Tag: First Batch

Do You Have to Pay to Rehome a Catahoula Leopard Dog?

If you’re the owner, you won’t have to pay to rehome your Catahoula Leopard Dog. Instead, the rehoming fees are paid by the person who will be adopting your dog. The only time that an owner might have to pay when they’re giving up their dog would be when taking them to a shelter or a rescue. These organizations will often charge surrender fees. The cost of the fees will vary, but they generally start at $50.

Why Charge Rehoming Fees?

If you’ll be giving your dog to someone you don’t know, you’ll want to charge the new owner a rehoming fee. You might be wondering why you should charge a fee if you’re desperate and need to have someone take your dog quickly. Wouldn’t it just be easier to give your dog away?

When you give away your dog, though, you never know who will come to get him. Although most people don’t like to think about it, some people are looking for free dogs for nefarious purposes. They might want to sell the dogs to a lab. Others might be looking for fighting dogs. When you charge a rehoming fee, it can cut these types of people out of the equation. After all, they don’t want to pay for the animals they get. They’re looking for free options instead.

The rehoming fees are there to help keep your dog safe. If you feel bad about making money when you give up your dog, you can always donate it to a rescue or an animal charity.

Do Shelters and Rescues Have Rehoming Fees?

You’ll find that shelters and rescues that sell or let people adopt charge fees, too. They often call them adoption fees, but they’re the same thing and they serve much the same purpose. Additionally, the fees charged by these organizations are typically used as a way to help the facility stay afloat.

The cost of the adoption fees and rehoming fees can vary based on the shelter. They’ll generally start at $50, but they can be quite high for purebred dogs, particularly those that are still young. If you’re going to rehome your dog on your own, learn what the common rehoming fees are in your area and charge something similar.

Use Rehome to Make the Process Easier?

If you would like to make it faster and easier to rehome your Catahoula Leopard Dog, consider using Rehome. This is an online pet adoption platform that lets you have control over who adopts your dog. You can create a bio, add photos and videos, and upload them to the site. People who are interested in adopting can then check out the site and peruse the profile. If they feel they’ll be a good match for your dog, they’ll fill out an application that you can then review.
The site is free for owners to use, and the adopters only have to pay a small rehoming fee similar to what they’d pay at a shelter or rescue. This way, you aren’t responsible for collecting the rehoming fee. It’s fast, easy, and helps to keep your dog safe. 

Photo credit: John

Why Is My Dog Peeing a Lot?

Common reasons for your dog peeing a lot include diabetes, urinary tract infections, and aging. Certain medical conditions can be treated, which will often alleviate the frequent urination. Other causes, however, such as aging, may not be resolved. The first order of business when you notice frequent urination, or any other change in your pet’s bathroom habits, should be a visit to your vet for a thorough exam. 

Is Frequent Urination Dangerous? 

On its own, frequent urination isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it could be, as mentioned above, the sign of a potentially serious medical condition. Your vet will know exactly what to screen for, so you’ll be able to quickly find out if a particular medical problem is causing the condition.

If it is, treatment may be able to help with the issue. Some conditions may require simple treatment, such as a round of antibiotics for a UTI. Others, such as diabetes, may require ongoing medication and other treatment.

What If The Problem Can’t Be Corrected? 

Many pet owners live with aging dogs and those who suffer incontinence for various reasons. This alone isn’t necessarily impacting the dog’s quality of life, and it’s a pretty easy situation to handle. Solutions could be as simple as installing a doggy door so your pet can go out whenever he needs or just taking him on more frequent walks.

Another option that works for busy pet owners is to purchase belly bands for male dogs and diapers for female dogs. Both reusable and disposal belly bands and diapers are available. While it may take a little getting used to, this is a simple way to deal with living with an incontinent pooch. 

Can An Aggressive Dog Be Rehabilitated?

In most cases, an aggressive dog can be rehabilitated. Even when the aggression stems from long-term abuse, there is still hope with the right treatment.

First Steps in Rehabilitating an Aggressive Dog  

If you’re dealing with an aggressive dog, be hopeful—but don’t ignore the problem. Aggression isn’t going to go away on its own. You need to actively deal with the issue and find the right help from your vet or a skilled, experienced animal behaviorist.

The first thing you need to do is find professional help, and let them guide things from there. Look for someone who specializes in working with aggressive dogs. A general dog trainer may not have the skills to handle the needs of an aggressive dog.

Note that if the behavior came on suddenly, it’s likely a medical issue. In that case the aggression will likely cease once the medical problem is addressed.

Until you can get help, keep your dog away from the situations that trigger the aggression. Also, isolate your dogs from other people, children, and other pets. The last thing you want is for your dog to attack or bite someone. Protecting your dog from situations in which that could happen is the responsible thing to do.

