Rehoming Do's and Don'ts

Every time I see a post that says “Free to a good home” … my heart sinks.

Not because rehoming is always wrong … but because blind rehoming is dangerous. For the dog. For the people taking them in. And for the system that eventually absorbs the fallout.

Too often, critical information is left out … sometimes intentionally … sometimes out of fear or shame. Things like:

• Medical conditions that require ongoing care.

• Behavioral issues like fear, reactivity, or aggression.

• Training gaps that were never addressed because the owner didn’t know where to turn.

• Mounting vet bills someone simply can’t afford.

• And sometimes … the reason is as simple and as heartbreaking as “We’re getting a new puppy.”

What happens next is predictable and devastating. An unsuspecting family takes the dog in with good intentions and no full picture. They aren’t prepared emotionally, financially, or behaviorally.

The dog struggles again … fails again … gets moved again.

And every move chips away at their stability, their trust, their nervous system. Eventually, many of these dogs end up in shelters. Some are labeled “problem dogs.”Some are deemed “unadoptable”. Some never make it out …

That reality makes me both deeply sad and profoundly frustrated. Because this isn’t about bad people … it’s about bad systems and a lack of guidance. Rehoming should never be a Nextdoor transaction. ...It should be deliberate. Transparent. Supported by professionals.

Dogs deserve honesty, not optimism. They deserve advocacy, not convenience. They deserve one more chance done right, not a series of well-meaning mistakes.

If you are considering rehoming a dog … please pause.

• Ask for help.

• Be radically honest about medical and behavioral history.

• Seek trainers, rescues, or placement programs that can match the right dog to the right home.

And if you are thinking about taking a dog from a stranger … ask hard questions.

Get the full story.

Understand what you’re stepping into. Because when we get this wrong … the dog pays the price.

This is something I will never stop speaking up about.