After your dog is spayed or neutered, had its physical, and brushed up on its manners, it’s time to start searching for superowner. Where can you find a fabulous family or a super single who just happens to want a dog? And how will you know if they are the right people for your Spot or Princess?
Contact the Breeder
If Spot was purchased from a breeder, contact that person first when you have to place him. Many dedicated breeders accept their “puppies” back no matter how old they are, or may have a waiting list of families looking for a nice adult dog.
Finding a 4-H Family
If Spot adores young people, your local 4-H club is a good place to start searching for superowner. The children and teenagers who participate in 4-H dog projects learn daily dog care and the fundamentals of training, and soon become responsible dog owners and effective trainers. In addition, some projects offer a variety of activities, such as Obedience, Junior Showmanship, Agility, and the Canine Good Citizen program. Parents of 4-H kids are generally both proud and supportive, so a home with a 4-H family may be an ideal placement for Spot. Most 4-H dog project members already have a dog, but sometimes a child’s dog dies due to age or illness and the parents don’t want to start over with a puppy. The offer of a mature, settled dog might just save the day.
To locate your local Dog Project Leader, call your state Extension Service or simply 4-H. One or the other is listed under County Government Agencies in most phone books. The Extension Service can put you in touch with the 4-H Dog Project Leader, if there is one in your area. Tell the Leader all about Spot—his breed, age, health record, training or lack of training, and his idiosyncrasies. Depending on age, strength, and years of experience with dogs, some children need a dog that is extremely easy to handle, while others need an exceptionally active dog to keep their interest high. If the 4-H Leader knows of a child in need of a dog like Spot, he or she can put you in contact with each other. No matter how much you want to make this match, meet the family and ask all the right questions (which appear further down in this article) before sending Spot off on his second start.
Networking
Networking works best when searching for superowner. To begin networking, always tell your veterinarian that Spot is available, and don’t forget to mention it to the receptionist and staff. No one knows more about who takes good care of their dog, and who needs a dog, than the people at your veterinary hospital. Also, tell your relatives and friends that you’re willing to place Spot in a good home, and let those people pass the word if they happen to hear of a nice family looking for a dog. That’s how Dave and Kimberly Richard of Pheasant Run Kennels do it.
Kimberly explains, “We are emotionally attached to all our dogs so it’s difficult to place one of our family in a new home. We are very particular and cautious in this process and never advertise a dog as ‘free to a good home’ or sell it at a significantly reduced price. Instead, we network through our friends and relatives for potential adoptive families. Our standards are high and we interview the entire family, usually twice, and visit the future home to verify the living conditions. Once we are convinced and in total agreement, we give the new family time to make preparations for a smooth and pleasant transition— not only for them, but for the dog. Meanwhile, we prepare a contract between both parties stipulating the conditions necessary for this transaction. The contract is notarized after it’s signed, and each party gets a copy. Thus, the dog is adopted, not purchased. Although every item in the contract is important, I consider item number three paramount. Simply put, it says the dog must be returned to us if the adoptive family no longer wants it.”
Advertising
If you decide to put your dog up for adoption, be cautious and follow the terms of service and recommendations emails sent to you by Rescue Me when you post a pet. It’s especially important that your dog be spayed or neutered before your post appears. In fact, make that part of your ad. Many unscrupulous people, pretending they want a pet, purchase registered purebreds cheap through newspaper ads and use them for breeding, over and over again. The dogs are treated as disposable property and live in tiny, filthy cages without love, attention, exercise, or medical care. Honest breeders call these horrid facilities “puppy mills,” and try very hard to make sure no puppy they produce ever ends up in one. Spaying or neutering your dog guarantees it will never be adopted by the owner of a puppy mill. Other pretenders may also know all the “right” answers to your screening questions, but actually collect cheap or free dogs and sell them to a laboratory for experimentation purposes. This practice isn’t as prevalent as in the past, because today many of the major labs raise their own stock, but it still occurs often enough that you should be aware of it.
Animal Shelters
Because there is never enough space to accommodate all the unwanted dogs, most shelters have to euthanize dogs a week or two after they arrive in order to make room for the constant influx of new ones. However, there are no-kill shelters in many communities, so if you must get rid of Spot so fast you don’t have time to network, call every shelter or humane organization in your area (and surrounding cities if need be) until you find a no-kill facility that has room for him. If you must find a new home for Spot right away, see the Emergency Placement article for more information, and also be sure to click the Find Home for Pet link at top of this page.
Asking Questions that Count
No matter where you search for superowner, your initial contact will probably be by telephone. After the introductions, work some of these questions into your conversation. They will help you learn about the prospective owner’s attitude toward dogs in general, and Spot’s breed in particular:
- Have you ever had a dog(s) before? How many? What happened to it (them)? Who is your veterinarian?
People who have had a dog before know what they are getting into. But beware if they appear to have had too many dogs in a relatively short period of time. Did the dogs get run over because this person’s idea of exercising a dog is opening the door and allowing it to roam? Did the dogs die of diseases that should have been prevented through annual vaccinations? Do the prospective owners know their veterinarian’s name? If not, and they had a dog recently, doesn’t that strike you as odd?
