Pet Rehoming, Surrender, & Financial Help

homewardboundcats Financial Help, Pet Surrender, Re-homing

Resources for Rehoming Pets

Before deciding to surrender, give up or rehome your pet…

Your pet is depending on you to do your best for them. Review the information below to see if you can take any steps to resolve any issues that are causing you to consider rehoming your pet.

Behavior:

  • Has your pet’s behavior recently changed? Consult with your veterinarian FIRST to eliminate any possible health issues. Many common problems, like not using the litter box, can be the result of a treatable ailment.
  • Once health issues are ruled out, consult with a certified animal behaviorist or cat expert. Some well-known, proven, favorites are below:
    • Dumb Friends League in Colorado as a detailed behavior library. They also offer FREE remote behavior consultations.
    • Jackson Galaxy offers a number of resources and solutions:
    • The Two Crazy Cat Ladies, nationally known and based right here in Las Vegas:
    • Pam Johnson Bennet, a nationally known cat behaviorist:
      • Her website has everything from behavior to health to vet advice that you can trust
      • Her Facebook page often has short, easy tips for all things cats

Moving or Relocation:

We want you to do everything you can to take your pet with you when you move. More often than not, this is possible and the right thing to do. However, if you need guidance or help, or a temporary home until you get to your next destination there are options:

  • Boarding facilities for pets. Search your local community for options, then reach out and ask about length of stays, payment plans, options, resources and more.
  • Pet moving companies. There are companies that offer in pet transportation, safely and responsibly. Do your research to find out which mode of transportation would be best for you.
  • Get family and friends involved. Ask for donation to fund the cost of moving, or if they can temporarily care for your pet. Offer them a plane ticket in exchange for getting your pet to your new home. Ask them for referrals for help.
  • Consider all means of transportation and travel. Look at the pros and cons of flying versus driving, and what works best for your pets and your family.
  • Research pet-friendly hotels, apartments, vacation homes and private rooms. There are options to help along the way to make it easy for the whole family.
  • Street Dogz and Street Catz of Las Vegas offers emergency housing options.

Pet Food Assistance:

Low-Cost Spay/Neuter, Vaccine and other Medical Options:

We are not directly affiliated with any of the organizations below and cannot guarantee assistance by any of them. Contact each organization directly for pricing, services and availability.

Financial Aid:

  • The Animal Foundation has an extensive guide here with helpful tips and a list of organizations that offer financial help to pet owners.
  • Street Dogz and Street Catz of Las Vegas offers emergency financial aid options.

Surrender, give up or rehome a pet:

It’s a huge decision to give up a pet, no matter what the reason. Often people take them to a shelter or rescue. The reality is that if you have the time and ability to find your pet a new home, it will offer a much smoother transition for both of you. It may take some work, but there are good homes out there, so try to maintain a positive attitude. Here are some ideas and resources for rehoming your pet on your own.

First, prepare the pet for adoption. To increase the chances of finding a successful home, if you can provide the below care, it’s important that the pet is:

  • Spayed or neutered, in good health and up-to-date on vaccinations
  • House-trained and reasonably well-behaved

Next, advertise widely. Get the word out, in as many places as possible. Here are some tips:

  • Photos and descriptions help people connect with the pet.
  • Compose an ad that describes the personality, habits, and some of things that make this pet special. Don’t hold hide any disabilities, health or behavior quirks. Sometimes these are the things people particularly respond to! For tips on an appealing ad, read How to Write Animal Bios to Get Pets Into Homes.
  • Choose 1 to 3 great photos to feature your pet in any advertising. Remember, one blurry photo is like no photo at all! You want people to connect with the image! It has to be crisp, clear, with the focus on the cat’s face and eyes open. Take a look at this short, fun video for taking great photos with your cell phone.
  • Use social media and similar websites to network with family, friends, businesses, colleagues and more:
    • Facebook and Instagram, free, social networks and community group pages.
    • Craigslist, a free, advertising network.
    • Nextdoor, a free, private social network for your immediate neighborhood.
    • Getyourpet.com, a network where possible adopters connect with people needing to rehome a pet.
    • Rehome by Adopt-A-Pet, a free, easy, service to post your pet, accept adoption applications, meet adopters and rehome.
  • Flyers are inexpensive to produce and often effective, especially with a good photo and description. At www.petbond.com, you can easily combine a photo and the ad into a flyer.
  • Use word of mouth and community contacts, such as churches, book clubs, PTA meetings, etc. Tell everyone and promote at local businesses—many places will let you put up a flyer!
    • Grocery stores
    • Pet stores
    • Coffee shops
    • Vet offices
    • Dentists, doctors, etc.
  • Ask family and friends if they can either help temporarily or more long-term, whether by fostering your pet, contributing to vet bills, or networking your pet through their group of family and friends.
  • Need more help? Check out Petfinder www.petfinder.com for Resources for how to best handle giving up your pet and Resources for finding a home for your pet.

Need help specific to Las Vegas?

Use The Animal Foundation’s Pet Resource Center for a variety of tools, including pet friendly rental sites, financial aid and military options:

Finally, if you need to turn to a shelter or rescue, here are some options:

For a complete list of Nevada-based shelters and rescues, please visit Maddie’s Pet Project. Organizations are listed by county and have links to websites and phones. Each organization is its own affiliation, so programs, assistance, and availability will vary. Contact organizations directly with specific questions or requests for help.

More Resources:

Found Kittens? Don’t Kit-nap Them!
What is “Kitten Season”? As the weather starts to warm up and turn into Spring, unaltered female cats will begin to go into heat. Sixty days later, kittens will be …
Lost & Found Pet Resources
Microchips Whether you are a first-time pet parent or seasoned guardian, things happen. Making sure your pet is microchipped is essential for a more positive outcome. A microchip is about …
Spay/Neuter, Vaccine, Microchips
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter, Vaccines and Microchips for Owned Pets: We are not directly affiliated with any of the organizations below and cannot guarantee assistance from any of them. Contact each organization …
TNR and Community Cats
Community cats, also known as feral cats, are unsocialized cats who were born outside without a lot of human contact. While these kitties do not want to curl up on …

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or email info@homewardboundcats.org