TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
If you are trying to find a new home for your personal pet, please be advised: BFPA does not often accept personal pets into our rescue.
There are several reasons for this; the most telling is that we have limited resources. This means we are run entirely by volunteers, depend solely on donations from the public, and our rescued cats and dogs live in foster homes. Because of this, we must limit our rescue efforts to helping strays and abused/neglected animals.
In addition, BFPA believes strongly that when you bring a pet into your home, you are making a lifelong commitment to caring for that creature for the remainder of its life. If you feel you cannot keep that commitment, it is incumbent upon you to find a good home for your pet.
We hope you will at least explore the possibility of finding a solution, and help make your dog or cat a true indispensable member of your family. If you do, that’s one less dog or cat that needs a new home, perhaps clearing the way for an animal on death row in a shelter to find a home. If you need to rehome your pet due to breed restrictions and are in Wake County, please consult this Pet-Friendly Housing Guide compiled by the Wake County Animal Center.
If your cat or dog has developed a behavioral issue that appears beyond your control, please consult your vet. It’s possible this change in behavior is related to a change in your pet’s health status — it could be in pain.
If after consulting your vet you determine this is not a medical issue, then please consult an animal behaviorist or trainer. There are several professionals that BFPA recommends. These professionals can help most people work through the challenges they face with their pet. Many issues can be fixed in one or two sessions. While the economic investment is relatively small, it does require work and reinforcement on your part. But it is well worth a try if you believe modifying an undesirable behavior will mean you can keep your pet.
If health or behavior issues are not the reason you are considering finding a home for your cat or dog, click here for excellent information to help you resolve issues you may be facing.
If none of these suggestions are viable options, or possible solutions, we ask you to consider:
- If you got your cat or dog from a breeder or adopted from a rescue group, contact them, as they should in good conscience take the animal back.
- Animal shelters are not the solution — and this cannot be emphasized enough. They are very limited. No-kill shelters take only the most adoptable animals, if they have any space at all. Kill shelters are obligated by law to keep strays for a certain amount of time in case their owners are frantically looking for them, however owner surrenders may be euthanized immediately without ever being put up for adoption.
- Never consider turning your pet, or a litter of puppies or kittens, loose “out in the country”. This is the cruelest fate any domestic pet could meet. The fear, abuse, and suffering they will encounter is heartbreaking if they even manage to survive at all. A quick death by needle injection at your vet’s office is a much more preferable end — and more humane.
- Help for rehoming your pet can be found in an excellent guide composed by our colleagues at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Click on this link to access How to Find Homes for Pets.
- For more tips on finding a suitable home for your personal pet, click here and access “I found a stray/pet.”
Finally, unless you put in the time and effort to find a good, permanent home for your dog or cat, there is a very high possibility that not keeping your pet will result in its death. If you are down to the decision to take your dog or cat to a shelter, you are most likely giving your pet a death sentence. Euthanasia by your vet is more humane.
If you have extenuating circumstances, you may apply to have your pet rehomed through BFPA by clicking here.