How Long Does the Humane Society Keep Dogs?

How long the Humane Society keeps dogs varies depending on multiple factors. The exact hold times differ by location and may depend on factors such as available space and the health and temperament of the dog. Sometimes a stray dog will have a longer minimum hold time than a dog that is surrendered by their owner. That’s because the shelter is required to allow time for an owner to come forward to claim a stray dog. The objective is to find every adoptable pet a home but, sadly, this isn’t always possible.

What Are My Other Options? 

There are multiple options to consider when you need to find a new home for your dog. The first and most preferable option is to keep your pet. For help with how to do this, check out our Keep Your Pet guide.

If you’ve decided that you have no choice but to give up your dog, the Humane Society is of course an option, but you could also try:

  • Asking if anyone you know is interested in adopting your dog.
  • Checking with local rescues to see if they have room to take in your pet.
  • Rehoming your dog yourself to ensure he finds a family that will love and care for him. 

While rehoming your dog yourself may be the most time consuming, it’s an option that gives your dog a great chance at a perfect new home and allows you to have control over where he ends up. 

Not sure how to get started? Start with checking out Rehome, a website that allows you to create a profile for your pet for millions of potential adopters to view on Adopt-a-Pet.com. Plus, Rehome provides valuable resources such as information about how to screen adopters and how to write an eye-catching “bio” for your dog.  

Taking the time to find your dog a good home will give you peace of mind and will give your pet the opportunity to have a second chance at a happy life. 

Do You Have To Pay To Rehome A Dog?

You may have to pay to rehome a dog depending on how you go about it. If you surrender a dog that you own to a shelter or rescue, you will likely have to pay a fee. Stray or found dogs can be surrendered to shelters without a fee. The fees to surrender your own dog start at around $15 and go up from there. The fee is to cover part of the expenses of caring for and, hopefully, finding a new home for the dog.

How To Rehome Your Dog

Most city shelters and rescues will charge some type of surrender fee. These fees vary greatly, so be sure to call and check on the cost if you think it may be an issue.

If you’re looking for a way to rehome your dog, consider finding a new home for them yourself.

This is an ideal option for many reasons including:

  • You know they will find a home rather than take the chance of them being put down at a shelter.
  • You’ll be able to hand-select the perfect home for your pet.
  • You’ll have peace of mind knowing you did the best thing for your dog. 

The process may seem a little overwhelming, but there are resources available to help you every step of the way. One resource is Rehome, where you can find expert advice, create a profile for your pet, accept applications from potential adopters, and much more.

It may take some time to find the perfect home, but this option gives your dog the best chance at the new, happy life they deserve. 

What Is A Rehoming Fee?

A rehoming fee is a payment made by potential adopters to the person or organization they are adopting a pet from. These fees are important because they require potential adopters to demonstrate the financial ability to care for a pet and to weed out people who collect dogs and cats listed as free to a good home for use in dog fighting, as bait animals, or to sell to labs. For rescue groups that are funded by donations only, the fees can help with expenses such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, and food.

I’m Rehoming a Pet. How Much Should I Charge? 

If you’ve made the decision to rehome your pet, it’s important to take every possible step to keep your dog or cat safe. One way to do that is by charging a sufficient rehoming fee. The amount depends on many factors such as type of pet, age of the pet, etc.

In order to make the pet unattractive to people who want dogs and cats for nefarious purposes, the fee should be at least $50. If you want the adopter to demonstrate a willingness to care for your pet’s financial needs, you may want to charge more. Typical rehoming fees are between $50 and $150, but purebred pets may have a higher fee.

If you’re still not sure how much to charge, or if you’re looking for resources to help you rehome your dog or cat, stop by our website called Rehome. We offer free services including setting the rehoming fee, providing a platform for your pet’s profiles, guidance for reviewing applications, and more. Plus, when you use Rehome, you’ll be doing something good to help homeless dogs and cats as all rehoming fees are donated to helping more pets find forever homes.  

Why Is My Cat Pooping On The Floor?

Cats may poop on the floor because of a medical condition, stress, or because the litter box is dirty. If the behavior started suddenly, have a vet rule out a medical problem first and then take note if anything significant has happened in the cat’s life, such as a new pet entering the home or the loss of a companion. Whatever the cause, most litter box issues can be solved, but it may take time and patience.

Common Reasons for Litter Box Issues 

Reasons your cat stops using the litter box generally fall in three categories: medical, stress, and environmental.

Medical

Diabetes, intestinal problems, and thyroid issues are common medical issues that can cause litter box issues. Any time your cat starts going outside of the box, it’s a good idea to schedule a visit with the vet to rule these and other conditions out.

Stress

While most dogs are more equipped to go with the flow, cats get stressed out very easily. Stress can be triggered by a small change, such as rearranging the furniture or by a significant event such as the death of a companion cat. As the stress is alleviated, the behavior often stops on its own. If not, you may have to ask for advice from an animal behaviorist.

