Surrendering Your Dog – You Can No Longer Care For It

This is a third in a three-part series for people who are thinking of surrendering, giving up, getting rid of their, their dog.  Whatever terminology you want to use.  This is not a judgmental post.  I merely try and help you decide whether you should surrender your dog because you can no longer care for it. So let’s delve into these reasons.

Reason #1:  Financial Hardship

As an owner, are you experiencing financial hardship, where it’s a choice of paying medical bills, rent, mortgage, car payments, school, food/clothing, the kids, vs. dog food and other dog necessities that are wreaking havoc with your budget?  If this is the case, is there an alternative to giving up your dog permanently?  Is there someone, friend or family, who can foster the pup until you get back on your feet?  Some shelters and rescues will work with you or know of others who can until you become more financially stable.  There may be some agreement that they’ll ask you to sign where you’ll have to commit to coming to see the pup, etc., or after “x” months/days, you will be asked to surrender the dog if your situation has not improved.  But, if you do not voluntarily want to give up your pup, then look for every possible avenue for help.

Reason #2:  Dog’s Illness or Injury

Has your dog fallen ill or sustained an unforeseen injury that will require medical/surgical care costing thousands of dollars that you don’t have?  If this is the case, have you looked into Care Credit, which is offered by tens of thousands of veterinary clinics and hospitals across the country.  Care Credit offers 6–12-month interest free payment plans if your dog is injured or sick. Pet insurance is another possibility, and having had insurance for my pups, it does pay for itself if your dog sustains a catastrophic injury needing surgery, but you have to take out the policy prior to the illness for claims purposes, AND hopefully the illness is not genetic or listed among those that are excluded in some policies.  Another alternative I’ve seen used is GoFundMe and taking to social media for help. There are many, many good-hearted people out there.

Reason #3:  Owner Illness/Mobility Issues

Have you or a loved one fallen ill, or no longer have the mobility or mental/emotional faculties to care for the dog.  If this is the case, is the illness temporary?  Again, can someone or a rescue, foster the pup for you until you’re better. If the illness is long term, then you may have no alternative. In which case, look for breed specific rescues, who may take your pup no matter its age, and if your dog happens to be a senior, there are some rescues, like Frosted Faces, Thulani German Shepherd Rescue, both in California, or North Shore Animal League who with its thousands of partner no-kill shelter programs may be able to take your pup.  But, and this is a big but, do not wait until a crisis happens.  Have a plan.

Reason #4:  Age/Mobility of Your Dog

This one can be heartbreaking because I took care of my two 75 lb, 12 yr old Shepherds in 2020 until I had to humanely euthanize them.  Czarina, my beauty, became incontinent from intervertebral disc disease, and had an arthritic front leg.  I bathed her and cleaned up after her every day for almost 4 months until her struggles broke my heart and I let her go with her dignity intact.  Her sister Olympia followed two months later, when out of nowhere she developed a thigh wound where sepsis had set in, all of this in a matter of a week.  I think they wanted to be in heaven together.

Please keep in mind though what surrendering an older dog means for the dog itself.  If your dog is eight years or older, rescues and shelters consider your dog to be a senior, and these dogs are very hard to find adoptable parents for.  And, if the shelter is a county or city shelter, these are “kill shelters” and older dogs are among the first to be considered for euthanasia.

If your dog is a senior with health issues, and you can no longer care for him/her, instead of surrendering the pup to a shelter, where it will be alone, confused and terrified, take your dog to the vet, and have your vet euthanize the dog humanely. Yes, it will cost you money for the euthanasia, but you’ll be showing compassion to your dog who gave you its love and loyalty, and if you have children, teaching them the right thing to do.

Reason #5:  Your Dog’s Behavioral Issues

Yet another reason for being unable to care for your pup, can be the pup’s behavioral issues.  Part 1 of this series dealt with dog aggression issues.  But there are also behavioral and mental issues. Did you purchase your dog as a “free to a good home” from Craig’s list, a retail pet store, a backyard breeder who breeds only for the money? Many of these dogs can have wonderful temperaments and are easy to train, while others have behavioral issues such as reactivity, bite history, anxiety, which can be more difficult to overcome.

I adopted my German Shepherd, Ophelia, from the same breeder I got Olympia from 12 years ago. Because of her pedigree/bloodlines, she was a breeding female, newly retired. Only when I got her home did I find out what a handful she was.  She had received little to no training, given little affection, had no idea how to go up or down stairs, didn’t know what a toy was, you get the picture. Everything scared her, from sounds to everyday items because she had never lived in a house before. To this day, she’s still high stress, high anxiety, and high maintenance. 

If your pup has behavioral issues, have you sought out a professional trainer who specializes in these issues. This is a link to Tom Davis, who specializes in problem children. His YouTube channel has millions of views, and you may see yourself and your dog in some of his videos.  Also, keep in mind that what works for Victoria Stilwell, may not work for you and your dog.  There are many, many training tools out there that can help your dog.  Be open minded to them and do your research. 

In Summary —

Surrendering your dog is not an easy decision for whatever reason.  Dogs have emotions just like people. They feel joy, love, sorrow, depression, anxiety. They know when they’re loved and when they’re not. They are social beings who love being with their families or person.  You are their world, their everything.  I was able to live with myself surrendering Lexus because I had already been told by her breeder, who helped me rehome her, about her new owner. I knew she would be safe and loved, because he was an experienced Doberman owner.  The same with Luxor, he went to a couple in Montecito California, who had just lost their Dobe.

Please, please, take your time and think about it carefully.  Because, once you surrender your dog, and sign the paperwork, you will not get it back.