When to Surrender Your Dog
Considerations for Surrendering Your Dog
You brought your dog into your life with the best of intentions but sometimes life happens, and you can't keep your pup. Maybe it's sickness or deaths in your family, loss of income, or a change of landlord/HOA policies. Maybe keeping your dog healthy and happy ended up being harder than you thought, or maybe you're just at your wit's end because your pup has developed bad habits.
If you find yourself wondering about surrendering or rehoming your dog, it's important to know the difference between when you should, and when you should try to work through issues first. The decision to surrender your dog is a big one, especially for your four-legged best friend who will go through a lot of emotional distress and confusion.
Rescues and Shelters Aren't Always an Answer
Rescues like Husky Haven of Florida can only take in as many dogs as we have fosters for, and there are ALWAYS more dogs in need than we have fosters. So, if you fill out our Surrender Application in hopes of quickly transferring your dog into our care, we may not have the room.
If you decide to take your dog to your local/county animal shelter, understand that many owners surrendered dogs are sadly euthanized. Even if your pup is super cute and you think he'll get adopted immediately, this is often wishful thinking. There are tons of other dogs in the shelter and the only way to make room for new dogs is to euthanize the ones that are already there. Most people don't know that while Shelters can NOT euthanize dogs that come in as strays for at least 7 days (to give owners time to locate and retrieve them), owner surrendered dogs CAN be euthanized immediately. If the shelter you surrender your dog to is especially full or overcrowded, your dog could be walking into the shelter's euthanasia room within a day or two of you dropping it off, simply because they just don't have the room or resources to keep your pup. This is not meant to be a scare tactic. It happens more often than people care to know.
Ask Yourself Why You Have Chosen to Surrender Your Dog
Before making the decision to surrender your dog, you need to ask yourself this question - and be extremely honest in your answer: Why am I surrendering my dog? Some reasons are workable, some are not. You owe it to your dog - who had no choice in the decision you made to bring him into your life and who relies on you for their happiness and well-being - to try everything you can to work through a situation before you decide to surrender them.
Common Reasons for Surrender & Ways to Work Through Them
Here are some of the most common reasons for surrendering dogs, and some recommendations on how you might successfully work through them:
Reason 1
My dog is unruly or behaves badly
If your dog has bad habits, is too energetic, doesn't listen, is aggressive (food or resource guarding) or is too difficult to control, you should talk to a knowledgeable resource who can give you advice and guidance on things to try that could end up eradicating your pup's issues before you decide to give them up. In MOST behavioral cases, the cure lies in getting YOURSELF trained first so that you can give your dog the specific mental and physical stimulation it needs to focus on learning, and so that you are able to better teach your dog what behaviors you want. When dogs are physically and mentally fit and you know how to communicate effectively to them, miracles DO happen! It will take learning and work on your part, but the results are very, very worth it!
Local Animal Shelters, Breed Rescues, Animal Trainers, Veterinarians, and Animal Groomers are often good people to ask. If they are not able to help directly, they will likely be able to give you a referral to someone who can. Try this before giving up on your dog because you just might be giving up on a perfectly amazing husky who just doesn't understand what you want from them or who is too unfocused to learn.
Reason 2
My dog sheds too much
Huskies are notoriously furry, but you likely knew this when you first brought one home. Husky Hair is a big part of life with a Siberian, and while you can't get rid of it completely, you can keep it to a minimum by brushing them daily or weekly, grooming them once a month, vacuuming your house daily and not being shy with lint rollers and brushes. Ask your veterinarian and your groomer for any tips they may have on what else you can do to try and control shedding. (As a sidenote: NEVER shave a Siberian Husky as you risk them overheating in the summer and developing skin and other health issues, including permanently damaging their coat).
If you still can't deal with the hair, or don't want to, please be sure you do not get a similar dog in the future - especially one with a double coat - as they all shed, just the same.
