If you are thinking of rehoming an animal you will find lots of help and good advice here, hopefully to help you think things through and make the right decision with regard to what you choose to do with your pet.

There are re-homing templates (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=4003915&postcount=4) that you need to fill out for your rehoming thread that will give potential new owners all of the information needed to decide whether your pet will fit in happily with them and their family, please read on before filling anything in as there is lot's of valuable and helpful information in this thread.

Thanks to past and present group leaders for input and information used in this thread.:)

Before rehoming your pet please read.


If you are considering rehoming your pet, have you already explored all the alternative options? Bear in mind that your pet has grown to love you and your family as its own, and a new owner, however nice, cannot be guaranteed to love and keep your pet as you would like forever

If you are planning to give up your pet due to work commitments, lack of time, or sickness, then there are alternative options which will enable you to keep your pet:

If it is a dog you are rehoming, have you considered the possibility of a dog share? Many people would love a dog but don't have the time to commit to one, or go away on holidays etc. In this case someone could have your dog for part of the day while you're out.
Also take a look at our sticky for Pet Sitters/Walkers.
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=167087
These people are professionals and have references and CRB checks, insurance and experience with our furry friends.

If the reason for rehoming is because you are moving to a rental property that does not accept pets, then you should know that private landlords are sometimes willing to accept pets against their usual policy if you can offer a higher deposit and/or demonstrate that the pet will not be able to cause damage if unattended (eg - 'my dog is caged whilst I am out')


If you have carefully considered the above suggestions, but still believe you need to rehome your pet, then the following information will be useful:



Did you get your pet from a breeder or rescue? Many breeders and rescues alike require that you return the animal to them should you no longer be able to keep it so that they can rehome it, they often have waiting lists of people waiting for one of their animals and will know who best to home the animal to. If you signed a contract when you purchased your animal stating you would return them if you could no longer provide a home, you can be taken to court if you rehome without contacting the breeder first

If you have to rehome and you have a pedigree dog or cross of known breeds, then consider doing a search (or asking for a Group Leader's help) to find the appropriate breed welfare association for your pet. These places often have waiting lists and home with people who are enthusiasts of a certain breed. They homecheck and know who is best to rehome to, and your dog can stay with you until they can find them a new home, they needn't go into kennels.
If you need any help, contact moonbird, litlemermaid or Evei who will help you to find the breed/animal rescue if they possibly can..

If you feel you have no options left then please complete the animal rehoming template (the one specific to your animal in need of a home) by copying it into a new thread, then answer where applicable & try to be as accurate & honest as possible, as this will help your pet to get the best possible home and will hopefully ensure that both the pet and the new owner will be happy together.

When you have completed the template you may post it and it will then be closed, and the standard post giving advice to purchasers added
If any changes are needed we will let you know (or you can let us know) & you will be able make them.

One last very important word of caution, please read even if you ignore all else.

There have been many incidents country wide of unscrupulous and evil people buying, and more often taking "free to good home" animals, often bull breed dogs (but also other types and other animals) to use as "bait dogs" to train their fighting dogs, this is becoming a very serious and worrying problem.

People are not always what they seem, so please do not make it easy for people to just take away your unwanted pets, thoroughly check out where they are going, ask for vet checks, anything to make it difficult and weed these people out.

Here are a couple of stories from this forum alone in a one year period where less than scrupulous people have taken dogs under false pretenses and the terrible consequences of that. The story of Tank (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=691136) and The story of Hamish (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=802497&highlight=cairn+terrier)

Some more things to think about :

Here’s a list of the sort of questions that could help form your opinion of a good owner who has considered carefully what they are doing in taking on the responsibility of an animal.

1 What animals have you had before?

2 How many and what sort of animals have you got now?

3 What happened to the animals in 1, if you no longer have them?

4 What sort of house do you live in?

5 Is secure outdoor space available?

6 How close to a main road/bus route/park for walkies do you live?

7 How many people live there? How many children and what ages?

8 How long every day would the animals be left alone (working etc)?

9 Is your home owned, rented or council-let?

10 If you don’t own your home, can I see your lease or rental contract to show that you have permission to have animals?

11 Do you currently have a vet? Where is it?

12 Have you researched the cost of veterinary treatments?

13 What provision would you make if this animal were to be sick at the weekend or during your work time?

14 Do you know how much pet insurance costs and are you planning on getting it?

15 Do you believe in neutering/spaying and vaccinating animals as a precautionary health measure?

16 Have you budgeted to afford routine things like flea treatment and wormer?

17 What arrangements do you make for your pets when you go away on holiday?

18 Do you plan on getting this animal microchipped, if I have not already done so?


As well as these questions, it is often seen as an additional deciding factor if the person hoping to offer a home for the animals is prepared to make a donation to a charity of your mutual deciding, in lieu of ‘paying’ for the animal. Someone’s willingness to do this should not be taken in itself as an indication that they have the emotional commitment to look after an animal properly.

