Responsible Rehoming

If you are a fellow dog lover, you - like me - have probably found yourself looking at all the sad pet ads on Craig's List where cats and dogs, puppies and kittens, are traded like stock on the stock market. Given away free or for an adoption fee, sometimes with a sad story and a list of really bad reasons why they cannot stay in their current home. And, like me, you have probably come across ads from former owners, warning other people not to adopt the pet offered by another poster because that person, in fact, just adopted the dog himself (for free) and is now trying to sell it for an "adoption" fee of $150 or more!

Since rehoming is such a big problem in this country where dogs and cats are looked at, by many, as little more than disposable toys that can be cast off once they're out of style or have grown up from the cute puppy stage, I want to write an article on rehoming, for those who choose to do it, and how to do it responsible.

Let's start off by talking about good and bad reasons for rehoming first - because if there is any option at all for a pet to stay in its current home, that's certainly preferable to being rehomed and certainly more in the pet's best interest. Our dogs may not have feelings as acute and wide-ranging as a humans, study after study has shown that dogs, too, have emotions, form bonds with other animals and people, and, yes, grieve when they are ripped from their homes.


Good Reasons For Rehoming

Our country is currently in a difficult economic climate, and many people are faced with making very tough decisions. Many have been laid off or seen their jobs simply eliminated, and are now out of work. Many have to face the fact that they will loose their homes and need to find either an apartment or themselves on the street. Many don't have the means, anymore, to properly provide for their families - two-legged and four-legged.

If you are in such a situation, there is nobody who will fault you for rehoming your pet. I certainly won't. If you have to face the fact that you can't provide your children with regular meals, or can't afford their school supplies, or you're losing your home and cannot find an apartment or rental in your area that allows your dogs, rehoming is absolutely the best you can do - both for your situation and for your pets.

Unfortunately, most people who chose to rehome don't choose to do so because times are tough for them or they're faced with either finding an apartment without their pets or living on the street with their pets. Most people who rehome do so for bad reasons.


Bad Reasons For Rehoming

Anyone who has been involved with rescue, or has read the Craig's List ads once in a while, will be very familiar with all the bad reasons for rehoming that people have. Here are a few examples - "Must rehome because he is too energetic and knocks my children over." - "Must go to a home where he has room to run and a big, fenced yard." - "I can't provide him with the time and attention he needs." - "I didn't know he would get this big." - "I am moving, and the place / state / wherever I am moving to will not allow pets / my pet / his particular breed / his size." - "My husband is deployed and I don't have time for the dog."

Why are these bad reasons for rehoming, you ask? Simple - because they are excuses, not reasons.

There is no such thing, for example, as a town or state that does not allow dogs. But the fact is, it's much easier to find housing when you don't have a dog, and it's much cheaper to find housing when you don't have a dog, because you don't have to pay a pet deposit or pet rent on top of your regular deposit and rent. And you don't have to worry about your dog keeping up the neighbors with his howling, or receiving tickets for leaving him tethered in the back yard. Not to mention that it's so much more convenient to make the actual move when you don't have to worry about bringing the dog. You don't have to buy a crate and train him to use it. You don't have to stop every three hours if you're driving to your new home. It's just easier to dump the dog and, literally, move on.

Beyond moving, the two most common excuses for rehoming a dog that I see are: "he needs room to run" and "I can't give him the time he deserves." Both of those are code. What they are really wanting to say is, "I bought this dog on a whim when he was a cute and adorable little puppy. Keeping a dog looks so easy on TV, and I figured the dog would come to me knowing to potty inside, knowing to sit, stay, and all that good stuff. I didn't know I had to train him to do all these things. So he really got to be a drag pretty quick. Having to go for walks when it's raining or snowing out - yuck. Who wants to do that? And I can't even go away for a weekend without paying for boarding. Besides, I don't want to take the time to drive him to the dog park to get exercise, but he won't come back off leash, and if he doesn't get exercise, he eats my furniture. So, truth be told, I'm just sick of having the stupid dog. Come pick him up. At least I can get some money for him."


