Rehoming My Dog Long Distance
Each adoption inquiry brings it’s own considerations, and what will work best for your dog and situation. In general it works best when dogs are rehomed within 30-60 minutes of their current home. This proximity allows more time to evaluate the new family fit, and also ensures a ready ‘safety net’ if for some reason the adoption doesn’t work out.
We actually don’t though discourage long distance adoptions in some situations – but strongly suggest reference checks be made before a long-distance meet and greet takes place.
When checking references to adopt your dog beforehand, closely consider:
- The adoptive family’s willingness to work through possible challenges. Will they hire a trainer if needed, have they ever worked with a trainer in the past?
- The stability of the adoptive family. Is this family reasonably settled in their home, jobs and community – or will adding a new responsibility add yet another layer of activity to an unstable setting?
With long-distance adoptions is important that reference checks happen before families and dogs meet for the first time. There’s so much that can be discovered and revealed about an adopting family with just a few advanced phone calls, don’t put yourself in position to feel obligated to proceed with an adoption after a family has made a long trek to meet you.
We also advise to have a well-considered backup plan in case things just don’t work out. Will the families meet back up halfway?