Environmental

Cats don’t like using a dirty litter box, and many don’t like sharing. Try adding additional boxes (a good rule is one per cat plus one additional box), and always make sure the boxes are clean. You can also try adding additional boxes in new locations and removing the lids from covered boxes. 

Sadly, some pet owners rehome their cats over a litter box issue rather than searching for a solution. There are many possible ways to curb the behavior from resolving a medical problem to changing the environment. It may take time to find what works for your pet, but it’s worth the effort.  

What is the Fastest Way to Rehome a Doberman Pinscher?

The fastest way to rehome your Doberman Pinscher is by giving her to someone that you already know. This can be a good way to find a new home for your dog, but you still need to be sure she’s going to the best new owner. There are other methods of rehoming that you could consider, too. Although they may not be quite as fast, it’s still possible to find a great new owner and a home where she’ll be happy and healthy.

Rehoming with Friends and Family 

If you’re looking for a fast way to rehome your Doberman Pinscher, finding family and friends that might be willing to adopt is a good choice. Talk with people you know to see if they or anyone they might know wants to adopt. Giving her up to someone you know and trust helps you rest easier at night. Just be sure the new owner can provide everything she needs.

Rehoming Online

Another easy and relatively safe way to rehome your dog is through the Internet using a pet adoption site. Options like Rehome from Adopt-a-Pet.com is a great choice because it provides a safe and easy to use site. Once you create your dog’s profile, it can be viewed by people interested in adopting.

It’s important that you’re honest and thorough when creating your dog’s bio. You want to be clear about your Doberman Pinscher’s needs, her temperament, things she likes and doesn’t like, any health issues, and more. This is because you want to be sure that the new owner is the right fit for her. They need to know as much information as possible before they apply to adopt.

Once you start to receive applications, you can review them and find the perfect new owner for her.

What About Shelters and Rescues?

There’s also the option of surrendering your dog to a shelter or a rescue. While these may be an option that you can use, it’s important to understand the policies of these locations. You should rehome_research the facilities you’re considering. Check to see whether any nearby rescues even have any room. Because they have no-kill policies, they’re often full already. Look at the policies of the animal shelters, too. They’ll generally only be able to hold your dog for a certain number of days.

You can’t just bring your Doberman Pinscher to one of these facilities either. You’ll need to contact them and set up an appointment. They can let you know everything that you’ll need to bring including the price of the surrender fee. The fees will vary from one facility to the next, but they’re typically $50 minimum.

Although the rescues and shelters try to ensure that your dog gets adopted, there’s no guarantee that this will happen. Rehoming is a good option because it will give you more control over the adoption process. You can be sure that you’re finding the perfect home for your Doberman Pinscher.

What is the best way to rehome a Rottweiler?

The best way to rehome a rottweiler would be giving her to someone you already know personally. Since you already know the person, it’s easier to determine whether they’ll be the right fit for your dog or not. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should just give your dog to anyone that you know who wants her. You still need to make sure that it’s a good choice.

What Does Your Dog Need?

Your rottweiler isn’t like any other rottweiler on the planet. Sure, there are similarities between dogs of the same breed, but every dog has his own unique personality. The things that your dog likes and dislikes are both a part of that personality, and you need to make sure that he’ll be a good match for whoever adopts him. If he doesn’t like the water at the beach, that should be something that you tell the new owner. If he doesn’t like cats, you need to let the adopter know this as well.

Even if it’s something minor, they should know. Of course, you’ll also want to make them aware of any special needs that he might have, such as medicines he needs to take or dietary restrictions. Always be as transparent as possible and answer any questions the potential adopter might have honestly. After all, you need to be sure that you’re sending your dog to a great home where he’ll be safe, loved, and taken care of properly.

Should You Charge Rehoming Fees?

If you’re giving your dog to someone you know and trust already, there’s no need for a rehoming fee. The purpose of rehoming fees charged by owners is to help ensure their dog goes to a great home. The fees dissuade people who can’t afford to care for her, as well as those who want free dogs to sell to labs. Some people look for free dogs that can be used for fighting. This is certainly true when it comes to breeds like rottweilers. They may even use older dogs as bait and training for fighting dogs. Charging a rehoming fee helps to keep your dog safe.

What About Rehoming with Pet Adoption Sites?

While giving your dog to someone you already know is considered the best way to rehome, there are other options. You can find pet adoption sites online that could help you find some potential adopters. Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com is a great resource for owners who need to rehome their pets. This site is free for owners to use and adopters just pay a small rehoming fee when they adopt a dog. These fees will go right back into making sure that more animals get adopted.

When you use Rehome, you’ll fill out a bio and profile for your rottweiler. Once again, you want to be thorough and honest with this information. It helps to ensure that only the right people will be filling out adoption applications for your dog. After those applications come to you, you’ll go through them to find your dog a wonderful new home.

What is the Fastest Way to Rehome a Pit Bull?

