Rehoming | Dogs Trust (2025)

FAQs

Is rehoming the same as adopting? ›

It can be used interchangeably; many reputable rescue groups and shelters use the term “rehoming” as another word for “rescue” or “adoption.” It can also be used by families who are in a desperate situation, or crisis, and are trying to do the best for their pet that they can.

Since 1891, we've been working for a better future for dogs and the people who love them. When a dog is in distress, we care for them. When a dog needs a home, we find them a loving family. When an owner needs a helping hand (or paw) – or they just can't cope, we're ready to step in.

Get help from shelters and rescue groups.

As a last resort, you may be able to surrender your pet to a local shelter or rescue organization. Each agency will have a different process for surrendering a pet to their care; learn more by visiting their website or by calling ahead.

Is Rehoming Legal? Technically, rehoming an adopted child is legal. Much like if a parent of a biological child couldn't take care of the child, they could legally grant guardianship to another family. Child protective services only steps in if they suspect maltreatment of the child.

The 3-3-3 rule is a guideline for transitioning a rescue dog into its new home and helping it to settle in. It suggests that the first three days should be used for adjusting to its new surroundings, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for continued socialization and training.

It is normal for a dog to grieve the loss of their previous family and go through an acclimation period in their new home. While they may miss you, if they are in a caring environment and their needs are being met, they will do well.

The dog will need at least a few months to develop trust, feel comfortable, and learn his role. Here are a few suggestions to help you make your new canine pal feel at home.

Constantly yelling or even hitting your dog can definitely ruin trust, Barconey said. The premise of their dog training program is to promote positive reinforcement to convince people to use other ways to get their dogs to communicate with them.

2023 at a glance... We cared for 13,374 dogs through our 22 centres across the UK and Ireland. 10,588 dogs were rehomed, including over 400 Underdogs who had been with us for more than six months. With the help of our committed foster carers, we fostered 3,650 dogs through our Home From Home and Freedom programmes.

Can you leave a trust to a dog? ›

Key takeaways. Animals can't be named as beneficiaries of retirement accounts or any other assets. To fund your pet's ongoing care, you can leave money to an intended guardian directly in your will or create a pet trust. An attorney can help you set up estate planning documents to include your pet.

Dogs will not steal from you or hurt you in any way if treated right. They are trustworthy, loyal and always protect you. There is a good chance if you do not have an animal companion in your older years, you will be lonely and have people around you only waiting for you to pass on.

Whether it's a rescue pup or a family pet, changing owners can be a difficult and traumatic experience for any dog. It's important to recognize the signs of distress in order to help your dog adjust to their new home.

The best way to get rid of a pet you don't want is to take it to your local animal shelter. There are many non-profit groups that run shelters for animals you can no longer care for. By simply opening the phone book or doing an internet search you can easily find one.

If visiting your dog would be too painful, it may be best to avoid it. Impact on the dog: Consider whether visiting your dog would be stressful or confusing for them. If the dog has adjusted well to their new home, visiting them might disrupt their sense of security and stability.

/ˌriːˈhəʊm/ to find a new home for an animal, usually a pet: The shelter takes in abandoned animals and rehomes them.

When a potential adoptive parent is willing to pay a rehoming fee, it shows that they are serious about adopting your pet. You'll know that they will be more willing to put in the time and effort to care for an animal, and that they will be less likely to neglect the pet or surrender them to a shelter.

In summary, rehoming a dog is the process of finding a new home for a dog without any financial compensation, while selling a dog involves exchanging the dog for a monetary payment. Rehoming is typically driven by the need to provide the dog with proper care, while selling is primarily motivated by financial gain.

The bottom line is that it's the tone of voice that really counts when you address your pets, not the words you say. So it's perfectly fine to change that sound/name to something else, especially if the dog might have negative associations with their “given name” from their previous home.