Reason 3
I, or someone in my family, have allergies to my dog
If you or a family member are allergic to your dog, monthly grooming helps a lot as it gets rid of dirt, dust and pollen on the coat that may be causing some (or even all) of your allergies, and monthly baths keep dog dander to a minimum. As a breed, Siberian Huskies don't usually cause significant allergies because their DNA is different than most dogs, so a lot of the allergies you may be experiencing could be due to what is on their coat, rather than the coat itself. There are also shampoos that contain ingredients to help keep your dog's dander to a minimum. Also, if you can purchase one, air cleaners do a superb job keeping dander out of the air. Lastly, there are allergy shots available from your doctor that will eradicate allergies, including to your dog. These are safe, have been in use for a long time, and are usually very successful. If you are thinking of rehoming your dog due to allergies, you should try as many of these things as possible to be sure you've exhausted all options before putting your dog through the stress of surrendering them.
Reason 4
My schedule has changed/I don't have time for my dog
If you find yourself having to spend a lot of time at work or taking care of other large responsibilities that are not flexible, it may be difficult to find the time for your beloved four-legged friend. In those cases, when you know you're not around enough for your dog to be happy and well-adjusted and you have zero ability to adjust your schedule to accommodate them, the most selfless thing you can do is find a great new home for your pup so his new people can meet his needs.
If, however, you find that your schedule is flexible enough to make changes to it, there are many things you can do to fit your pup into your life again, even if your schedule has changed and you feel overloaded, include scheduling social time with your family or friends doing things that are dog-friendly so you can take your pup with you; asking your workplace if you may bring your dog to work (this is becoming more acceptable with employers); asking friends or neighbors to care for your pup on occasion when needed; enrolling your pup into puppy daycare; hiring a pet sitter to pet sit an hour or two a day; or simply creating a fixed schedule for the proper care for your dog.
That last one may sound obvious, but few people do it, and it can really make a difference. LOVE routine, so just like when you must plan things at work, make a detailed and specific schedule for your pup's feeding time, grooming time, walk times, play times, and cuddle times and load them into your calendar (don't forget to schedule the reminders), and then adhere to them. Ask your vet or another dog savvy person if the time you have allotted each day is enough. When you are sure it is, schedule other parts of your life around those daily, blocked-out time periods. You may have to wake up a littler earlier, or go to bed a little later, but if you love your dog, it's so worth it! If you have children at home that need daily care, too, make them part of your scheduled Doggo Time activities. Not only will your dog bond more strongly with your children as you go through your daily routine, but your children will be learning responsible pet ownership skills from you, too!
Reason 5
My new boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse doesn't like the dog
Our best suggestion is to get a new boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse! (Just kidding!) But in all seriousness, if you really prefer keeping your pup around, we suggest that you have a serious heart to heart with your significant other and explain what your dog means to you, and perhaps suggest counseling to work it out with a mediator.
Reason 6
I'm moving and can't take my dog with me
When moving to a new home, especially to a new rental, it’s important to research if your new HOA, community and/or landlord will allow your size and breed of dog. Unfortunately, Huskies are often included on breed restriction lists, and it can sometimes be difficult to find a place that will allow your dog, but it is not impossible. Most urban and suburban areas have housing that is not breed restricted. To find these dog-friendly communities, ask rental managers or realtors in the areas you want to live, as they can help locate these communities for you.
If you are renting a home, also be on the lookout for rentals from individuals rather than rental management companies. Individual landlords are more likely than management companies to work with you and make allowances for your dog. If you are buying a home, only look for houses or condos to purchase in communities that will allow you to keep your dog. Rural areas tend to have less restrictions, and, have a good amount of dog friendly housing.
It will often take some work to find these homes, but don't get discouraged: they ARE out there, and it just takes some time and effort to find them. Moving is usually not an activity that merits giving up your dog, if you do the research and give yourself enough time to find your new dog-friendly place.
Reason 7
My dog is sick or injured and I can't pay the vet
It can be heart wrenching when your pet is sick or injured and you are unable to afford proper care to help them get better. The unfortunate truth is that many sick or injured pets who are surrendered to veterinary practices or shelters will end up being euthanized. Though the situation may feel bleak, there are a few things you can do personally to try and help your dog.
1. Ask your vet about Payment Plans: Ask the veterinary practice you use if they have any special plans for payment. Some can work with you and take payments for care in installments. Some will even trade work or other services of value you can provide for veterinary services for your dog.
