How Do I Surrender My Australian Cattle Dog?

If you’re asking, “How do I surrender my Australian Cattle dog,” that likely means you’ve decided you can no longer keep your pet. If you’re struggling with that decision, we urge you to talk to your vet, a trainer, or other experts to work on solutions that would allow you to keep your dog. If keeping your pet isn’t an option, surrendering them to a shelter takes a few steps.

Typically you have to make an appointment that involves an interview with an intake officer, paying a surrender fee, and signing over the rights to your Australian Cattle dog. Remember, once you hand over your pet, you no longer have a say in what happens to them, so researching the shelter ahead of time is important.

Will My Australian Cattle Dog Find a New Home?

Your dog may find a loving home, or they may not. What happens depends on several factors, such as the shelter’s policies and your dog’s temperament. Researching the shelter before you surrender your dog may give you some peace of mind as save rates are legacy information and easy to find.

If you find the shelter has a low save rate, you may want to rethink surrendering your Australian Cattle Dog there. Even in shelters with excellent save rates, there is always a chance your dog may not find a home. Some pets have a hard time in a shelter environment. Stress and anxiety could make it difficult for them to connect with a potential adopter. Shelter workers do their best to find loving homes for every animal in their care, but the sad truth is it’s not always possible.

I Can’t Keep My Dog, But Is There Another Way?

If the idea of leaving your dog’s fate in someone else’s hands is more than you can bear, you’ll be happy to know there are other options. One option would be finding a breed-specific rescue. If you can find a reputable Australian Cattle Dog rescue that has space and agrees to take your dog, you can have peace of mind knowing that they will keep your dog indefinitely, no matter how long it takes to find them the right home. In the meantime, the dogs in rescues typically live in loving foster homes, making the experience more comfortable.

Another option is to rehome your dog yourself. Rehoming on your own might seem intimidating, but there is plenty of help and advice available online. Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet is a great resource to help you find and vet potential adopters. You’ll find tips from experts and useful tools, such as the ability to create a pet profile, connect with potential adopters, and more.

While rehoming the dog yourself may take more time, it’s well worth it knowing you were able to find your Australian Cattle Dog the perfect home!