|
|
Many thanks to the nice folks at DownCity for sponsoring this site.
Need to give up your dog?
Whenever possible, DAWS will help private owners find a new home for their dog if they feel they need to give up their pet. Please read the following page in its entirety to learn how we are able to help you. We provide assistance to the community as our volunteer, physical, and financial resources permit as well as meeting the following guidelines:
First, we need to advise you that the decision to give up your dog is not one that should be taken lightly. We have an epidemic in our community which is a lack of commitment to our pets. Some sources estimate that only 1 out of every 10 dogs has a home for life. When you took on ownership of your pet, you made an implicit promise to take care of it for its lifetime. If you decide to move, it is your responsibility to find a place that will let you bring your pet. It is not impossible to find rental situations where you can keep your dog. Whether or not you can bring your pet should be the first question you ask a potential landlord. If you have allergies, we can recommend some products and procedures to help you deal with the problem. If your pet has behavioral problems, it is your responsibility to contact a trainer or behaviorist (we can help) to work on the issues. If you are not willing to deal with the issue for your own pet, how likely do you think it is that an adopter will want to take on someone else's problem?
Please realize that if you have an aggressive, territorial or dangerous animal, we will not be able to place this pet. If your dog is aggressive, it is your responsibility to find a behaviorist or trainer to help you with the problem, or ultimately put the dog to sleep if you cannnot correct the behavior after seeking professional help. It is not fair to dump the dog with a Pound or shelter to be euthanized among strangers, and it is unconscionable to try to adopt your dangerous dog to another family.
If you feel that due to your circumstances, your only option is to find another home for your pet, you may contact DAWS by emailing daws@daws.org. We will discuss the situation with you and ask you to answer some questions about the dog. If we feel we can help you find a new home for the dog, we generally follow this procedure:
- Our Dog Program Chairperson will schedule an appointment for you and your dog to come to the shelter for an evaluation. Our training director will meet the dog and assess his/her behavior and temperament. If our trainerfeels that DAWS can safely rehome your dog and kennel space is available, then you may surrender the dog. You will be asked to sign a Surrender Agreement that documents that are relinquishing your ownership rights to the dog. Also, a Dog Profile Questionairre must be completed, which is a series of questions about the dog. This information helps us to properly match the dog with a new family.
- At the time of surrrender, DAWS requires copies of the most recent vet records that show proof of current vaccines and spay/neuter. A surrender donation of $100 is requested. If your dog is not spayed or neutered, then DAWS requests a $150 donation to cover medical costs of surgery. All dogs must be altered before adoption. This donation helps us defray costs that we will incur in helping to rehome your dog for you.
- If DAWS' kennel is full and cannot accept your pet immediately, you may be placed on a waiting list and/or given information for other area shelters to contact.
We also offer a courtesy postings page on our dog adoption pages. We are willing to post your dog's picture and a short description for you. We list your contact information and people can contact you directly so that you may place the dog into a new home yourself instead of surrendering it to a shelter.
To the best of our abilities, we are willing to help pet owners in our community that, due to emergencies or tragic circumstances, find it necessary to rehome their pets. If your reasons for relinquishing your dog do not fall into either of those categories, please investigate other options and call us for advice before making your final decision that you need to give up your pet.
[Home] [Services] [Pet Adoptions] [Calendar of Events] [How You Can Help] [Newsletter] [Pet Tips] [Contact Us] [Links]
The Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Inc. , P.O. Box 971, Danbury, CT 06813