Should I rehome my dog?
Such a yucky topic today but one that is not foreign to the general public, animal welfare advocates, and other behavior professionals. It is a topic that is heavily nuanced, almost never straight-forward, and definitely always difficult emotionally, as well as how to discuss it tactfully and with compassion.
Whether you’re here because you’re faced with decisions regarding a behaviorally sensitive companion and at a crossroads, having exhausted many trainers, interventions, and just feeling utterly lost - or - perhaps you’re another pet professional that’s walked into a client’s home and are sidelined with behavior that turned out to be much worse than originally conveyed - well, you can probably relate.
If you can’t relate - you are LUCKY. I hope that you are never faced with difficult choices like this and that if someone in your life ever is, you have the grace and compassion to approach it with understanding and empathy. It can be easy to shift blame, point fingers, and offer advice (that they’ve probably already tried).
It is much harder to be an active listener and suspend your personal emotions and feelings, but this is what most people need that are facing these choices.
I’ve spent over a decade working in rescue with high-risk dogs. The interpretations in this blog are based on personal experience, as well as legal advice we’ve received from high-profile prosecutors turned rescue attorneys. I am always open to differing interpretations as these conversations are SO IMPORTANT in the welfare world in order to erase some very damaging stigmas surrounding difficult, but often necessary choices that NO ONE wants to make.
This blog will be focused mostly on dogs displaying behaviors that are unsafe or dangerous, which generally means aggression towards people and other animals. However, people may be faced with similar choices for things other than aggression when overall quality of life is tipping into the negative.
I definitely won’t be going into any extended spiels (just tiny ones) today about how to find a positive trainer or why we want to use positive methods. If you’re familiar with me or take a quick glance around my website, you can locate those resources easily. What I want to focus on today is what to do after all your training options have been exhausted.
So, let’s get into it…yes?
Seeking intervention above and beyond positive behavior modification
Behavior can be influenced by many things past and present, including but not limited to: environment, learning, genetics, and undiscovered or under-treated medical issues both emotionally and physically. If you haven’t explored these options yet, here are usually my initial recommendations:
Speak with a primary care veterinarian or specialist to rule out medical causes that could be contributing to behavior. Pain, discomfort, hormonal imbalances, and more may contribute significantly to a dog’s general outlook and attitude.
Seeking the opinion of a primary care veterinarian or most preferably, a Vet Behaviorist to address the emotional wellbeing of your companion may provide relief in the interim while you pursue your options. Chronic, psychological issues may be aided by intervention via behavior medication should a doctor of veterinary medicine deem this appropriate. You can find veterinary behaviorists via the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. We personally network with Insight Animal Behavior and they have two locations in Chicago, IL and Hinsdale, IL, as well as working virtually.
Perhaps these aren’t an option for you due to financial reasons, time constraints, or even your emotional wellbeing - now what?
Rehoming
Rehoming is an incredibly difficult choice and one that we often don’t plan for or consider as a possibility when we bring our companion animals home. The choice to rehome is something only you and your family can decide.
While there are many negative public stigmas about rehoming pets, some families may arrive at the decision that rehoming is necessary. Many times, rehoming is not a failure, but in the best interest of all parties to ensure a better quality of life for both the animals and the humans.
Here are some important things to consider about this decision:
What is the size, age, and health of the dog? Do any of these things increase personal risk and safety to your family?
What types of management do you need to implement, is it possible in your current environment, what is the probability of failure, and what is the potential outcome/risk of that management failing?
Does the degree of management needed to make this dog safe pose quality of life issues such as deficits in exercise, enrichment, social opportunities, etc.?
Does the degree of management/behavior pose quality of life issues for the humans, especially emotionally?
How much time do you have to devote to a behavior modification plan?
How much financial resources do you have to devote to pursuing veterinary care and continued training?
Is your dog from a rescue or shelter? You may be legally obligated to inform them of your decision to rehome so that they can decide whether or not to take ownership of the dog again.
If you’ve arrived at the decision to rehome your dog, there are important obstacles to be aware of:
It is your legal and ethical responsibility to disclose behavior issues - ESPECIALLY bite histories - so that organizations and individuals can make good choices on risk of liability and sound placement of the dog.
Behavior can look very different under stress, particularly in high-capacity sheltering situations. Dogs may not present concerning behaviors if they are experiencing emotional shutdown - or - behaviors may be displayed at a higher intensity. Transparency is key to helping them determine safety and risk for intake.
Based on the behavior history, you may have an extremely difficult time finding placement with a shelter or rescue. Many ethical programs do not accept dogs with bite histories in the interest of animal welfare and public safety.
Organizations will take into consideration the amount of funding it will take to pursue medical, behavioral, and training intervention. Oftentimes, funding is tight and it will be hard to justify the use of resources for troubling behavioral issues that require specialized focus in one or more areas.
Liability concerns
Rehoming is fraught with liability concerns. On the rescue and sheltering side, the following risks exist and may guide their decision on whether or not to intake a dog:
Release of liability waivers written with attorneys are not always enough of a safeguard to absolve an organization.
Detailed behavioral history and signed agreements written with attorneys are also not always enough to safeguard an organization.
