Re-Homing

Re-Homing a Pet

An alternative to bringing a pet to a shelter is to have people work to find a new home for their pet. We encourage this, and to help we have a site where you can post an ad for your pet online. See Steps to Re-Home a Pet below.

Giving up an animal is a serious decision. If you are considering this, please contact us for help before you bring us your pet. We can suggest training, offer behavioral advice and cite options for pet friendly housing, or maybe help you and your pet in another way. We also offer these brochures: re-homing, re-homing exotic pets, and kittens and puppies. Please exhaust all other options before coming to us.

If you decide to surrender your pet, you need to call the adoption center at 410-235-8826, ext. 100, to set up an appointment. Please bring a valid photo ID and all veterinary records for your pet with you to your appointment. There is a $25 fee to surrender a pet. Note: The Maryland SPCA does not accept personal checks for surrender fees. We are a charity, and the fee helps cover our costs. Once you decide to turn over your pet, it is a final decision and we ask that you do not call for updates.

Groundwork

Plan to devote some time to re-homing your pet. It can take a while to find a good home. People like healthy animals that are already spayed or neutered. Take your pet to a veterinarian and save the records.

Reaching Out

Friends and family are the number one way pets find new homes. Contact everyone!
Place an ad in the local newspapers. Many people read them, and many ads are FREE!
Prepare a flyer/handout about the pet and include:
- Appearance, size and age – consider using a good photo.
- Describe his/her nature and what you like about him/her.
- Describe your pet’s health status (see Groundwork above!).
- Put your name and phone number and a time for people to reach you.
- Make it fun. For example: Felix is a fun 3-year-old tabby looking for a sunny window to sit in. He is good with other cats and dogs. I must give him up for adoption because I am moving into a retirement home. Please call XXX-XXXX after 8:00PM.

Posting Your Pet Online

You can post your pet for re-homing on our Available Pets site. To use this service, first apply for a login. Once you are logged in, go to the Post a Pet for Re-Homing Form and fill in the information requested. Remember the more information you provide during this process, the better the match is likely to be between your pet and a new owner. You can upload a digital photo of your pet, but the photo must be a low resolution JPEG. If your photo won’t load, it’s probably too large. Try photos under 100K.

In most cases, the SPCA will review your application to post your pet within 48 hours. If there are questions or concerns about your pet, the SPCA will contact you. Otherwise, you will receive an email that your pet has been verified, and your pet will be posted for the public to see. Once posted, wait for emails or phone calls from people interested in adopting your pet.

In order to keep the site up-to-date and fresh, each animal you post for re-homing will be removed from display after 14 days. To repost your pet for display: login, click on My Animals and then click on Display Animal to reactivate your pet’s record. You can also remove your pet at any time. To remove your pet from display: login, click on My Animals and then click on Remove Animal.

Screening the People

You care that the pet makes it to a good, permanent home, so now you must “screen” the people who contact you. Asking some key questions will help with this, but be sure you have a conversation with the person and not an “interview” because you will get more from the exchange! Here are some questions to ask:

Is this pet for you or someone else?
Is it okay to have pets in your home/apartment/condo?
Have you had pets before? If so, why are you interested in taking ________?
Do you have any children?
Are you willing to have me visit your home?
Will the pet be supervised outside?

Meeting the People

You can meet people at their place or have them come to your home, but the safest way is to meet in a neutral spot. Bring the pet with you. What you want is to see:

How the person interacts with your pet.
Did they bring additional people (kids)? Is everyone there who needs to be?
Ask additional questions – be sure they aren’t going to sell your pet!
If you aren’t okay with the interaction, feel pressured or have doubts, don’t proceed! Continue looking for someone else.

Completing the Re-Homing

Once you have selected a new home for your pet, then prepare the pet and gather materials for the new owner. Meet at an agreed-upon time and place to give your pet to the new owner. You are giving up ownership rights, so be sure.

Provide the person with all veterinary records.
Take toys, beds, food, medications, etc. so the pet has these for comfort.
Get the person’s contact information so you can obtain an update, if you like.
Provide the person with any behavioral information she or he will need.
Document that you transferred ownership and materials.

If you don’t have anyone step up who wants to be the new love of your pet’s life, DO NOT abandon your pet in the woods, or parking lot or anywhere. This can lead to horrific outcomes. Surrender him or her to the SPCA.

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