Rehoming Responsibly

The really sad fact of the matter is that most people who post their excuses to Craig's List and are looking to rehome their dogs really don't care whether the dog goes to a good home, or whether he is resold, used as bait in dog fighting, being abused, or ending up dead by the side of the road, as long as they get their $100 or $150 adoption fee from the folks picking him up.

This guide is not for them. This guide is for people who are either truly in a situation where they need to rehome, or who are honest and admit that they bit off a little more than they could chew when they chose to bring a dog into their homes. People who want their dog to go to a good home.


Rehoming Ads

Rehoming responsibly begins with writing a good rehoming ad to be placed in your newspaper or website of choice. If you choose to use Craig's List, please do - there is a lot of junk on Craig's List, but it's also where I got both of my kitties, so I hold a certain fondness for the site.

Here's a bad example of a rehoming ad -

We have a 2 year old Boxer, Bella, that needs a new loving home. We are moving and our new home doesnt have the space she needs. She has been with us since we adopted her at 3 months old. She is not altered. AKC papers. She is great with kids. She is a very playful and loving dog. We are sad to let her go but she needs a new home with a family who will love her and have the space and time she needs. Email for rehoming fee.

The first reason this is a bad example of a rehoming ad is the fact that we really don't learn a whole lot about Bella from this ad at all except that she is a Boxer, 2 years old, AKC registered, and not spayed. It doesn't tell us whether she is current on shots, what training she has had, or what issues she has. A good ad should tell you more about the dog itself - age, breed, gender, status of shots, whether the dog is spayed or neutered, training and certificates (if any), and issues or problem behaviors (if any).

The second reason this is a bad example is that she is specifically advertised as an unspayed, purebred Boxer. The type of people this kind of ad will generally attract are people who will want to breed her, so they can make money from the puppies - breeding either pure Boxers with the male they have at home, or, worse, breeding mixes such as Boxadors (Boxer and Labrador).

Here's an example of a good rehoming ad -

6 year old female German Shepherd. Spayed. Up-to-date on shots. Microchipped. Knows sit, down, stay, come. Walks nicely on a leash. Canine Good Citizen. Tends to bark when left alone and needs some more training not to jump on visitors. $100 rehoming fee.

Rehoming ads should, ideally, be short and to the point, and include all necessary information about the dog. Necessary information includes: age, gender (whether spayed or neutered), breed (if known), status of shots, known training, certificates (if any), issues (if any).

If you are truly looking for a good home for the dog, it's best to leave out such things as "AKC registered" or "comes with papers" or "CKC registerable - we just haven't done it yet". Someone looking for a good companion will care very little if the dog has papers. Someone looking to breed the dog for money, on the other hand, will care quite a bit about it. And, of course, people who care more about getting money for the dog than the dog itself also use it as a reason to justify expensive sales prices rehoming fees.


Adoption Screening

Because the amount of the rehoming fee is not necessarily an indicator that your dog will be loved and well cared for in its new home, it's important to screen potential adopters before letting them come and pick up your dog. A good place to start is to ask them whether they have had dogs before and whether they have owned this particular type, size, or breed of dog previously.

If I were to rehome a German Shepherd, for example, and had a very energetic dog that needed a lot of time and training, I would prefer a home that previously had German Shepherds or another type of herding dog, and was familiar with the level of energy and the type of dog they would be getting. I would ask whether they have had Shepherds? Have they had herding dogs? Do they understand their temperament is so very different from Labradors and other dogs? Have they ever been involved in any activities, such as training classes, or any dog sports with their previous dogs?

I would also want to know what their living arrangements are - do they own their home or rent? If they rent, could I please see the lease's pet clause or pet addendum, or get the phone number to their landlord, to ensure they may own a dog, especially the breed or size of dog they are hoping to adopt? Do they have a fence? Do they work long hours? Do they have a plan for exercising, walking, caring for the dog if they work?

