Rehoming Is An Act of Love

July 12, 2023: Episode 107

Animals are rehomed for various reasons. People move into hospice or assisted living facilities. People pass on. Life circumstances change. Perhaps a new divorcee moved from a house into an apartment where pets aren't permitted. Some people take jobs where continuous travel is required & having a pet isn't feasible. Other people become incapacitated & can no longer provide proper care for pets. Perhaps the pet has medical needs that are outside of the person's financial ability. Parents may have discovered that their newborn child has severe allergies to the pets. People experience physical & mental changes whereas they may no longer adequately care for their animals. Some people find abandoned or lost animals & are unable to find any original owners. A person may suffer from addiction. A family may have recently blended, & various species may not get along. Life events may require the person to choose between their animal & another loved one. For example, a family member suddenly requires round the clock care services. Other reasons may be safety related, such as animal aggression, bites, etc. Sometimes, the pet parents don't have the time, energy or desire to care for the animals. We recommend researching breeds prior to adopting a pet. However, this info doesn't portray the entire picture, as personality, behaviors etc. can't be predicted.

REHOMING AN ANIMAL, IN MY OPINION, IS AN ACT OF LOVE. Before you jump on me, please consider that many animals are abandoned on the streets. People have delivered their pets to alleys, dumpsters, etc. & driven off. Yes, abandonment is unethical & illegal. Yet it still happens. People abandon humans as well. Other animals are intentionally left at their boarding or daycare facilities. We've heard accounts from boarders about animals being dropped off & abandoned. Some shelters have received animals when the pet parents couldn't secure pet sitters during their vacation dates. PETS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE & SHOULD NEVER BE TREATED AS SUCH. IN ALL HONESTY, WE ARE BEYOND LUCKY TO BE IN THE POSITION TO EXCHANGE LOVE WITH ANIMALS.

One of our family rescues is a sweet husky whose original family (according to the shelter) got tired of retrieving her after the multiple times that she escaped. This is where breed specific research comes in. Other animals stay in the homes that may not be able to provide proper care. Given this information, I see the love that goes into rehoming. I hope you are open to seeing it also.

The pet parent who rehomes; or attempts to rehome their pet; has recognized that the animal may be provided more time, affection, attention, love, exercise, mental stimulus, etc. elsewhere. THIS IS NOT A DECSION TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, AS ANIMALS SHOULD BE TREATED AS VALUED & TREASURED FAMILY MEMBERS. However, we are all aware that life events take place, often without warning. We absolutely hope that much consideration was put into the decision-making process.

I am here to ask that people STOP SHAMING THOSE WHO ARE REHOMING THEIR ANIMALS. We've all made difficult decisions in our lives. We've all been in challenging positions. Please show some grace to our fellow humans / animal lovers.

In my opinion, only people who are attempting to help should question this person. If you have rescue organization information, share it. If you're in the market to adopt, inquire about vaccine status, bite history, socialization, training, neuter / spay status, et cetera. If you are unable or unwilling to help, don't attack this person. Don't shame or harass them. They are most likely upset about the circumstance of their situation, & very possibly are saying goodbye to a soul who they dearly love.

It is also my opinion that we should limit our questioning. We should question whether or not the rehoming is related to the animal. For example, was someone bitten? Is the animal medically compromised? If the pet parent isn't able to fund the treatments, perhaps funds can be raised & the family can stay intact. Does the animal have behavioral concerns that might be minimized or alleviated through training? If, & only if, the home is safe, secure, stable & loving, we should attempt to keep the family together. Otherwise, attempt to find a loving home. IF THE REHOMING CIRCUMSTANCE ISN'T RELATED TO THE ANIMAL, IT'S NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.

Stop shaming these people! Stop third degreeing them. Don't treat them as if they're on trial. Other people observe this treatment, & may decide to seek other options. How would you, as an animal lover, feel if you discovered that the shaming actually contributed to a decrease in rehoming, but an increase in animals being abandoned? What if you took part in this shaming? What if the animals remained in a home that wasn't safe or suitable? Of course, I'm not stating that this will happen, or could happen. I don't have the statistical data nor the time to invest in acquiring it. I simply want people to realize that their actions, & words, have consequences.

If we had the space, time, energy & resources to adopt these creatures, we certainly would. Many people feel the same way. Until we have a utopia such as this, please be kind to one another. IF WE'RE ALL ANIMAL LOVERS, THEN WE ALL HAVE THE SAME MISSION. WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM: TEAM ANIMAL SAFETY / HAPPINESS. PLEASE TREAT YOUR TEAMMATES WITH RESPECT & DIGNITY .

Nakala Matthews, Teammate