Advice: Getting Rid of Your Unwanted Pet

I want to give you some excellent advice that I hope you never need to use, however it is a good idea to read and bookmark in the event you ever do need it.
For the purposes of this article I am referring to pets you own, not stray animals which should be referred to as found pets, and reported to the local shelter.

If you have made the decision that you are not the best owner for your pet, it is unfair to keep it, as time passes it will become less and less rehomeable. There should be no shame in making this decision, and allowing the pet to hopefully find a more appropriate home. You should know that because there are more unwanted pets than there are homes, it is always a risky decision. Put some thought into it before you simply get rid of any pet. Always consider other options, like moving to a place that allows pets, if it is a landlord issue, or Obedience training, if the issue is unruly behavior.

What Not to Do and Why

I caution you not to give a pet away as "Free to a Good Home". Studies have shown that very few of these animals actually get "good homes". Most never get any veterinarian care. Many never get fixed (spayed or neutered) and thus go on to add to the over pet population. Many who go missing are not looked for, their owners simply go get another free one. Some serial killers have admitted they started on "free to good home" pets. It is possible, and legal, for somebody to accept a "free" pet, then sell it to a research lab or use it for snake food (as it is their animal now to do with as they will, dependent on area laws). A truly "good" owner would buy from a reputable breeder or adopt from a shelter.

Do not turn it loose, or abandon it in the country. Farmers often shoot nuisance animals, or their own animals fight with the new comer. Many farm pets are not looked after to the extent city pets are used to. Many farm cats are not even fed regularly. You might think all farms need more pets, but in reality this is not the case. Abandoned dogs will run for hours looking for a owner who has driven away. Dumped pets suffer from the inability to find food or water. They are attacked by other animals, like coyotes. They are at risk for being hit by cars and left suffering for hours without care. In many areas leaving your pet in the country, city dump, or other part of town, is a criminal offense known as "Animal Abandonment".

Do not rehome an aggressive or sick pet. Take it to the vet for euthanasia. In some areas you could be sued for knowingly passing on a problem pet to another person, especially if you do not disclose the problem.

What To Do

The first thing you need to do is admit why you are getting rid of the pet. Is it because of a situation on your part, or is there something wrong with the pet? For example, many people get rid of cats because the cat is urinating in areas it should not. This is often a medical issue and should NOT be passed on to another owner. If you are not willing to treat the cat, then you should euthanize it rather than dumping it on another person (as mentioned above), or at least be honest about the problem. A new owner who knows of the issues will be more forgiving than anyone who gets a surprise. Another common reason people get rid of pets is because they got the wrong type of dog and did not have time for it, and it has become a problem pet, digging, barking, or what not. Tell any potential new owner of the problems you faced, this will hopefully prevent the new owner from abusing the animal out of frustration.

If you got the pet from a Reputable Breeder you probably have a contract requiring you to return the pet to them. This contract is usually for the lifetime of the pet. As such the breeder is the first person you should call. The same applies to people who got pets from rescues or Animal Shelters. Read your contract or call them first for advice.