Sometimes circumstances in life are such that we have to give up our dogs. Some of those can include the death of the owner, illness, severe disability, loss of a job or other financial setbacks. Other reasons people have for giving up their pet are less grave. Some are even downright frivolous.

Our dogs rely on us for everything. Unlike people, dogs cannot make choices; they rely on us to choose for them. Before you decide to send your dog to the pound or shelter, please read this and make a more informed decision.

The Truth About Shelters

There are many no kill shelters that will not put any animal down. The pet can stay at the shelter until a home can be found. But do not assume that all shelters are this way. If you must give up your animal find out what the shelters policy is before you take your pet to one.

Why Shelters Were Created

Shelters and humane societies were created to care for stray and/or abused animals. They were not meant to be a drop off place for people who do not want their pets any more. When an owner turns their dog into a shelter, depending on how full the shelter is, the dog may be killed that day. Owner turn ins have far fewer rights than stray dogs. In most places stray dogs are kept at least seven days in case the owner shows up to claim it. Dogs turned in by their owners do not have to be kept for any amount of time and many more are never even put up for adoption. While shelter operators do not necessarily want to kill these dogs, they may have little choice. Space at animal shelters is always limited, so many perfectly adoptable dogs will die. So sending your dog to a shelter in hopes that someone else will adopt him is nave, wishful thinking. It is far more likely that you are just sending your dog to be executed.

How Do I Prevent My Dog From Being Euthanized?

If your life circumstances are such that you must give up your dog, the best chance your dog has for avoiding an untimely death is for you to take a proactive approach.

1.Contact a qualified dog trainer in your area. A dog trainer will be able to tell you better what your other options are for your dog. Further, if a dog requires some instruction a trainer can help you. A trained dog is more valued, more fun to have around and will get into trouble far less than dogs that are not trained. Having your dog trained will open up more possibilities for him to live a long and happy life, no matter what happens to you.

2.Contact a leader dog organization. Maybe after your dog leaves your home, he can get a job. He may not qualify to be a leader dog for a blind person, but there are lots of other jobs dogs can get with police, fire, or even search and rescue organizations. Some organizations also use dogs for pet therapy. Do your homework and maybe your dog can help someone else.

3.Consider a breed rescue. While no kill shelters are hard to find, many breeds have their own rescue for their particular breed. Individuals from their homes operate most breed rescue services. Like traditional rescue services, space is very limited while demand is high. But a breed rescue service can help you place your dog with a new owner by providing referrals to persons who may be interested in adopting your dog. You will have the most success if you follow the services advise and as much of the leg work yourself in finding a new home for your dog.

4.Advertise. Use the classified ads to find your dog a home. Done correctly, its the most effective way to reach the largest number of people. Your advertisement should give a short description of your dog, his needs, your requirements for a home, and of course your phone number. The description should include the dogs breed, color, sex, and whether he or she is spayed or neutered. When listing the dogs age, if the dog is more than two years old list him as an adult dog. Here are a few more tips:

-Emphasize your dogs good points. Is he friendly? Housebroken? Love kids? Have any type of special training? Does he know any tricks? Dont keep these things a secret, list all of them.
-Always state that references are required. This tells people you are being very selective and that you are not going to give your dog to just anyone. This statement alone will keep people with bad intentions from calling you.
-Never use the phrase, free to a good home in your ad, even if you are not planning to charge any fee. In fact, do not put any reference to a price at all. The chance at a free dog will bring lots of calls, but most of them will not be from the type of people you are looking for.
-Your ad should read something like this, Mixed breed large dog. Friendly, housebroken, and well behaved. Better with adults or older children because of his size. Fenced yard required. References and interviews prior to acceptance. Call Harold at 989-555-1234.

Give your ad plenty of time to run. It may take four to six weeks for your ad to pay off with a home for your dog. Be patient, it will be worth it.

To contact the author, Harold Nicoll, call 989-839-8293 or email hgnicoll@sbcglobal.net. You can visit our website at http://www.gettingluckythedog.com.

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