The answer to ‘what is the fastest way to rehome a pit bull’ isn’t necessarily the same as ‘what is the best and safest way to rehome a pit bull.’ Surrendering your dog to a shelter usually only takes a day or two. Still, there is no guarantee that your dog will find a new home, and in worst-case scenarios, she may even have to be euthanized. That’s why it’s important to rehome_research your options and consider what’s the “best” way to rehome your pit bull rather than the fastest.

A Better Way to Rehome Your Pit Bull

Instead of surrendering your pit bull (or American pit bull terrier), consider rehoming him yourself.
It might seem like an overwhelming prospect—especially if you haven’t rehomed a dog before. Fortunately, there are resources available to help.
Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com offers lots of information on:

  • How to choose the right home for your dog.
  • Exploring options that would allow you to keep your pit bull.
  • Advice that walks you through the adoption process.
  • Advertising your pet to millions of adopters for free on Adopt-a-Pet.com.
  • And more!

All you have to do is create a custom pet profile, and your pit bull will be shared with the millions of potential adopters that visit Adopt-a-Pet.com every month. You’ll then be able to screen applicants and start the process of finding the perfect home for your pet.
Giving up your pet isn’t easy, but rehoming him is made simpler with the right advice and support.

Try Not to be In a Rush

Sometimes life’s circumstances will put you in a position to have to rehome your pet as quickly as possible, but that may not be what’s best for her. You know your pet better than anyone, and taking those extra steps to use Rehome could go a long way in securing not just any home for your pit bull, but the right home.

If keeping your pit bull is not an option, do the next best thing and help him find his forever in a safe, happy home. 

Why Does My Dog Eat Lying Down?

If your dog is lying down while eating, it could be due to a medical condition that makes it painful to bend his neck down to the bowl. If it’s a tall dog, it could simply be uncomfortable to stretch his neck down to reach a bowl on the floor. If the behavior started suddenly, you should schedule a visit with your vet to rule out an underlying medical condition.

What To Do Next If Your Dog Eats Lying Down 

As mentioned above, if your dog suddenly starts to eat lying down, you should bring him to the vet to rule out problems such as arthritis or joint pain. If you suspect discomfort may be the issue, you can try to curb the behavior by purchasing a raised bowl that makes it easier for your pet to eat standing up.

If there is no medical condition, is it really a problem if dogs eat lying down? Not usually. In the wild, dogs are often seen lying down why eating prey and domesticated dogs often enjoy a treat lying down.

While eating meals in that position isn’t common, it’s not necessarily cause for concern once a medical condition is ruled out.

How Do You Get A Dog To Stop Whining?

In order to get a dog to stop whining, you’ll need to figure out why he is being vocal. Dogs use whining to communicate, so if you learn what your dog is trying to tell you, you’ll be better able to stop the whining. That doesn’t mean you’ll give him whatever he wants when he whines—that could only make the problem worse—but it means you’ll be able to figure out a way to tackle the issue. 

Possible Reasons Your Dog Is Whining 

There are many reasons your dog may be whining. Here are a few examples of why dogs whine:

He’s not feeling well.

A visit to the vet may be in order if the whining started suddenly. 

He’s in a new environment (i.e. when you first bring a puppy home).

Normally, the whining will stop once the puppy realizes he is safe.

He needs to go outside.

Some dogs whine when they need to relieve themselves.

He wants something such as more food or a treat.

Don’t reward whining with a treat. Instead, wait until your dog is quiet and then give him the treat.

He wants to play or go for a walk.

As with giving food or treats, wait until your dog stops whining before getting his leash or tossing the ball around.

He’s trying to alert you to something.

If he’s whining and trying to lead you to a certain spot, he’s likely trying to alert you to something. Check things out. Once your dog sees you’re not concerned, he’ll probably calm down. 

Keep in mind that whining is communicating. If you can figure out what your dog is trying to say, you’ll be better equipped to stop him from whining. 

Is It Cruel To Crate A Dog At Night?

It is not cruel to crate a dog at night as long as he is properly crate trained, enjoys being in his crate, has had plenty of out-of-crate time during the day, and was given a potty break before going to sleep.

How Long Should I Crate My Dog?  

As a rule of thumb, your dog should not be crated for more than 8 hours without a break. Older dogs or puppies will need more frequent breaks. Also, they shouldn’t be spending the majority of the time in a crate. If you crate your dog during the day and then again at night, consider doggy daycare or a pet sitter as an alternative for the daytime. This way, your pup won’t be spending all his time crated.

A Safe Space For Your Pet 

Crating is useful for training because it draws on your dog’s natural instinct to be in a den. For that reason, if your dog is properly crate trained, the crate will be a comfortable place that he likes spending time and where he feels safe. 

Another option once your dog is trained to act properly in your home is leaving the crate door open so he can come and go as he likes. This allows him to have his comfortable “den” without being forcibly confined for most of the day.

It is not cruel to crate your dog at night. In fact, many dogs happily enter their crate at night and enjoy the safety the space provides.