Rehoming a Pet

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If you wish to find a home for the animal, we would suggest you follow the suggestions listed below. In addition, if they cannot find a home for the animal, consider relinquishing it to the  Tehama County Animal Care Center  (TCACC) at 1830 Walnut Street, Red Bluff. Talk with Ms. Christine McClintock, Manager of TCACC (530-527-3439). She can answer all your questions regarding the policies of the Center as they pertain to surrendering the animal. Please be aware Animal surrenders are handled on a case by case basis and only with prior manager approval. 

Also, Adopt A Pet has a site that will assist you in rehoming a pet: https://rehome.adoptapet.com/

First, prepare the animal for adoption. To increase the chances of finding a good home and helping to ensure the success of placement, it is important that the pet is:

· Spayed or neutered - If your pet isn't spayed or neutered, have it done. We don't recommend placing an animal who has not been spayed/neutered into a new home. Doing so can result in unwanted litters, and neutered animals are less likely to show undesirable mating behaviors, such as mounting or howling. Puppies and kittens as young as eight weeks old can be spayed/neutered. –With regard to spaying and neutering, we can provide you with information. 

· In good health and up-to-date on vaccinations

· Clean and groomed

· House-trained and reasonably well-behaved  (we can provide additional information on training resources)

Advertise widely. Get the word out, in as many places as possible, to increase your chances of success in finding a new home. Here are some tips: 

· Photos and descriptions really help people make a connection to an animal. Take several good-quality digital photos of your pet. Make sure your pet is well-groomed, is looking at the camera, and can be seen clearly in the photos. If you don't have a digital camera, use a cell phone camera or whatever you have available. Compose an ad that describes the pet's personality, habits, and some of the little things that make this animal special. Do not hold back when it comes to telling about any disabilities, health issues or behavior quirks.  Sometimes these are the things that potential adopters particularly respond to.

· Flyers are inexpensive to produce and often highly effective, especially when they include a good photo and lively description of the animal.  They work especially well for older animals or animals with special needs. Post the flyers throughout your community, wherever a good prospective adoptive person may see it. Health food stores, supermarkets, libraries, churches, health clubs, veterinarian's offices, and sporting goods stores are just a few examples of good places to post flyers.

· Posting the description and photo of the pet on adoption websites is another effective way to find a new home. Post the flyer or information about your pet on social media sites, such as Facebook.  Ask friends and family members to do the same. 

· Contact all rescue groups and shelters in your area.  Even if they can't take your pet, some groups will offer courtesy postings on their websites. 

· Use word of mouth and community contacts. Word of mouth should not be underestimated. Tell anyone and everyone about the pet that needs a home and ask friends, co-workers and family members to help with spreading the word. It could be that a co-worker's father's neighbor's daughter is looking for a new pet.

Remind yourself that you are this pet's best option for finding a new home. You might think shelters or rescue groups would be more adept at placing the pet because they have experience, facilities, screening guidelines, etc. But, an individual, particularly one who knows the animal, can focus all his or her efforts on that pet, provide the most information to prospective adopters, and best determine the appropriateness of a new home.