Finding a New Home For Your Pet
Whether you have a pet you believe you can no longer care for, found a stray, or know someone who is considering turning in their pet to a shelter, this is a complete guide on how to find a new, loving home for the animal or to find a strays owner. Our pet ‘life’ line volunteers are also available by phone for support or questions as you go through the steps listed below.
Strays - they could be lost or abandoned pets
If they growl or if you are fearful, call the local SPCA to come and get the animal. If the dog or cat appears friendly determine if you want to try and take it in until the owner or a home can be found. Get him/her to a vet right away to get important vaccinations and keep the stray in a separate place from children or other animals until you know him/her better. Next steps?
- Place a found report with local shelters, SPCA or other shelter. Some may require you to come in to file the report others will accept a report by phone
- Put an ad in the local News Journal or other major newspaper under foundads – they are free for a period of time
- You can also put up posters in your area with a description of the pet that was found – be sure to get a copy of the vet records or some way to ID the correct home – to match so the true owner is reunited
- Post them on Petfinders: www.petfinder.org
Finding a home for a stray or your own pet (when you’ve tried everything else to keep your own pet)
- Always ask responsible relatives and friends or co‐workers when you try to find a loving home for your pet.
- Make flyers – it is best to take a photo of your pet and a description of the best home for your pet.
- Place an ad in the local newspaper or newspapers to find a home for a pet – they are not expensive
- Finding the right family and screen possible adopters to rule out possible neglectful or abusive homes – ask questions, go to their home to visit, see how your pet interacts with them. See inside for more details on how to screen potential applicants, example ads.
- Place the pets photo and description on pet finders: www.petfinder.org. Here you can search for over 40,000 pets available for adoption, contact shelters and rescue groups, resources in their library, tips on caring for you’re your pet, and how to post lost/found or home needed ads.
- Place flyers up at work, at your local vet, & pet store.
You can do it!! We hope this information will help you and your animal friend find a loving home.
Thank you!
Jane Pierantozzi, Executive Director
Faithful Friends, Inc.
P.S. We would love to know if this information has helped you or what we could do to better serve you. Please write us or call us at 427–8008 and let us know if you were able to find a good home for the pet or reunite them with their family.
