Alternatives to Giving Up Your Pet

Pets are a lifetime commitment and your pet depends on you to ensure that they are happy, healthy and loved. Before making a decision to give up your pet, we ask that you explore every other alternative first. Below are many of the reasons that people choose to give up their pet. Many of these do have solutions and we encourage you to do everything possible to accommodate your pet or the stray into your household.

For Military Personnel who have been deployed to active duty, there are programs that can help you keep your pets!

Pet Food & Medical Assistance
Are you having trouble affording your pet? To help keep pets in their homes, there are groups that can help you provide your animals with needed food, supplies, and emergency vet care. Please visit our Pet Pantry page to find out more about these groups that may be able to help. Please keep in mind that each organization is independent and has their own set of rules and guidelines. Therefore you will have to investigate each one separately to determine if you qualify for assistance.

Dealing with Behavior Issues
In most cases, the problems are quite solvable if you make a little effort. An animal is like a child. Set no boundaries, ignore him, give her nothing to do, teach him nothing...the child will not be well-adjusted and will not learn to behave. It is up to you to teach your animal kindly and consistently what is expected of him or her. ​If you need to re-home your cat because of behavior problems, please click here. This will take you to an organization which will answer your questions by telephone or email free of charge. Please contact this organization before deciding to give up your cat. They may be able to help you solve the problem.

Spay/Neuter Assistance
Each year, around 15 million pets are turned into animal shelters across the country. Only 25 to 30 percent of these animals are reclaimed by their owners or adopted into new homes. The rest, some 11 million dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens, must be put to death because no one wants them. This terrible waste can be easily reduced by reducing the number of puppies and kittens being born. And the best way to do that is to neuter your pets. Spay/neutering your pet can have many health and behavioral benefits and will help prevent homeless animals in our community. Click here for more information.

Housing Issues
Find a situation that allows pets. There are plenty of landlords who do allow pets. Take the time to find them. And if you're worried about a pet deposit, just think of this: what's worth more to you, a few fast-food meals or the life of a loyal friend?

​Health Issues
If you or someone in your household has allergies try visiting the doctor to find out if your allergies can be controlled through medication and/or diet. If medications do not help you entirely, then try these solutions:

  • Limiting the pet’s access to certain areas

  • Low allergen shampoo

  • Allerpet/D, available in many pet stores and by mail order. Apply to pet's fur using washcloth once a week. It neutralizes the dander. Nature's Miracle works in a similar manner.

Talk with your veterinarian about these and other solutions to the allergy problem before deciding to give up your pet.