When you can no longer care for a pet for any reason, rehoming is a good idea. Instead of surrendering your pet to an animal shelter where it may be killed, try to find him a new home with friends, family members or other people who want to provide a good home for him.

Advertise your pet with flyers and on social media, and ask your veterinarian if he or she knows of a good adoptive home. Have a good picture of your pet, a good description and ask for a rehoming fee.

What is a Rehoming Fee?

When rehoming a pet to someone you don’t know, it is common to charge a rehoming fee. On average, this can range from $25 to $100. A rehoming fee can help you recoup charges for vaccinations, spaying, and neutering, and help cover your expenses. But in most cases, the rehoming fee is also a good idea for the dog or cat being rehomed. Here’s why.

When a potential adoptive parent is willing to pay a rehoming fee, it shows that they are serious about adopting your pet. You’ll know that they will be more willing to put in the time and effort to care for your pet and that they will be less likely to neglect the pet or surrender it to a shelter. Their willingness to pay a rehoming fee also shows that they have the financial resources necessary to care for a pet and that they may be more likely to seek medical treatment for the pet when necessary.

Giving your pet away for free may mean an uncertain future for them. You would like to think that people who are looking to adopt a dog or cat are doing so out of the goodness of their heart. They want to love and care for the pet and give it a good life. But without a rehoming fee, this may not be the case.

Sometimes pets that are given “free to a good home” wind up in places that are anything but. Labs experiment on animals. They need to get those animals somewhere. Some unscrupulous people train their dogs to fight each other. They need other animals as “bait” to train the dogs to fight. By giving your pets away for free, you are making them easy targets for this type of abuse.

Why is a Rehoming Fee Used?

Some people who are looking to adopt a rehomed pet don’t understand the purpose of a rehoming fee. For them, the fee can be off-putting.

People expect to pay an adoption fee at an animal shelter or rescue organization. They understand that these costs help the organization to stay in business and to care for their pets. But when an individual who wants to rehome their pet charges a rehoming fee, it may seem unwarranted. It sounds like the person is trying to make a profit off their pet. If no one adopts his pet, he will have to surrender it to a shelter and the animal may be killed. So why would he charge a fee to someone who is willing to take the pet? For many people, the rehoming fee just doesn’t make sense.

Remember, when rehoming your pet ask the right questions. You may want the potential adoptive parents to fill out a questionnaire. Tell the new parents what your pet likes and dislikes. If your pet dislikes being around other household pets, do not send him to a home with other pets. Make sure that you do everything you can do to find the best new home for your loyal companion.

To learn more about rehoming your pet, go to Rehoming – Giving up a Pet – What Are Your Options?