If you are considering the surrender of your senior dog, here are issues to think about:

There are many reasons that people feel they need to give up a dog -- they're moving, their work schedule has changed, the dog's primary guardian has died and no one in the family can take him, the dog has separation anxiety, the dog seems to have forgotten his housetraining, the dog barks and annoys neighbors, they're afraid the dog will hurt their child, etc., etc. Solutions exist to many of these problems, which would make keeping the dog possible. The following llinks will help you re-evaluate your decision and explore some alternatives:

Wonderpuppy website

Denver Dumb Friends League
The DDFL website offers an outstanding collection of articles on coping with common behavior problems. (Click on "Tips and Information" to access the articles.)

Having trouble finding an apartment that will accept dogs? Read http://www.rentwithpets.com. There you will find information on how to prepare a marketing presentation about your dog that you can give to prospective landlords to convince them that YOUR dog is the model tenant and you are the model responsible dog owner. You should always be prepared to offer a pet security deposit in addition to the basic security deposit.

Another site that can help you locate an apartment in your city that will accept pets is: http://www.peoplewithpets.com/

Keep in mind that re-homing a senior dog will require time and patience. Most people want puppies or young dogs, and thus it is highly unlikely that you will be able to find a home for an older dog "right away." It is unrealistic and impractical to approach the situation with that attitude. Keep in mind, also, that you can be your dog's best advocate in finding a new home. As your dog's advocate, it makes sense for you to take the time and make the effort to advertise for and properly screen a prospective new home. The "Suggestions for Placement Methods" listed below will help you.

Be aware that your dog will experience quite a bit of stress and disorientation when he is displaced from the home and family he has grown to know and love. Be prepared to "stand by" with help and support to the adoptive family.

First of all, thank you for your compassion and kindness in trying to help a senior dog. Please be aware that taking the dog to your local shelter may not be the best way to help the dog. Most shelters do not have the resources to keep older dogs or attempt to re-home them. Unless the shelter advertises itself as "no kill," a senior dog may be expeditiously euthanized. Before releasing the dog to a shelter, please get a clear answer regarding whether it is a "kill" or a "no kill" organization. There is a listing of no-kill organizations by state at http://www.saveourstrays.com/no-kill.htm.

If the dog is a stray, you should let your local shelters know that you have found the dog so that the information can be made available, should the dog's guardians be searching for him. You can also run a newspaper ad and post "found dog" flyers in the neighborhood and at local veterinarians' offices, and also check the local newspapers for ads the dog's guardians may have placed in an effort to find him.

If no one claims the dog within a few weeks, and if you can act as an advocate for the dog, you can follow the "Suggestions for Placement Methods" described below.

Best Friends Publication, "How to Find Homes for Homeless Pets"

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary publishes an extremely helpful guide on how to go about finding a home for a pet. It is available on their website. We urge you to print out a copy.

Being Cautious

There are many things to be cautious about in placing a dog into a new home. Not all homes will qualify or be appropriate for a specific dog. Please visit the following websites to find out more:

http://www.petrescue.com/library/place-pets.htm

http://www.gsdrescue.org/adoption%20tips.html

http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/rehome.htm

http://www.petrescue.com/library/free-pet.htm

Advertising

You can place ads in your local newspaper, in supermarkets, veterinarian's offices, etc. You may also place ads on the Internet at:

• Petfinder
• Craig's List, available in some cities such as San Francisco (http://www.craigslist.org/) and New York (http://newyork.craigslist.org/), is also an excellent place to advertise.
• The srdogs.com site does not accept ads from individuals; only from rescue agencies and shelters.

Rescue Groups

If the dog you are trying to place is of a specific breed, and you have not been successful in finding a new home despite a genuine effort to advertise, etc., you should contact the appropriate breed rescue group. Use the navigation bar at the left to access breed rescue groups that often will help a senior dog in need. Also be sure to check Laird's list and to use the google search engine for additional breed rescue contacts (use a search term such as "Pug Rescue.")

To find an all-breed rescue group or shelter by location, use the link in the navigation bar at the left. To find a no-kill shelter, see http://www.saveourstrays.com/no-kill.htm.

The need for an alternative to euthanasia for senior and special needs dogs has been answered by several organizations in the U.S. If you have run out of all other possibilities, these are places you should try. They are "last resort" only in the sense that you should do all you can through other means before applying to them. They are excellent facilities, however, and are often successful in rehoming older and special needs dogs where others have failed. Any dog who is not rehomed lives out his natural life at the facility. Space is usually quite scarce at these places, however. Use the link to "Sanctuaries" in the navigation bar at the left to find out more.