You may also wish to consider that not everyone is who/what they seem to be.
If you are considering rehoming your pet, have you already explored all the alternative options? Bear in mind that your pet has grown to love you and your family as its own, and a new owner, however nice, cannot be guaranteed to love and keep your pet as you would like forever If you are planning to give up your pet due to work commitments, lack of time, or sickness, then there are alternative options which will enable you to keep your pet: If it is a dog you are rehoming, have you considered the possibility of a dog share? Many people would love a dog but don't have the time to commit to one, or go away on holidays etc. In this case someone could have your dog for part of the day while you're out.

Also take a look at our sticky for Pet Sitters/Walkers, these people are professionals and have references and CRB checks, insurance and experience with our furry friends. If the reason for rehoming is because you are moving to a rental property that does not accept pets, then you should know that private landlords are sometimes willing to accept pets against their usual policy if you can offer a higher deposit and/or demonstrate that the pet will not be able to cause damage if unattended (eg - 'my dog is caged whilst I am out') If you have carefully considered the above suggestions, but still believe you need to rehome your pet, then the following information will be useful:

Did you get your pet from a breeder or rescue? Many breeders and rescues alike require that you return the animal to them should you no longer be able to keep it so that they can rehome it, they often have waiting lists of people waiting for one of their animals and will know who best to home the animal to. If you signed a contract when you purchased your animal stating you would return them if you could no longer provide a home, you can be taken to court if you rehome without contacting the breeder first.

If you have to rehome and you have a pedigree dog or cross of known breeds, then consider doing a search (or asking for a Group Leader's help) to find the appropriate breed welfare association for your pet. These places often have waiting lists and home with people who are enthusiasts of a certain breed.
They homecheck and know who is best to rehome to, and your dog can stay with you until they can find them a new home, they needn't go into kennels.

If you need any help, contact moonbird, litlemermaid or Evei who will help you to find the breed/animal rescue if they possibly can... If you still feel you have no options left then please complete the animal rehoming template (the one specific to your animal in need of a home) by copying it into a new thread, then answer where applicable & try to be as accurate & honest as possible, as this will help your pet to get the best possible home and will hopefully ensure that both the pet and the new owner will be happy together.
When you have completed the template you may post it and it will then be closed, and the standard post giving advice to purchasers added If any changes are needed we will let you know (or you can let us know) & you will be able make them.

Please be very vigilant about where your pet goes and please read (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=740147) , home check and follow up regularly, don't give the pet up too easily if the potential new owners are genuine they won't mind one bit.

So after reading all of that you still feel that you need to rehome your pet, here are the rehoming templates have a look through and you should find one that is right for you.

Copy the content of the template to a new thread give it a relevant title, answer the questions, the thread will then be closed by a group leader.

Use of phone numbers on your thread
A phone number may be included if you wish, but please note that this is at your own risk, remember that this is an open forum and your number is open to misuse.
You are strongly advised to remove the number from your thread as soon as your pet has been rehomed.

If you wish to add any pictures of the pet or further comments at a later date the thread can be temporarily opened by a group leader, or the information sent to a group leader who will add it to the thread for you.


Please be aware that...

The only place that you can advertise your pet is in the pet owners group and not in the classifieds!

Any threads for the rehoming of animals not using one of the following templates will be removed until it is submitted in the correct format, this is so that the potential new owner can have the most accurate information about the animal possible, so as to make sure that the animal goes to the most suitable home.

After several recent problems with animals that have been sold far too young in the group we now wish to implement the following rule -
No young animal will be offered for sale/re-home in the group until it reaches the appropriate age.

For puppies the appropriate age is 8 weeks, kittens at least 10 weeks but 12 is preferable, rabbits 8 weeks, guinea pigs 6 weeks, you may post a thread before this time to let people know of up and coming pets but not offer them for re-homing until the reach the appropriate age...any threads contravening this rule will be removed.

Rehoming template for dogs and puppies. (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=391316)

Rehoming template for cats and kittens. (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=391321)

Rehoming template for small animals. (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=391328)

Rehoming template for birds. (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=391338)

Re-homing template for reptiles. (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=5351322#post5351322)

Rehoming template for horses and ponies. (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=5345257#post5345257)

Rehoming template for fish (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=5884946#post5884946)