If you ultimately decide that you cannot keep your pet, you have several options. Your best resource is your local animal shelter. Most shelters screen potential adopters to make sure that they will be able to provide a safe, responsible, and loving home for your pet. If you have a dog of a specific breed, there may be a breed rescue organization in your area that will accept him and work to find him a new home. Purebred rescue groups are usually run by people with in-depth knowledge of a specific breed.
Rescue groups keep adoptable animals until they can be placed in loving, permanent homes.
To locate a rescue group that specializes in your dog's breed, contact your local animal shelter, check the classifieds section of the newspaper, or search the Internet. In some cases, breed rescues only work with animal shelters and may not accept pets directly from owners. Be sure to find out as much as you can about the rescue group, and always carefully screen a breed rescue organization before relinquishing your pet. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If you decide to try to find a new home for your pet yourself, rather than relying upon a local animal shelter or rescue organization, be sure the animal's best interests remain your top priority.