I Can’t Keep My Pet
Finding a New Home for Your Pet
Re-homing your pet yourself takes a little bit of effort, but your pet will be so much better off for your efforts. There are a few easy steps you can take that will make it much easier for you.
- Get your pet spayed or neutered. Animals who are altered are much easier to find new homes for.
- Make a list of your pet’s characteristics. Brainstorm a list of physical attributes, personality traits and general behavior that your pet has – include the good and the bad. Develop a short biography for the cat to give to potential adopters. Be honest so the person giving a home to your animal will know what to expect.
- Take photos of your animal. Use the photos to make fliers to post at shelters, pet supply stores, veterinary clinics, places of worship, work bulletin boards and in newsletters. Be sure to talk with family and friends so they can tell the people in their community.
- Use the Internet. Post information about your animal on Facebook pet sites and on craigslist.com
- Do not list the animal for free. Unfortunately there are people who acquire animals and resell them to research laboratories, or place them in illegal dog fighting rings or other inappropriate situations. By asking the adopter for an adoption fee (even if it is a small donation to your local shelter), you help to ensure that the person who is adopting your pet has his or her best interest at heart.
- Interview potential adopters. You want to make sure that the people adopting your pet are a good fit.
- Try rehoming your pet with Rehome by Adoptapet.com. This free service will help you find a home for your cat: https://rehome.adoptapet.com/
Remember – be patient and stay realistic. Older animals, sick animals, and those who have medical conditions or behavioral problems can be hard to place. Keep in mind that the very problem that is causing you to surrender your pet may be the same reason someone is reluctant to adopt him or her. Despite this, it is always best to be honest – you don’t want people to find out about problems after the fact.
Can Cat Rescue & Adoption Network (CRAN) Take in Your Pet?
It can be extremely difficult on a cat to lose its people. The best place for your cat is with you. We realize that there are circumstances where you have to give up your cat and we want to help in these situations as we are able. Often though cats are surrendered when there are other solutions.
It is very difficult for a cat to go to a foster home where there are not only new people but new pets. Cats also might need to go to an adoption site which can be terrifying, especially for adult cats. Please think of your cat and do not take giving him or her up lightly. We would be happy to help you come up with solutions to keep your cat where it belongs, with you.
CRAN’s priority is taking in cats who have no one else to help. While we do take owner-surrendered pets when we are able, we are often too full and are unable to help with these cats. We ask that you try these humane societies whose focus is taking in owner-surrendered animals before contacting CRAN:
Greenhill Humane Society – Contact the Receiving Department. Phone: (541)689-1503 ext. 133. Please leave a message and your call will be returned in the order it was received or by Email: felinereceiving@green-hill.org – See more at: http://www.green-hill.org/
Cat Adoption Team (Sherwood) – They are usually only able to take cats 5 years or younger and are not always able to take cats from the public or our area. Go to: http://catadoptionteam.org/resources/surrender-to-cat/ for more information.
Oregon Humane Society (Portland) Portland area has a much bigger adoption pool than we do and they can often take cats in. – first call (503) 285-7722, ext. 211 http://www.oregonhumane.org/services/find-a-home-for-your-pet/
Safe Haven Humane Society (Albany) – 541.928.2789 https://safehavenhumane.org/services/surrendering-your-pet/
If you have found a cat and are in Eugene or unincorporated Lane County, please contact Greenhill Humane Society before contacting CRAN. Call 541-689-1503 or go to http://green-hill.org/cat_program.html for more information.
If you have found a cat who is critically ill or injured, please take to the Emergency Veterinary Hospital. If you are in unincorporated Lane County or Eugene and they are unable to help you, contact Greenhill Humane Society. If no one else can help, please contact us.
Process for Giving Up Your Cat to CRAN for Re-homing
Before CRAN can take custody of your cat for possible re-homing, you need to first complete a surrender form. We will then contact you. Please keep in mind, we have no facility and are all foster-based. We are limited in how many cats we can take in by how many foster homes we have. If you are able to temporarily foster, it can improve the possibility that we can take your cat. Cats are placed in foster homes and then adoption sites at PetSmart, Petco or Wags! Dog Emporium.
If it is possible for us to take your cat, we will have you complete a cat history profile which CRAN staff will review along with any medical history you and your veterinarian provide. The staff will go through this information to help determine if your pet is a good fit for our program. We’ll then contact you to discuss setting up an assessment.
Because CRAN makes a commitment to all of the cats in our care and there is a huge population of cats needing help in Lane County, there may be a waiting period before your animal can be accepted into our program. Our Waiting List is by both priority level and date of surrender request.
Surrender Fees
The fee to give up your adult cat to CRAN is $50. This fee is used to help offset the cost of caring for the cat while he/she is at CRAN. Along with the surrender fee, donations are gratefully accepted to help cover the costs of caring for surrendered cats. For assistance with placement of kittens, pregnant cats, or mother cats with litters, please contact us.
When CRAN Cannot Take Your Pet
When our intake teams review your cat history profile, they may determine that CRAN may not be a good fit for your animal. This can be the case for certain temperaments of cats who do very poorly in a shelter environment. For their sake, these animals may not be accepted into our care. Cats who have certain medical conditions, behavior problems or aggression issues cannot be accepted. In these cases, CRAN staff will suggest other potential solutions for your cat.
Can CRAN Guarantee My Pet a Home?
Simply put, we cannot. There are times when behavioral or medical issues are not apparent until an animal has been at CRAN for a while, therefore, CRAN cannot guarantee the placement of your cat into a new home. With that said, CRAN works hard to find homes for the cats in our care. It is important that you are realistic about the adoptability of your cat. You have an established relationship with him or her, and if you find you are unable to deal with a behavior or medical condition, then you must understand that those who have no relationship with your animal are not likely to take on that responsibility.