How to find your pet a new home

Thank you for contacting the Shamrock Foundation. We realize that deciding to give up your pet is never an easy decision. The following information is designed to help you find your pet a new and loving lifetime home. In some instances a Shamrock member or volunteer may be able to provide a foster home for your pet until it can be permanently placed in a new home. However, since we receive several calls each day from people who are no longer willing and/or able to keep their pet, there is usually a waiting list for our foster homes. In the meantime, there are several things you can do to help us help you.

First, reconsider your decision to give up your pet. Each year in Jefferson County over 11,000 cats and dogs are killed in the shelters because there just aren't enough permanent homes for all of them. The most common reason people give up their pets is behavior problems. These can often be corrected with time, patience and better management. If this is your situation, we will be glad to offer behavioral counseling. Issues such as chewing, digging, house breaking, litter training, etc. are all problems every pet has at one time or another and can be changed using positive training methods.

If at all possible, keep your pet in your home until he can be placed in a new permanent home. Think about how he will feel if he is spending day and night in a kennel at the Humane Society or the pound. Is it really worse at your house? This will save a space in a foster home for a true emergency. If you have decided that your pet will be better off in a new home we recommend that you take an active role in finding that home. Calling the Shamrock Foundation was just the first step! Consider some of the following:

• Make an information sheet on your pet. Include age, sex, breed, color and all of his good qualities. Attach a current photo. Distribute this to the area veterinarian offices, pet stores and groomers. Most of these have bulletin boards that you can use.

• Consider an advertisement. Check your telephone directory or Internet for a listing of newspapers, neighborhood publications and local websites.

• Contact the person, pet stores or shelter where you purchased your pet. Inform them that you are no longer willing/able to keep your pet and send them a copy of the information sheet. There may be a purebred rescue group if you have a purebred animal. Ask your Shamrock contact person for a listing of rescue groups in our area.

• Some veterinarian offices or pet stores may be willing to accept a litter of puppies or kittens. By making a few quick calls you can find out which veterinarian offices and pet stores have available space.

• When placing advertisements or posting notices on bulletin boards avoid using phrases such as "free to a good home." Many dishonest people scan advertisements looking for this type of pet to adopt and sell to research labs, auction off or even worse, used as bait for dog fights. Protect your pet! The Shamrock Foundation uses a screening process to ensure that this doesn't happen. You should do the same.

• Never send your pet to a new home before verifying the information that a potential adopter has given you. This means using some type of adoption application and keeping your pet until the information has been verified. The Shamrock Foundation never sends a pet into a new home until after an application has been completed and all information verified. We strongly urge you to do the same thing! Feel free to download our application from our website and use it as a guide.

• Verify home and work telephone numbers by actually calling and speaking with the adopter. Ask for their veterinarian and at least two references. Call and ask what type of pet owner the person is and if their current pets (if applicable) are current on their shots. Shamrock will do the screening for you if you prefer but we will also require a donation from the adopter so that we may continue to help more people and their pets.

• If your pet has not been spayed or neutered you should use this time to have it done. These are simple surgical procedures that add years to your pet's life. This will also prevent someone from acquiring your pet and using it for breeding. Financial assistance may be available from Shamrock. Please ask your Shamrock contact person for more information. The Shamrock Foundation spays and neuters all of its animals before they go to their new permanent homes (if the animal is not old enough at the time of adoption arrangements are made for future spaying/neutering).

• If you are moving you should consider taking your pet with you. Everyday there are thousands of people moving across the country with their pet(s). Perhaps a friend, a relative or a Shamrock volunteer could temporarily house your pet for the week or two that it takes to move. Remember, every pet that stays with its family lessens the overpopulation problem.

• You can also contact Louisville Metro Animal Services or the Kentucky Humane Society as a last resort. If you decide to release your pet to either organization please be aware of their policies before you surrender your pet to them. The shelters that practice euthanasia put only a fraction of the animals that they receive up for adoption. The majority of owner-released animals are killed within 48 hours because of overcrowding and a lack of space.

• Finally, remember to be patient! Finding a new home for your pet may take time but it can be done. The Shamrock Foundation successfully places hundreds of dogs and cats each year.

We hope this information has been helpful. The volunteers of Shamrock are always glad to be of assistance. We're just a phone call or email away if you need us. Please consider becoming a member or making a donation. Your donations help us continue to provide assistance to others and serve the community.