Surrendering your dog: a last resort
Byron Dog Rescue occasionally finds home for dogs that can longer stay with their present owners ($50 fee) – but we urge you to consider the following before contacting us:
We are usually at full capacity rescuing dogs from the pound, and can accept very few privately surrendered dogs.
Byron Dog Rescue canot accept a dog that exhibits aggressive tendencies or has a serious illness – candidates for surrender will be subject to a prior assessment where we deem it necessary.
Byron Dog Rescue will seek to recover a proportion (depending on your situation and circumstances) of the vet costs that will be incurred before your dog can be rehomed, e.g. the costs of de-sexing, micro-chipping, vaccinations.
Byron Dog Rescue needs adequate notice to be able to take a dog into care, as we need time to arrange any assessments and vet checks and to find a foster home.
Children – new babies are demanding and often the family pet is last in line for attention. It is all in the planning and can simply be a matter of making it work for the greater good of everyone.
- Walking is one of the most enjoyable and beneficial exercises that you can do with your new bub and the dog (so long as it is trained).
- Taking a ball to an off leash park with a snack for the family and a bowl of water for the dog can be heaps of fun.
- Older children can be taught how to respect and interact with a dog safely. Remember the dog and the children rely on you for guidance and common sense. A dog can really enjoy games your kids invent. Not that the pooch will know what they are supposed to be doing, but kids are very forgiving so long as everyone is having fun.
If you do decide that your dog has to be re-homed, your best bet is to try to find a new home for your dog yourself – you know what would and would not suit your dog, what its strengths and weaknesses are.
Don’t leave it until the last minute; it can take time to find the right home.
You should ask amongst friends and acquaintances, advertise in local papers (but never advertise your dog as “free to a good home”), or take advantage of Byron Dog Rescue’s Private Adoptions listings and advertise your dog on this web-site (we cannot advertise an un-desexed dog).
Often behavioral issues are cited as the reason for surrender – badly behaved dogs are often just bored dogs. See the Safety with Humans page for tips. There is also a list of local dog trainers on the Resources page.