2. Ask family and friends to help: Ask family and friends if they might help you pay for your dog's medical care. You'll get the best results by letting people know you'll work out plans to pay them back over time for their generosity, either with money or traded goods or services.
3. Contact Charity Organizations: Contact animal charities in your area and see if they know of any organizations that may be able to help financially. There are organizations like Franklin's Friends and the Magic Bullet Fund who will distribute grants to pet owners whose pets need critical medical care, but they do evaluate on a case-by-case basis and funds are not guaranteed.
4. Apply for Credit: Investigate if you can get credit through your veterinarian or through credit card companies. Many times, financial companies are willing to extend you credit for the treatment of your pet, and some, like CareCredit, even offer periods of no-interest debt to allow you a reasonable amount of time to pay down your balance.
5. Sell Items of Value: You should also think about selling something of value you own, but don't need. It's a very tough situation, but inanimate things can be replaced, while your pup's life can't.
6. Create an Online Fundraiser: Create an online fund-raiser for your dog's needs. These are most successful when you can articulate clearly why none of the other options we've recommended will work, why the dog deserves the treatment, and how exactly the money will be used. Make sure to set up the fund to go directly to your veterinarian instead of yourself, and let people know you've done it this way. This will make people feel confident that you're not going to scam them and use the money for yourself. Be sure to spread it on social media and ask friends and family to help you spread the word.
7. Last resort: Ask a Rescue to help: Lastly, if you try all the other options and still can't gather the finances to help your dog, call a rescue first before surrendering your dog to a shelter. While it's not a guarantee, a rescue will do their best to help you find your dog a safe place and may be able to provide it with the care it needs to get better. This is especially true with injuries like broken legs or bones, or muscle injuries, which will heal over time. Know that if you do find a rescue that will take your dog in and care for its medical needs, you will be required to transfer ownership of your dog to them permanently before any treatments begin and your dog will be adopted out to another family after it has been treated.
8. Reason 8: My Dog is Too Old / I Want a Puppy Instead: This one breaks our heart the most. Older dogs are usually the easiest to keep. They require minimal supervision. They tend to have low exercise requirements, eat less, and sleep more than younger dogs. They tend to be more social and affectionate with people and have learned over time to be more "in tune" with humans. They are rarely destructive.
Puppies on the other hand require a ton of supervision, eat a lot, constantly destroy things, have high levels of curiosity and energy, can develop a host of problems you won't know about until you learn about them the hard way, and will cost a lot to get proper vaccinations and veterinary care their first few years of life. They may be physically cute in their young puppy stage, but that stage only lasts about 12 weeks after most people bring them home. Is 12 weeks of puppy cuteness worth the mental anguish you'll cause your older dog when you surrender them to make room for a puppy?
Understand that older dogs have spent their whole lives with their families and usually do very, very poorly when they are dropped off at shelters, because everything they've ever known and every person they've ever loved are suddenly taken away. Most older dogs do NOT do well with this sudden change and get extremely stressed. While at shelters, older dogs are more susceptible to diseases and injuries because of both their older, less resilient bodies and the physiological effects of the stress they experience.
If you have an older dog, understand it is going to be really, really hard on them if you surrender them to a shelter or rescue. If your older dog has health problems, try the advice we gave in "Reason 7: My Dog is Sick or Injured and I Can Not Pay the Vet". If you simply want a puppy, get the puppy, but keep your older dog, too. If you can't have two dogs for some reason, do right by your loyal older pup and love him/her to the end before getting the puppy. Your older dog may just be one part of your entire world, but you are the entire world to them.
Special Note: Pet Insurance
As a sidenote, if you do not have pet insurance for your dog and are able to keep him or have other dogs or plan to get another in the future, we highly recommend that you get Pet Insurance as soon as possible. Pet insurance is fairly inexpensive, can save you thousands of dollars, and can save the life of your dog. It will allow you to keep your dog and get them care versus having to surrender them or euthanize them in an injury or sickness situation you can't personally afford.
When You Have No Other Choice
If you have read through these topics in their entirety and have made every reasonable effort to keep your pup but are still unable to do so, we invite you to read our follow-up article "How to Surrender Your Dog" so you can give your dog the best chance of finding a great new home where they'll get the love and care they deserve.