Be patient with your dog, follow the advice and guidance of the animal behaviorist, and give your dog every chance at the happy, healthy life he deserves. 

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Pit Bull?

 If you can no longer keep your pet, you might be wondering: What does it mean to surrender a pit bull? Surrendering your dog means you’re giving up all your rights as the pit bull’s owner and transferring them to a rescue or shelter. Once surrendered, you no longer have a say in what happens to your dog, whether he is put down or adopted, or who adopts him. This can be difficult for anyone who loves their pet, so surrendering your pit bull should be a last resort.

Things to Keep in Mind

While animal welfare organizations do their best to provide the best care for the pets that come their way, your pet may not receive as much attention as you would like. Before you surrender your pit bull to any shelter or rescue group, do some rehome_research and be aware of the limitations some organizations face.

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a place to surrender your pet:

  • Does the organization euthanize: Some shelters have very high intake rates and low resources, which can cause them to run out of kennel space quickly. When organizations run out of space, sometimes even healthy adoptable dogs are put to sleep. Euthanasia rates are often available to the rehome_legacy. Be aware of an organization’s policies before you decide to drop off your pet.
  • Your Pet’s Personality: Even if you have the friendliest dog in the world, your pit bull may not feel like himself in a shelter. The loud and crowded shelter environment can make your dog become anxious or aggressive and he may be labeled unadoptable. Consider how you pit bull might react to this type of situation before surrendering.

Other Options

If you find that your local shelter may not be a safe place to surrender your pit bull consider other solutions:

Keeping Your Dog

Are you giving up your pet because of behavior issues? In many cases, these are easy to solve with the help of a vet or trainer. Many behavioral issues stem from a medical need that can be addressed by a veterinarian. Others can be remedied with the support of a qualified animal behaviorist. Give your dog every chance to stay in your family by trying to work through his issues.

Private Rescues

Reputable, privately run rescues are a wonderful option—if you can find one with a spot for your dog. This can be difficult, but excellent rescues will usually work hard to locate a perfect home, so it’s worth the trouble.

Rehoming Your Dog Yourself

This option will probably take the most effort, but it also lets you decide what happens to your pit bull. Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com provides valuable advice and tools to make the process easier and to ensure you find the best possible home for your dog. You can even post your adoptable pet for free to be seen by millions of pet adopters on Adopt-a-Pet.com.

]Knowing what it means to surrender your dog might make you change your mind about going through with it. If so, it’s good to know there are other options and resources to help you. 

How Can I Find a Home for My Mastiff?

You can find a home for your Mastiff by talking with people you know and using adoption sites on the Internet. Of course, before you choose a home for your dog, you need to be sure it’s a suitable home and the owner can provide her with all of the attention and care that she needs.

When you’re looking for a home for your Mastiff, write down a list of the things that she needs. This could be a medication that she has to take, for example. Maybe she doesn’t do well when she’s left on her own or maybe she chases cats. Think about all of the things that your dog does or needs that a new owner will need to know so they don’t have an unwelcome surprise after bringing her home. Once you know what your dog needs, it becomes easier to know whether someone will be a good match for her or not.

Finding a Home with People You Know 

Let people in your life know that you have to give up your dog. It can be hard to bring up this conversation with people because you never imagined that one day, you’d have to give her up. However, you want to be sure that she finds a great new home, so you need to be honest. You may find a friend or a family member that would like to adopt her from you. If they already know her and have bonded with her, this can be a good and easy way to rehome your Mastiff.

Of course, you still need to be sure that the new owner, even though you know them, will be capable of providing for her properly. Mastiffs are large dogs, and they’ll need to have more space than other dogs because of their size, for example.

Rehoming Using an Online Service

The Internet has helped to make it easier to find people who are willing to adopt your dog. However, if you’re advertising online, you need to be sure that the people who want to adopt have your dog’s best interests in mind.

A good way to do this is by charging a rehoming fee. It not only ensures they’re willing to invest in your dog, but it helps to reduce risk to your dog. Some people look for free dogs online that they then use for fighting or to sell to labs. They don’t want to pay, so the rehoming fee acts as a preventative measure.

You could also use a site like Rehome, which is a service geared toward helping owners and adopters come together. The site is free for owners to use and they only charge a small rehoming fee to the adopter. You’ll set up a profile for your Mastiff on the site that can include photos, videos, and a detailed bio. The adopters can choose to apply to become her new owner. You will review the applications and then determine who will be the best fit for your dog. It’s a safe and easy way to find a home for your dog.

Photo Credit: Marcia O’Connor

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Rottweiler?