If Spot’s potential new owners never had a dog before, that certainly shouldn’t disqualify them. After all, didn’t you prepare Spot for life as a house dog? He may be the best thing that could possibly happen to a novice dog owner, and the new owner may be thoroughly captivated by him. - Why do you want a dog of Spot’s breed? Is there something you especially like about the breed? Will Spot have a special job? If so, what will it be? Have you ever had a Rottweiler (or whatever breed Spot is) before? What did you and that dog enjoy doing together? What other pets do you have now?
These questions will help you decide if the prospective owner wants a dog like Spot for the right reasons, and if their concept of his canine career is humane and compatible with his abilities. Look for people who like Spot’s personality traits, not just his looks. For example, if Spot is a Poodle, and someone says they want him because they fell in love with the Poodle they saw on a televised dog show, they should be told that few pet Poodles have show coats because maintaining such a coat demands skill and a major investment of time. Or, if Spot is a Rottweiler, and someone says they like the breed because it’s tough enough to stop the scum that steals from their junkyard, look further for a new owner. If Spot is starting to slow down, and the prospective owner wants to train him for Agility competition, the match already has a strike against it. But if Spot loves to hunt, and the prospective owner is a hunter, this match may have a lot going for it.
If the person had a dog of Spot’s breed before, that’s good. If they have trouble remembering what activities they enjoyed with their dog (cuddling and petting counts as an activity), that’s bad, and sad.
If the family has other pets, let them know how Spot will probably react to them. If he chases cats, hunts rabbits, or goes berserk at the sight of a bird, tell them. That doesn’t mean the adoption is off, but it does mean that adjustments will have to be made at first or the consequences could be tragic. - Where will you keep Spot during the day? Where will he sleep at night? How many hours a day will lie usually be home alone?
Chained to a tree, or confined to the yard twenty-four hours a day, is not the royal retirement you want for your Spot. But there’s nothing wrong with putting him outside for part of the day provided he has a fenced yard, shade, water, and shelter. If Spot stays in the house (or his crate) all day, will someone be home at reasonable intervals to take him outside to relieve himself? Who gets home first, the children or the parents? If it’s the kids, are they mature enough to handle Spot and can they be counted on to take him for a walk right away—before heading for the telephone, television, computer, or refrigerator? - Do you have children? How old are they? Do they want a dog? What kind of dog do they want? Who will be responsible for Spot’s daily care?
If Spot loves children, then a family with kids could be ideal. But sometimes kids are at odds with their parents or with each other about what kind of dog to get. If Bobby wants a Boxer and Kathy wants a Dachshund and the family adopts a Dachshund, it’s possible that Bobby will never learn to like the dog and might even take out his frustration on it. Children don’t hide their contempt well, so if there’s a problem you will see it when the entire family comes to meet Spot.
Some parents believe that having a dog will teach their children responsibility. If you hear that the children will be in charge of Spot’s daily care, educate the parents. They need to know that most children can’t wait to do dog chores when the dog is new, but begin making excuses in just a few weeks. There are exceptions, of course. Kids who belong to 4-H, for example, are often more responsible and knowledgeable about animal husbandry than their parents are. But no matter how dedicated the child, a family should get a dog only if one parent is willing to assume overall responsibility. Certainly dog chores can be shared, but if an adult fails to act as overseer, it’s often the dog that suffers. And while you’re on the subject, tell the family how important it is that Spot be allowed to relieve himself on schedule. If they forget when he needs to be walked, he’ll soon forget about being housebroken. - Have you ever trained a dog? Would you be willing to learn training skills by attending obedience classes? Do you have a fenced yard? How do you plan to housebreak Spot (or maintain his good house manners)? If Spot made a mistake by going potty in the house, what would you do? How will Spot get his exercise, and where will he be expected to go potty?
Successfully training a previous dog or planning to attend obedience classes are real plusses. So is having a fenced yard. Use the other questions to make sure the prospective owners understand the basics of crate training and how it aids housebreaking. These questions also give you an opportunity to discuss the importance of schedules and make sure the prospective owners won’t overreact to a mistake or use cruel or unsuitable methods of correction. - Who will do major grooming, such as bathing and clipping (if applicable)?
Does Spot need to be professionally groomed every six weeks or so? The prospective owners need to know that. This question can also lead into a discussion of coat care. If Spot is a profusely-coated dog, explain the importance of combing or brushing him thoroughly from the skin out. This isn’t child’s play, but 4-H trained kids may handle it beautifully.
Besides these general questions, add your own breed-specific ones. For example, if Spot is a breed that needs more exercise than most, or can’t handle much heat, or might drown in a swimming pool, use questions to start a discussion that educates potential owners about his idiosyncrasies.
Meeting in Person
If the conversation goes well, and you believe the person or family may be just what you wanted for Spot, invite them over to meet him.
One negative family member can sabotage a successful adoption, so when placing Spot, make sure every member of the new family meets him and likes him. At the same time, watch Spot’s reaction to them. Chemistry counts in successful matchmaking. If your instincts say something is wrong, believe them, and look for a different placement for Spot. You may want to visit the prospective owner’s home before placing Spot. If it will reassure you, do it. And if you are the type of person who has a hard time saying “No,” keep everything tentative, from the phone interview to the visits.
