If you’ve come to Fido Love because of an unexpected situation or turn of events that seem to make it impossible to keep your dog, we want you to know that there are resources available to help keep pets in their homes.
New Home Doesn’t Allow Pets?
Often a new landlord or homeowners association may be inclined to make exceptions for responsible pet owners, to keep your pet with you in your new home. Make a strong case of your commitment to your pet, and your caring and responsibility – and you may be able to keep your dog with you.
This helpful guide (Renting with Pets) from HSUS has suggestions and approaches to the conversation.
We also recommend this directory from People with Pets, of pet friendly apartment resources.
My Dog has “issues”
Sometimes issues like excessive barking, digging in the backyard, or even food aggression are actually quite manageable with a little bit of training or behavioral advice by a competent trainer. When a dog’s natural needs are met (for example, needs for exercise, for structure, for feeling safe, etc.) ‘issues’ or challenges often disappear.
Seek help from your local animal shelter. There’s a growing trend with better shelters to provide low-cost or sometimes free resources to help keep pets in their home by troubleshooting issues that arise. Do some online research to see if your local humane society or dog rescue provides this support.
Check out these additional online resources too, for help:
Finding Professional Help – ASPCA Resources
Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Dog(s) and Children or New Baby
This wonderful resource provides guidance, support and a national network of licensed training professionals to work through changes in family dynamics when toddlers or small children come into the home. Learn more at Family Paws Parent Education.
Destructive Behavior
Dogs have evolved from the wild and are born to work for a living. In the typical American home though, dogs lack purpose to hunt for food, problem solve or form social connections – there’s often no outlet for their naturally active tendencies, both physical and mental. Instead your fido friend may channel his or her physical or mental needs into destructive behaviors like chewing, digging, excessive barking and more.
Regularly exercising your dog can do wonders to meet his or her natural needs – and help reduce and even eliminate behaviors that result in home destruction! (Behaviors that too often unfairly land wonderful dogs at a shelter.)
- Learn more about the benefits of exercise for Fido, from this Dog Time article: Dog Exercise Needs
- And the benefits of regular exercise with your dog, for you too at this New York Times blog post: Forget the Treadmill, Get a Dog.
Military Deployment?
For those in the military and faced with deployment, we recommend an online service – Dogs on Deployment – to help you find a long term foster home to care for your dog while you’re away.
Financial Difficulties
On a local or regional level we have found many wonderful agencies that help families with assistance for pet food, vet visits and more. You can Google the words “pet assistance” for your area. We’ve also found this comprehensive list of pet assistance agencies from Banfield Foundation’s website at Help for Pet Owners directory.