When you surrender your rottweiler, you’re giving up your legal rights to her and handing her over to a shelter or a rescue. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than just bringing the dog to the shelter. You’ll have to understand what to expect and what you’ll need to bring.

The Shelters and Rescues

Keep in mind that all shelters and rescues will have their own set of rules and policies that you’ll need to follow. You can’t simply walk up to the door with your dog and drop her off. First, it’s always a good idea to explore their website. This is true whether it’s a shelter or a rescue. These sites will typically provide you with a good idea of how the facility operates, what it looks like, etc. They will often have at least some of their policies listed on the site, too.

You’ll then want to get in touch with the facility by phone. They’ll let you know about the process of bringing in your dog, along with the surrender fees. These fees are used to care for the animals in the facility, and you’ll find that all facilities charge something. The cost can vary, though. In some cases, it might be as low as $50. Other times, it could be as high as $150 or more.

When you speak with the personnel at the organization, they’ll want to know more about your dog. What’s her personality like? How old is she? Does she have health problems?

They’ll also want to know why you have to get rid of her. They aren’t trying to pry into your life. Instead, they’re looking for potential means for you to keep your dog. For example, they might be able to put you in touch with trainers if your dog has some behavioral problems.

If you still have to give up your rottweiler, they’ll then make an appointment for you to drop her off at the facility.

Other Options to Consider for Your Dog

You might find that you don’t like the idea of bringing your dog to one of these organizations. If that’s the case, you can always opt for rehoming instead. There are multiple ways that you can do this. One of the easiest is talking with people you already know to see if they might be interested in adopting. You might have a friend that knows and loves your dog and would love to be her new owner.

You can also find pet adoption sites on the Internet, such as Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. This platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com will provide you with an easy way to find a new home for your rottweiler. This site is free for owners like you to use, and the adopters will only have to pay a small adoption fee. This money goes right back into helping other animals get adopted.

When you fill out your dog’s profile for the potential adopters to see, be sure you’re honest about her and that you don’t only talk about her good qualities. Adopters need to know they’re getting the right dog for their family, even if she isn’t always perfectly behaved.

Why Is My Cat Attacking My Other Cat?

There are many possible reasons why your cat might be attacking your other cat including lack of space, social maturity, a medical issue, or environmental changes. Fortunately, solutions can usually be found that allow the cats to continue to live together and to overcome their aggression.

Since you can’t just ask your cats what’s wrong, pinpointing the reason for aggression will usually be a process of elimination that involves simply trying various solutions. Note that if the behavior started after the cats had been together some time, a medical issue may be to blame. When a cat is in pain or uncomfortable, he/she may show signs of aggression, even if he is typically docile.

Once medical issues have been ruled out, there are other things to try to reduce cat to cat aggression.

Give Cats Their Own Space 

Cats like to have their own space and can be quite territorial. Having to share a small space, food bowls, and litter boxes is a common reason for aggression. While you probably can’t expand your home, you can add space for the cats by providing additional perches, kitty condos, or even investing in an outdoor cat enclosure that allows cats to safely spend time outdoors.

Also, place food and water bowls and litter boxes (one litter box per cat plus one additional litter box works best!) for each pet, so the cats won’t have to share. 

Provide an Escape 

If one cat tends to be passive, install a collar-controlled cat door that leads to a quiet room. Only place the collar on the cat that gets bullied. This will allow him a way to get away from the aggressor and give the bully cat a cooling off period. 

Pheromones 

Many cat owners have had great success by using pheromones to stop one cat from attacking the other cat. These products, which come in spray and diffuser form, calm cats and are, in some cases, a very effective way to eliminate fighting.

Time Apart 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Maybe not, but it will give you a chance to properly and slowly reintroduce the cats. Check out our blog article Introducing a New Cat or Kitten to Your Cats for more guidance. 

If the methods above are unsuccessful, enlist the help of an animal behaviorist. The good news is that in the majority of cases, with time and patience, the issue can be resolved to the point that the cats will be able to live together peacefully—even if they aren’t the best of friends. 

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Pug

When you surrender your Pug, it means that you’re turning over your legal rights for your dog to a shelter or a rescue. When you give up your legal rights, it means that you don’t have any say in who adopts him. It’s important to understand what surrendering entails and what you’ll need to do if this is one of the options you’re considering when giving up your Pug.

Can You Bring Your Dog to the Facility?

You can’t simply head to the animal shelter or rescue with your dog and expect them to take him the same day. Instead, you need to call first and set up an appointment. It’s a good idea to learn more about the shelter or rescue you’re considering before you surrender your Pug, too. Learn about the policies they have in place and how the facility operates.

