Help! I need to rehome my pet

Are you experiencing a crisis situation and need support caring for your pet due to domestic violence, homelessness, financial difficulties, aged care support or emergency hospitalisation? Find out more about the crisis care options that may be able to help you and your pet through this difficult time.

Don't take rental property ads literally when they state ‘no pets’. Often landlords will consider pets if you approach them directly or find a real estate agent that will help you.

To give yourself a better chance of securing a rental, prepare a Pet CV, including a record of your pet's medical history, training certificates and references from neighbours, previous landlords and veterinarians.

Offer to sign an agreement to define appropriate behaviour for your pet on the rental premises. Encourage the owner/landlord to meet your well-behaved, well-groomed flea-free pet – meeting your furry housemate might just clinch the deal.

Rental laws by state

Tips for tenants

House hunting tips

How to add pets to your rental application on Realestate.com.au

Are you moving or relocating? Don’t lose hope! With a little prep and training, it’s possible to make travel stress-free and comfortable for your pet.

Taking dogs on road trips

Taking cats on road trips

VetWest - Air Travel tips

Tips for flying with cats

Travelling with a flat-faced dog

While pets do require your time and attention, there are other ways to keep them entertained and enriched.

Find someone who can spend time with them.

Walking your dog is good exercise and great for your mental health, but if you’re unable to find the time, there are some inexpensive dog walking and pet minding services that can assist. You can find someone to come and walk or spend time with your pet via services such as Pawshake or Madpaws, ask family or friends, or even ask on your local social pages or noticeboards for a pet lover with free time.

My dog or cat is bored/destructive

When a pet is bored they will find their own entertainment! Enrichment is beneficial for both dogs and cats and can be anything from puzzle toys, games to encourage smell, socialising, training and more. Setting aside a few minutes each day to make their time spent without you more interesting can make a big difference to their behaviour.

Here are a few resources to learn more about pet enrichment:

Cats

Essentials for Indoor Cat Happiness - Jackson Galaxy

Enrichment ideas for your cat

My cat is spraying

Managing stress & anxiety in cats

Five easy ways to ensure you have a happy and healthy cat

Dogs

Enrichment ideas for your dog

Do you know why dogs dig

Barking

Separation anxiety tips

How to tell if your dog is anxious

My dog keeps escaping

Or, Google ‘pet enrichment ideas’ and you’ll find plenty of inspiration.

Find more pet owner support in the PetRescue library.

Take them to work

Did you know some pets adapt well to offices or shared workspaces? It could be worth asking your team or manager to bring your pet for workplace hangs! Having a pet around isn’t just a good de-stressor for everyone in the office but also boosts morale and keeps employees happy and motivated. For some inspiration, check out the story of greyhound Hildy, who was fostered as an office dog for FBi radio as part of PetRescue’s Workplace Foster Care Program.

Get them a friend

Nothing beats a “paw-tner-in-crime”! Adopting another pet can help keep your pet entertained and prevent any destructive behaviour that may come with spending long hours by themselves. Having a friend can also ease any separation issues or stress your dog may have when you’re away. Start your search on PetRescue!

Behaviour problems could stem from various experiences or not being exposed to specific experiences.

Just like humans, pets have their own quirks and challenges and getting the right support can help you understand change or manage their behaviour.

Training is unregulated in Australia so it's important to get advice from a qualified expert experienced in solving the problems you and your pet are facing. A qualified behavioural trainer can make the difference between rehoming and keeping your pet.

When introduced correctly, there shouldn't be any problems with your pet and new baby. Here are some valuable resources on bringing a baby into a home with pets.

Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant - by Dr Lewis Kirkham

Cats and Bubs - Tips from Dr Katrina Warren

Introducing Your Newborn Babies to Your Pets

Although PetRescue doesn’t assist directly with veterinary bills or similar expenses. The options below may be of assistance:

RSPCA - I can’t afford vet fees

VetPay offers loans to help with vet bills - they're a private company, so of course, check out the terms and conditions, but many people have used them, and most vets work with them.

GoFundMe has a great blog post that lists many organisations around the country dedicated to helping pet owners with vet bills. You could also set up a GoFundMe for yourself - people love animals and are often very happy to donate to help!

Additional organisations that may be able to help:

Cherished Pets Foundation(VIC)

Sunset Pets Benevolent Fund(QLD)

ACT Pet Crisis Support (ACT)

SafePetsSafeFamilies Vet Crisis Fund(SA)

Hope Springs Eternal Dog Rescue & Rehoming - Living Ruff SA(SA)

Paws Darwin Community Vet (NT)

Perth Vet Bill Assistance(WA)

Hobart Community Vet Clinic (TAS)

Allergies can be tricky, as there is so much variation between individuals (both in humans and even between pets of low-allergenic breeds!). The allergy can be in response to fur, dander, or the proteins in pet saliva, and all of these can vary in individual dogs or cats of the same breed.

There are some wonderful products on the market that will help keep you allergy-free, so surrendering your pet doesn't need to be your only option (but it may be a last resort). It certainly shouldn’t be your GP's first recommendation.

Look for a GP who will be sensitive to your feelings and do everything possible, to help you keep your pet and stay healthy.

Sometimes the best way to help urban stray cats and kittens is to leave them in their outdoor homes. Read more:

80,000 cats are being killed in pounds in every year

Help, I’ve found an urban stray cat!

Help, I’m caring for a stray cat family

If you can continue caring for your pet for four or more weeks, you may be eligible for our Home2Home program.

Home2Home gets your pet in front of 30,000 potential adopters each day. You will have peace of mind knowing your pet is at home with you whilst you find the right home and meet potential adopters.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOME2HOME

See what pet owners are saying about Home2Home here.

Shelters and rescues often have a waiting list of people needing to surrender their pets. This can vary from days to weeks. Make sure you ask for information on the shelter or rescues rehoming process when surrendering a pet. Some pounds do not offer rehoming programs and may kill pets on intake. So when contacting a pound or shelter, it’s essential to ask if they have a no-kill policy.

You can use our Rescue Directory to contact rescues and shelters in your area who may be able to assist. Some veterinary clinics can also be a great support in rehoming a pet.

Here are some questions to ask before surrendering your pet:

• What happens to my pet if they are not rehomed?
• Will my pet be housed in a kennel or in foster care? If your pet suffers from anxiety, it would probably be best suited to a foster care environment.
• How will my pet be cared for? Such as how often will they be fed, walked, socialised, and have human interaction?
• (If your pet has behavioural problems) What measures will you take to address the behavioural issues and find a suitable home?