At Adopt a Pet, we’re always here to help and support you and your pet! For that reason, we would be remiss not to point out how challenging it can be to bring a pet into their new home and help them adjust! Challenging, but oh so very rewarding when they realize they can trust you and that they are safe and loved in their new home. With that said, if you feel you and your family have implemented best practices to help your pet feel comfortable, and given them a realistic amount of time (at least 6-8 weeks) and the space they need to adjust to all the new things in their life such as:
- a brand new family
- a brand new home environment
- a brand new routine/potty schedule
- any children in the home
- any new canine siblings
- any new feline siblings
…and you still feel your home is not the best place for your new pet, please scroll down for assistance and next steps! However, if you feel there may have been either unrealistic expectations or an unrealistic timeline put on your pet to adjust, here are some pro tips on how you can support your pet during this time. Click here for dogs and here for cats! If you can't find an article relating to your situation or issue, please connect with us directly, we're happy to help you!
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If you feel confident it just isn’t a good fit and your pet would be happier in a new home, here are some steps to take depending on where you adopted your pet:
Adopted through a shelter or rescue organization:
- Review your adoption contract and contact the organization you adopted your pet from to verify how to proceed and what is required.
- Some adoption contracts strictly require you to return the pet to the adopting organization.
- Other adoption contracts will ask if you can find a new loving home for the pet yourself. If this is the case, check out how Rehome works to see if our Rehome by Adopt a Pet service is a good fit!
Adopted from a private owner through Rehome by Adopt a Pet:
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Contact the private owner you adopted your pet from to see if they can take the pet back—try to reach them by phone AND email.
- If unreachable by phone, be sure to leave them voice and text messages.
- If you receive no response from the previous owner within a reasonable amount of time (48-72 hours), to protect yourself and give them one last opportunity to respond, contact them once more via email and phone and inform them you will be rehoming the pet.
- If the previous owner is unable to take the pet back, check out the Rehome process to see if our Rehome by Adopt a Pet service is a good fit! When at all possible, rehoming a pet directly from your home to another loving home is best for your pet as it saves them from the potential stress, anxiety, and uncertainty of being in a shelter setting.