Remember that your dog is a part of your family. It
should be an extreme circumstance that causes you to give up your best
friend. He/she is loyal, loving, and trusting. You owe it to your best
friend, the guardian of your home and your family, your loyal companion
to do everything possible to keep him/her in your life. YOU ARE YOUR
DOG'S ONLY FAMILY!
If you decide you must go through with it, do begin this
search as soon as possible. It will take a while to find the perfect
family for your dog. DO NOT WAIT until the last minute to begin your
search; suitable homes are not easily found.
Here are a few suggestions for finding that perfect
family for your special furry friend:
Place a classified ad in one of Oahu's major newspapers:
Star Bulletin or
Honolulu Advertiser. Also
check into your local neighborhood and military papers.
Use online resources such as Craig's List (http://honolulu.craigslist.org/)
or Yahoo (http://classifieds.yahoo.com/)
Post a flyer in several locations, including vet
offices, pet stores, and on neighborhood bulletin boards.
Ask everyone you know to help you!
Hawaii Dog Foundation will email information about your
dog to all of its members at no charge. Please email us
(Info@HawaiiDogFoundation.org)
and include a photo and some information about your dog, such as gender,
breed, temperament, if neutered, age, size, and any other pertinent
information, including a phone number where people can reach you. We'll
send this information to our 120+ members.
Use the
Hawaiian Humane Society's
Consignment Program. For a fee (if your dog passes their aggression
test) your dog will be shown in their kennels. If your dog doesn't get
adopted, they will call you. If you use this option be sure to tell them
you want them to call you if he/she doesn't get adopted. If you just
drop your dog off there is no guarantee the dog will find a new home and
may be euthanized.
Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions when someone
inquires about your dog. Ask them if they've every owned a dog before;
what happened to that dog; how long your dog will be left alone; what
they would do if they could no longer keep your dog; if the dog would
live in the house or outdoors. If they truly care about dogs they will
not mind answering these questions. The most important thing: go with
your gut! If you feel the situation is not right, you're most likely
correct. Remember, you owe it to your dog to do EVERYTHING possible to
make sure they'll be happy and well cared for in their new home.