If they have existing animals (another question to ask!), ask them who their veterinarian is and to provide that veterinarian's contact information so I can call the vet. Calling a vet's office is very standard practice for people selling or adopting animals, including breeders and dog rescues, and most vets will be happy to tell you whether Jane Doe Potential-Adopter is a current client at their clinic and whether they feel that Jane would make a good home for your dog. It is not any kind of violation of private or privileged information, so don't let a potential adopter tell you their vet doesn't allow it or that it's illegal to check references!

Speaking of references - ask for them. Landlord? Two friends who know them well? Get the references and call them. Spend a few minutes on the phone with them. "Hi, I'm Jane Doe. Your friend/tenant/etc. has applied to adopt a dog from me and put you down as a reference. I'd like to know if you think they would make a good home for my (breed here) dog? Have they had dogs? What's their home like? etc." Again, all that is required here, just like checking the vet reference, is to spend a few minutes on the phone, ask a few questions, and then spend the time to mull over the answers.

Lastly, and most importantly, meet the potential adopters in person - ideally at their home. If they were honest about their living arrangements, having you meet them at their home, along with the dog they're hoping to adopt, should not be a problem. They can show you around, ask you questions, meet the dog, and see how the dog might fit into their home. If they have children, do make it a point to talk to the kids. Ask about past pets, too. You would be surprised how often Little Bobby will tell you, "Oh, we used to have a Lab, but he got run over." or "We had a cat, but Mom gave it away when she was angry with us as punishment."

This will guarantee you a much better chance of placing your dog in a good home than letting the first person to respond to the ad come to your home, pay you $100, and walk off with the dog, never to be seen or heard from again.


A Thought About Rehoming Fees

Speaking of the almighty dollar - those of you truly interested in good homes for your dogs may want to post that there is an adoption fee in your ad - and specify how much it is! - but consider it to be negotiable for the right family. If you screen them as described above and are satisfied that they would be a good home, be willing to lower or altogether drop the adoption fee.

Remember - the original idea behind a rehoming fee was never to make money from selling your dog, or even to recover expenses that you have had because of your dog, such as vetting. The original idea behind a rehoming fee was to find a good home. If you state a fee in the ad, it can help weed some of the weirdos out, but is no guarantee. If you have a fee and follow through on proper screening, and the home looks like a good one,  lowering or dropping the fee and telling the family to use the money for the dog instead - for equipment, training classes, vet visit, whatever - would be a great way to make their day, too.

Real People

A true adoption story from The Customer is Not Always Right.


Animal Shelter
Lakewood, CO

Customer: “I want to adopt this dog. When can I take him home?”

Me: “He’ll have to be neutered before he can go home.
You can take him home in the afternoon.”

Customer: “Wait, why does he have to be neutered?”

Me: “Well, this is an animal shelter.
All these animals are homeless and we don’t want to add to that
with any accidental breeding.”

Customer: “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!
A dog like him could produce some great pups.”

Me: “Well, it’s our policy.
He will be neutered before he leaves this building.
It’s required.”

Customer: “Will you guys at least put in fake implants?
At least then he can keep his dignity.”

Me: “Um…I don’t think we do that sort of thing.”

More New Stuff

Work has been very slow for me this week because of the lake effect snow and, accordingly, the awful road conditions, which have kept people from coming to visit the museum. But I'm not complaining, because the lull in activity and things to do has given me a chance to revamp and update my Zazzle Store, The Cat Omelet Diner.

Canine Body Language

Products that feature my Canine Body Language chart are currently the most popular items in my Zazzle store, and people have been asking me to create a version that would look good on a light background. The original chart consists of yellow silhouettes on a black background, which looks great in print and on dark shirts, but I agree that a version using dark silhouettes was sorely needed.

It is now available on light-colored T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and hoodies, as well as on postcards and posters. As an extra bonus, the posters and postcards have the option of using custom background colors or adding your business logo if you are a trainer, veterinarian, or rescue, and would like to use them as hand-outs for your customers.


