We frequently receive inquries from people who feel they can no longer keep their pit bull, and are looking to re-home them. HugABull does not accept owner surrenders, but we can provide support and resources to help owners through this difficult time.

Most owner surrender cases come down to two problems: the owner or the dog. Sometimes getting a little professional help and understanding can make a stressful situation become workable again. However, if surrender is inevitable we can provide advice about options and pit bull friendly shelters.

If you are considering re-homing your pit bulls, consider the following:

Pit bulls do not do well in shelters. Pit bulls have low adoption rates simply because of their breed, and are sometimes automatically euthanized. Read this page  for more information. If shelter surrender is necessary, contact HugABull and we can direct you to one that will be most likely to give your pit bull a fair chance.

Will your dog find the right home? Even if your dog is put up for adoption, there are no guarantees where it will end up. Your dog will spend at least a couple of weeks alone in a kennel environment – and most likely longer due to slow adoption rates for pit bulls. Shelter staff do their best to screen applicants, but they are busy facilities and cannot ensure a perfect owner.

Who is going to want your dog? When people come to a shelter, they are going to gravitate towards the friendliest, best behaved, and cutest dog in the facility. If your dog is older, has any behaviour or health issues, or isn’t flashy looking, it’s time in the shelter will be longer. Add to that the pit bull stigma and you can count on your dog being passed by over and over again.

Don’t count on “no kill.” Kill rates vary wildly from shelter to shelter. Some have low kill rates and work hard to adopt out less adoptable dogs, but there are only one or two in the province that are truly “no kill.” And nothing guarantees that a “no kill” shelter is a great place to be for the months (or years) it takes for a less adoptable dog to find a home. The fact is that most shelters euthanize dogs, and when facilities are crowded it is the less adoptable dogs that are put to sleep first.

Who can help my dog?

You can. Here are some steps to take if you must re-home your dog.

Buy your dog some time. If you are willing to keep your dog until a suitable home becomes available, you will save your dog from the stress and uncertainty of the shelter system. Even if your home isn’t the dog’s forever home, he will do much better in a familiar environment while you search for the right fit.

Exhaust all your known options. Talk to your friends, family, colleagues, co-workers, vet, groomer, dog trainer or anyone who “may know someone” willing to adopt your dog who can provide a responsible, caring home. Networking extensively is often the key to finding your dog a good home. If your dog comes from a breeder, contact them first: a responsible breeder should take back any dog they sold.

Make your dog more adoptable. If you were a stranger, looking at your dog for the first time, what would you think of it? Most adopters want “ready made” dogs and there are plenty homeless dogs to choose from, so do all you can to make your dog stand out.

Take your dog to a vet and get all their records updated including shots, flea care, deworming etc. If your dog is not spayed/neutered, get that done as well! Adopters who want an intact rescue dog do not have the dog’s best interest at heart, and a neutered dog is less attractive to dog fighters, puppy mill operators, or others who may want your dog for the wrong purpose. Call in a trainer to evaluate any serious issues, and don’t give up on your training regimen.

Make an “honest” list. All dogs have pros and cons. What are your dog’s strengths and weaknesses? What kind of home would your dog fit best in? Be honest about your dog to potential adopters – making your dog out to be something it’s not, will mean it comes back to you, ends up in a shelter, or is euthanized. The most successful adoptions come from honesty, and from both parties knowing what they’re getting.

Marketing your dog
Spread the word as widely as possible. Make up bright coloured posters which catch the eye, with a good quality, cute photo of your dog (use a colourful blanket or toy to attract interest). Distribute them everywhere: vet, pet stores, grooming shops, the neighborhood café poster boards, the community centre and anywhere else you might catch the right person’s eye.

Run a well-worded ad in the local paper. Specifically state that you want breed experience and a personal reference, and would like to do a home visit – that should discourage any adopters whose motives are questionable. A simple, effective ad could read, “Pit bull, brown, medium sized, neutered, seeks loving home. Friendly, likes swimming and cookies, but no cats. References and home check required. $75 adoption fee. Karen 604-555-1234.”

Don’t offer to give away your dog for free. Free dogs attract the wrong kinds of homes – someone who won’t invest in a reasonable adoption fee is generally unlikely to pay for vet care, quality food, or other costs down the road. If you are uncomfortable charging an adoption fee, consider donating the fee to an animal charity or rescue group.

Screening a potential owner
Ask the right questions, and ask some open questions to encourage people to talk freely. Feel free to use our adoption application on our site as a reference guide for suggested questions. Some examples:

- Do they have any experience with this breed, or have they done any research? You’d be surprised how people answer this – ensure they understand the loving, family nature of the pit bull and are not looking for a guard or yard dog.

- Do they rent or own their home? If they’re renters, ask for the landlord’s phone number to confirm they’re even allowed to get a dog, and if there are any breed restrictions.

- Does the caller have children, other pets, lots of visitors, other animals over to their house? You know your dog best and can evaluate whether this will be a good environment for her.

- Why do they want a dog? Why are they interested in a pit bull? Everyone’s reasons are different and this may give you some insight into their motivation.

- Ask about their past history with pets. Have they given pets away before, bred them, etc. If they did have pets, ask them what problems they encountered and how they solved it, to ensure they have the commitment to work through normal dog issues (housetraining, separation anxiety, manners).

- Where will the dog spend most of its time, and where will it be when the owner isn’t home?

The “meet and greeet”
Once you have an applicant that sounds promising, have them meet the dog in person – in your home or in a quiet, neutral space like a park. One of the biggest indicators in compatibility is how they approach and interact with your dog (do they pet it, act a bit standoffish, tell them to “get down, sit down” constantly? Does one person seem to be into the dog, and the other not?).

• Do they ask you questions, or are they just trying to hand you some money and go?
• If they have another dog, ask them to leave it outside or in the car at first. After the applicants have met you dog, you can introduce the new dog through a calm walk on neutral territory.
• If they have children, have them come along. Ensure that the parents understand and teach their children about proper interactions with the dog. A typical pit bull loves children and tolerates their affection, but as with any dog, interactions should always be monitored. Children should be taught to respect the dog – letting the dog sniff them first, no pulling on tails, manhandling, or crawling on the new pet.
• Trust your instincts – what vibe is the person giving you? Go with your gut feeling and trust your judgment – if there is something “not quite right”, hold out and wait for someone else. Your judgment is usually right in the end.
• Tell them you’d like to do a home check. Anyone who has ANY issue with this should be a red flag right away! An honest person should have no issues with meeting you in their home to let you know your dog will be comfortable there.

Saying Goodbye
Ensure you draft some kind of paperwork indicating the transfer of ownership of the dog. This allows the new owners to have full care and responsibility of their new addition, and releases you from any liability or care concerns there may be in the future. Create a clear and simple document with dates and any relevant details. Get signatures and copies for you and for the adopters.

If you are at this point, you’ve done a very good job! If keeping your dog isn’t an option, you’ve done the next best thing: you’ve taken the time and effort to give your dog a shot at happiness.