know is speed and ease. You can often move her into the new home in a day or less, and you can bring all of her toys, bedding, and other items.

Keep in mind that it’ll take her some time to get accustomed to her new home. She’s going to miss you because you’re all she’s known. Let the adopters know that it might take her some time to come around and become accustomed to living in her new home. In some cases, it might take just a few weeks. Other times, it could take several months. Each dog is different.

During this transition phase, you won’t want to visit their house, and you won’t want them to bring the dog to your house. Not because you won’t miss her, but because you don’t want her to become confused. Let her get fully situated in the new house and with the new family first, and even then, you’ll want to keep your visits short for a while.

When you rehome with someone you know, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that she’ll be safe and loved.

Other Methods of Rehoming

Many people won’t know someone personally who wants to adopt a dog. In those cases, you can find online pet adoption sites. You can use sites like Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com, which will make the process much easier. This is a peer-to-peer pet adoption service that allows you to easily connect with people looking to adopt by publishing your pet’s info directly onto Adopt-a-Pet.com.

You’ll create a profile for your rottweiler, which details all of the important information about her, both the good and bad. You can upload videos and photos, too. Then, adopters will peruse the site and if they’re interested, fill out an adoption application.
You can review applications and choose who will adopt your dog. This ensures that she gets to go to the best home for her, and it provides you with some closure and peace of mind. 

Do Dogs Grow Out Of Digging?

Sometimes dogs grow out of digging, but this is not usually the case. Some dogs will stop digging as they get older, but others will not. Some breeds, such as terriers, were bred to dig. In those dogs, the behavior is more likely to continue. While some dogs will not naturally grow out of digging, there are steps you can take to curb the behavior.

Tips to Stop a Dog from Digging 

So your dog is getting older and the digging continues. If he’s just digging random holes, that’s annoying. If he’s digging around the fence line to try and escape, that’s dangerous. Either way, you want the behavior to stop. Here are some things to try:

Try a Natural Repellent

If there’s a specific spot that has captured your dog’s interest, make the area less appealing by applying a natural, herbal yard repellent like No Dig!

Give Them More Playtime and Toys 

Some dogs dig out of boredom. Giving them lots of interactive toys, taking them on more walks, and spending more time playing with them can help to relieve their boredom and stop the digging.

Don’t Leave Them Outside Alone for Extended Periods 

There are many reasons your dog should not be left alone outside for long periods, so let your dog inside. That may be all it takes to stop him from digging.

Remove Potential Prey

If you notice your dog always digs in the same spots, he may be hunting for burrowing animals or insects. If you see signs of animals, call a company that will safely and humanely remove them from your yard. 

Add Physical Barriers 

If the digging is around your fence line, add barriers by burying the fence one to two feet, burying chicken wire along the fence line, or partially burying rocks along the border of the fence. 

If none of the above methods are doing the trick, consider enlisting help from an animal trainer who can work with you and your pet to come up with a plan that will work for you. 

How Do I Give Up My Shih Tzu?

If you need to give up your Shih Tzu, you’ll find several options that could work for you. Although it’s likely the last thing that you want to do, sometimes, you might feel that you have no other choice but to give up your dog. It’s a sad time, but you need to be sure that you’re doing the best thing for him. Let’s look at some of the options that you have for giving up your Shih Tzu.

Shelters or Rescues Are an Option

For many people, one of the first things they consider when they have to give up their dog is the shelter. It’s often the first thought because it’s one of the more common options. However, this doesn’t mean it’s the only option or the best option for that matter.

Shelters do their best to take care of the dogs in their facility. Those who work at the shelter truly care for the animals. However, they’re often hampered by having a limited amount of space and funding. This means that it’s not always possible for them to keep the dogs long enough to be adopted. When this happens, the dogs may be euthanized.

Another option is giving your dog up to a rescue. These facilities will keep your dog until someone adopts him. Of course, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be adopted. Additionally, rescues are often full because they’re no-kill facilities. It can be hard to get your dog into a rescue.

Letting Someone You Know Adopt

Another option to think about, and one that can work quite well, is allowing someone you know to adopt your Shih Tzu. You might already know someone who is looking for a dog, such as a friend or a family member. Since you know them well, you can ascertain whether they’re a good choice for your dog or not. If they already know your dog, they might want to adopt him.

Of course, if you allow a friend or family member to adopt your dog, you need to be careful about visiting. You don’t want to visit right away. You have to give him time to adapt to his environment and new owner, so he realizes that it’s his new home. If you visit too soon or too often, it can confuse him.

Using Online Pet Adoption Sites

There’s also the option of free pet adoption sites on the Internet. Make sure you’re using an actual adoption site like Rehome rather than a site like Craigslist. This ensures that people don’t just stumble across your dog and try to adopt on a whim. You want someone who is actively looking for a dog to adopt. Additionally, you need to be sure that a rehoming fee is charged. This helps to eliminate the wrong people from getting their hands on your dog.

Rehome is a good option. This platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com makes it easy for you to set up a profile, along with images and videos, for your dog. It puts him in front of potential adopters who can fill out applications. You will have full control over who gets to adopt your dog, and it’s entirely free for owners to use.