You’ll find that rescues have no-kill policies, which probably interests you since you want to be sure your dog is safe. Of course, because of this, it means that rescues are usually filled and may not have room for your Pug. Shelters do not often have no-kill policies. They can keep dogs for a certain period, which can differ from one location to the next.

When you surrender your Pug, you no longer have legal rights to him. This means that you don’t have any control over who adopts him or even if he gets adopted. It’s out of your hands. The shelters, like rescues, do their best to ensure that they find people to adopt the dogs in their care, but it isn’t always possible.

Once you learn more about the facility, you can then contact them to set up an appointment. They’ll want to know more about your Pug including his age, health, and other pertinent information. The staff might also want to know why you have to give him up. This not only gives them a better sense of your dog, but it also lets them know if they have any resources that might help you. For example, they may have information about local trainers for behavioral issues, or a low-cost vet in your area.

Other Options for Finding a New Home for Your Pug 

Just because you have to give up your dog doesn’t mean that you need to surrender him to a rescue or a shelter. There are other options you can consider, too. One of the first things to consider is to give your Pug to someone you know. Maybe a relative or one of your friends has talked about getting a dog and would like to bring home your dog.

If you don’t know anyone who wants to adopt, you’ll find that the Internet can be a good way to find potential adopters. Always use a trusted site like Rehome from Adopt-a-Pet.com. This helps to ensure that you have a good batch of potential adopters from which to choose. You can set up a profile for your dog and then review the applications that come in for adoption. This gives you control over who becomes your Pug’s new owner.

Does Bentley’s Pet Stuff Take Cats?

Bentley’s Pet Stuff does not take cats, but they do a lot to help homeless pets. In addition to sponsoring mobile adoption events, they also provide matching donations to various animal rescue groups. Owners wishing to surrender their cats, however, cannot do so at Bentley’s Pet Stuff.

Is Rehoming Really The Right Decision?

Many pet owners are heartbroken about having to give their cat away, but they feel they have no choice due to litter box or behavior issues. Others have cat allergies or are moving and having trouble finding a landlord who will take pets. 

Those issues can often be overcome with the right help. Talk to your local shelter to see if they have lists of pet-friendly housing. Ask a vet or animal behaviorist for advice about behavior issues. The bottom line is that if you want to keep your pet, there is a more often than not a way to do it.

Surrendering Your Cat

If you decide that you have no choice but to rehome your pet, you’ll have a few choices—and some are better than others.

A common first stop for those wishing to surrender a pet is the local animal shelter. While many shelters are moving towards or have achieved no-kill status, others still have a high euthanasia rate. Be sure to know where your local shelter stands before surrendering your pet.

Another option is to find a reputable, no-kill, private rescue. These groups are often willing to do whatever it takes to find the right home for the cats in their care. There may be a significant wait because they can only have so many pets in their care at a time, but it’s a great option if you’re willing to wait for a spot. 

DIY Rehoming

If you want to be sure your cat goes to a loving home, do it yourself. Yes, it might take some time, but it will be well worth it knowing your cat is safe and loved. Not sure where to begin? Rehome is a website that is a great resource for any pet owner trying to rehome their cat.

Create a pet profile that can be seen by potential adopters, get expert advice about screening for the right home, accept applications, and so much more! 

How Can I Stop My Dogs From Fighting?

You can stop your dogs from fighting by eliminating the stressors that lead to the aggressions, by better managing the dogs’ environment, or by getting professional help from a qualified animal behaviorist. Whether or not you know what starts squabbles between your dogs, it’s important to find a way to stop them. Even if no serious injuries have occurred (yet), fighting between dogs can leave one or both dogs feeling stressed and afraid. The good news is the behavior can usually be brought under control—but in the meantime, avoid injury to your pets by closely monitoring them and keeping them physically separated while you work on a safe re-introduction protocol with the help of a professional dog trainer.

Steps to Preventing Fights Between Your Dogs 

Sometimes, two dogs just don’t like each other, but sometimes there is a more concrete reason for dogs fighting such as:

  • Maintaining a hierarchy
  • Redirected aggression
  • Friendly play escalates
  • Protecting food or other possessions 

If you can pinpoint the cause, you can remove the stimulus. For example, some dogs are food aggressive. In this case, you can simply feed the dogs in separate rooms.

While you’ll find all kinds of advice about how to stop fighting, the best course of action is to involve a professional right from the start. This will give you the best chance of success, and you won’t have to wade through the information online to separate the good from the bad.

An animal trainer or behaviorist with a proven track record of success in fixing dog aggression will give you solid advice and work with you to develop a plan that will help you protect your dogs and enjoy peace of mind.