German Shepherds

New products featuring German Shepherd Dogs have been added to the store. You can now purchase postcards featuring the German Shepherd coat patterns and anatomy, as well as various White German Shepherd products, including note cards with customizable background colors, a traditional German beer stein, and a variety of coffee and travel mugs.

I will eventually make all these products available featuring the other colors of German Shepherd dogs, from solid black to bi-color, to the traditional saddle back, to sables. There will also be new versions of the anatomy chart, as well as the coat patterns and coat colors chart available on cards, mugs, and shirts.

If there is any product or color you would like to see in particular, please let me know, and I will add it to my list of requests.


Rescue & Spay/Neuter

A new category I have just added to my store is the Rescue and Spay/Neuter category. This category will feature products designed to raise awareness to pet overpopulation and bad breeding practices, as well as to encourage people to adopt from a rescue or shelter instead of purchasing their next pet.

I currently have several different T-shirt designs available that can be ordered on any light-colored T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and hoodies, as well as four different bumper sticker designs, all featuring a picture of a German Shepherd puppy left in a trash can.

DNA - Richard Hayden

Sometimes, a dog rescue or animal shelter will put out a DNA, or Do Not Adopt, alert when they feel it is warranted to warn other shelters, rescues, and individuals of someone who should not be allowed to adopt a dog. In most cases, these warnings are issued about a person who has been convicted of animal cruelty or animal abuse, and sometimes they are issued about people who have a bad track record of adopting and then dumping dogs, lying on adoption applications, and the like.

Recently, such a DNA alert was posted on the German Shepherd Forum I belong to, regarding a person who has been a long-term member of that forum, Richard Hayden - known by his online alias of flyinghayden. His DNA has been widely circulated, and many people on the forums are involved in trying to find out what happened to the dogs who have been in his care, and whether or not the ones that are currently in his care are alive and well.

Because this is a person many on the forums thought they knew, because he posted frequently, shared photos of the dogs, and thrilled everyone with stories of traveling many, many miles across the country to "rescue" some of these dogs, many are deeply involved emotionally in this case, and are feeling hurt and betrayed by someone they believed they knew well enough to give him the benefit of the doubt, even when a number of red flags turned up and some things simply didn't add up. Many are feeling, in a way, a bit guilty because they never did add up one and one, and they are worried that maybe the fact they didn't notice, or the fact they didn't say anything, may have possibly caused the suffering or death of a few dogs who certainly did not deserve it.

I think this stands as a lesson to many of us. Just because you speak to someone on the Internet does not mean you know them. Just because they share photos and stories does not necessarily mean they are being truthful.

At any rate, here is a copy of the original DNA, in hopes that it reaches many who have not seen it previously, and in hopes that it will help keep other dogs safe.

National Do Not Adopt

Name: Richard Hayden
Hometown: North Pole / Fairbanks, Alaska
Seeking Dogs in: Nationwide, most recently in California and Florida
Phone number: 907-378-2807 cell phone in Fairbanks, Alaska
Email: flyingrichard@hotmail.com / flyinghayden@hotmail.com
Online Alias: flyinghayden (used on Forums, Photobucket, etc.)

Richard Hayden is currently seeking dogs throughout the US, from rescue groups, shelters, and from private individuals via sites like Craigslist. Rescues and shelters are often impressed that he is willing to adopt at such a long distance and assume that someone willing to spend so much money to get a dog must be a good home.

According to some of his information he lives in an RV with three German Shepherds. In other applications, he states he lives in a house with a yard. Sometimes he says he has one dog, in other cases no dogs. He is an experienced con man and knows what to say and how to work the system. He has groups of devoted followers on Internet forums who think they know him and believe that he’s a good home.

The truth is very different.

He has adopted countless dogs that have since disappeared. At least 3 dogs from rescues have died within weeks of arrival in Alaska. He told the rescues that two of them died of cancer (after being in perfect health and vet checked prior to sending) but he has been unwilling to produce any veterinary references to support his claims. The third dog supposedly drowned. He has adopted several other dogs from Anchorage and Fairbanks animal control that have since disappeared. He has potentially gotten many other dogs from Craigslist and similar sites.

He usually has multiple ads in different cities. He will typically back off when rescues and shelters request a home visit or reference checks but is savvy to adoption screening systems and is good at manipulating well-meaning people to pull dogs for him. He flies a small plane and sometimes comes for dogs himself, in other cases he has them shipped to Alaska.

He prefers German Shepherds but is known to have taken Labradors, Pit Bulls, and a Malamute mix. The dogs he gets are always large breeds and spayed females. He prefers dogs that are oversized and overweight, with passive, docile temperaments. He specifically asks for retired breeding females.

Please cross-post widely! It is especially important to warn shelters who may not typically receive these alerts or be as likely to do the home visits and veterinary reference checks that would immediately expose this person.

Below is one of his (many) ads that was posted to Craig's List. Most of his ads use similar wording and his phone number and name. Do be aware that now ads are being posted that read exactly like his, but use a different phone number from the Fairbanks, Alaska area, and a different name as well. So, please, if you see ads that are similar to this one, be extra careful if you are considering adopting your dog to this person.

Older German Shepherd Female Wanted

I am looking to adopt an older female German Shepherd. I am looking for a dog 5-10 years old, and I would love a longcoat, or bi-color. Retired breeder dogs are what I am also interested in, if they have been spayed. This will be a indoor dog only for companionship, no breeding, and I would love a really large dog. If you have an older shepherd who likes to share the bed, and get a good belly rub, call or email me. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, and if you have a dog, I will travel anywhere.

Winter Walks

Having moved to northern New York from southern Virginia last summer, I never expected that there would be anything about North Country winters I would come to like, but it's a fact that the snowy fields and trees certainly look beautiful, and once it warms up a bit for the day - around the 20 to 30 degree mark - it's even quite nice outside if you're dressed appropriately.

The dogs, of course, absolutely love the cold weather. Abby has grown a nice, thick coat of winter fur with a fluffy undercoat that is keeping her comfortable, and literally goes into fits of excitement every time she goes outside, doing her little snow-happy-dance, barking, and initiating play with Ronja.

Ronja is a little less thrilled about the cold, especially when it is cold and rainy, because she has a tight coat and very little undercoat, but she manages. On really cold days, I throw a blanket or a T-shirt on her (I bought a bunch of Juniors size Small shirts at the thrift store for her, at $1 each), and she's happy to go out and play. I guess she just needs something to block the wind.

Last Saturday, we were blessed with beautiful, clear, blue skies and warmer temperatures, so we took the pups out to hike the back property, out to the pond and back. Going was pretty slow in snow that was often up to our knees, but the snowmobile tracks that run along our main "roads" on the property were easy to walk on. The dogs enjoyed gallumphing along through the snow, barking and biting at each other, and hunting for mice and small birds.

Beyond the first ridge.

A thoroughly happy Malinois!

The pups and I.

Because there are bears and coyotes on the property (and, according to local sightings, wolves or wolfdogs), we like to err on the side of caution and bring along at least a shotgun or rifle. If it weren't for New York's idiotic gun laws, thanks to New York City, I would carry a pistol instead. Much easier.

Ronja's flying tackle.

Does this look like a happy Abby, or what?

The sun was just right to get some good, back-lit pictures at the pond.

Looks pretty - but this means there's a cold night coming.

Heading home.

On a completely different note, I would like some opinions from my readers.

I realize there are a lot of different articles on this blog that people may find useful, such as the equipment reviews and posts on training, and I was wondering whether I should take just those articles and place a copy of them on my domain so that they would be easier to find?

I think that Blogger is somewhat limited in how one can build and structure menus, and finding individual articles on the blog may be difficult for people, especially people looking for specific things. Having them on a separate site would allow me to create categories (such as "training") with sub-categories to make finding individual articles easy, and allowing people to link them if they wanted to.

Opinions?