Depending where they are located, laws can vary and this can be especially true in other countries with a narrower tolerance for behaviors that even just appear aggressive.
Generally speaking, municipalities are extremely harsh and unforgiving of dogs displaying dangerous behaviors that have caused bodily harm. It is still possible to be taken to court - especially if the behavior was misrepresented by any party. Even if the outcome is favorable, there is still a loss of time and resources through legal fees.
Should an organization find itself liable like this, they may still be sued for damages and find themselves without funding. Organizations cannot operate without funding.
These next talking points operate entirely independently from private agreements and are serious risks and considerations:
Municipalities can independently pursue charges that can result in things like criminal negligence if the harm caused is grievous, life threatening, or results in death.
Insurance companies will also be severe in their standpoint and will likely drop coverage. This can even be true if the case is favorable and lawsuits/charges are dropped. It will be extremely difficult, if not outright impossible, to obtain new insurance or find affordable insurance again. Organizations cannot operate without insurance.
The court of public opinion can be detrimental for an organization. If the dog’s behavior gains media attention, organizations can find themselves overwhelmed by angry emails, phone calls, reviews, and commentary on their social media. This is not only emotionally exhausting, but also has financial repercussions for community support and donations in the future.
If the risks are too great, organizations may decline intake on the grounds that if they are shut down, it will stop them from saving even more animals in the future. In over a decade of rescue, we have seen and heard of these exact circumstances happening in the animal welfare world with organizations becoming unable to operate due to financial and/or insurance loss.
Your own liability may also be at stake if you’re considering privately rehoming.
Remember that portions of this can operate independently from agreements made between individuals! This is especially true if you omitted the truth or misrepresented the severity of behavior.
Disclosure of behavior and signed agreements (written with or without an attorney) are NOT always enough to safeguard you against lawsuit or criminal negligence.
Individuals are at risk of the same issues listed above with regards to financial consequences and loss of insurance coverage.
Ethical, moral, and emotional considerations
There are also ethical and moral considerations involved in rehoming that should be carefully considered:
Removing the dog from it’s home is a stressful upheaval of routine and security. Whether dogs are placed in a foster home or kennel environment, the risks are similar. Dogs under stress are more likely to escalate.
What is the outcome and potential risk to volunteers and staff if this happens?
Not all shelter and rescue organizations are created equally when it comes to funding, understanding of behavior, and making sound placement choices.
Does the degree of behavior displayed pose an unnecessary risk to the public in the event the wrong placement choice was made?
The average pet home is not easily equipped to carry out behavior modification plans that address severe issues. Moreover, almost no one looking to adopt a companion animal seeks severe behavioral issues.
You know your dog best - how difficult has it been for YOU to cope with this emotionally, physically, and financially?
The average foster home - while well-meaning, hardworking, and passionate - is also not generally equipped to handle intense behavior modification plans in a field inundated with emotional burnout.
What is your level of emotional fatigue and is it tenable?
Peer-reviewed research is clear on the most effective training methods, but severe behavior can cause desperation and the training industry is severely unregulated. Aversive methods have a higher risk of behavioral fallout in which we can see temporary relief from the behaviors, but often causes a resurgence of behavior at a higher intensity than seen before. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior is clear on their stance.
Does the severity of the behavior put the dog at an increased risk for heavy-handed training methods in a new environment?
What are the potential consequences to this type of training being applied?
If there are still unexplored avenues such as medical causes both physically and emotionally, is punishing a dog for their behavior ethical, regardless of your personal views on training methods? (Nope)
Breed and/or rescue dog stigmas are relevant - particularly if the breed is subject to breed specific legislation, currently or in the past.
Would additional bites harm the public’s perception of the breed further?
Does it harm the public’s perception of rescue dogs in general?
If management can fail, there's a likelihood that it will fail someday.
What are the consequences to the public (that includes other dogs in the community) if it does?
Additionally, physical wounds heal with time, but what types of emotional trauma could the dog’s behavior cause in the future that are longer lasting?
If there are children involved, this can be a crucial safety concern. Moreover, this is a significant cause for emotional distress and feelings of guilt.
Can we guarantee that this dog will NEVER have contact with a child again, even in a childless home?
What are the consequences to a child if management fails in a new home (e.g. escaping the yard, front door, etc.)?
So, you’ve weighed the options and potentially come to the conclusion that your dog may not be safe in someone else’s home either…now what?
Behavioral Euthanasia
Behavioral euthanasia is a topic rarely discussed in animal welfare - so much so that people may not be aware that it exists. This is an incredibly personal decision that can only be made by you and your family.
Negative stigmas surrounding behavioral euthanasia are also rampant and pervasive, but families may find themselves needing to make this decision for various reasons, including some of the same reasons people may ask themselves regarding rehoming.
Nobody but your own household knows if this is the right choice. Depending on the severity of issues, this can also be viewed as a kindness to the animal in many cases.
Here are some considerations and why people may decide to make this choice:
All other options have been exhausted for management, medical intervention, behavior intervention, and training and the dog is still struggling to lead a healthy and balanced life.
Quality of life for the dog is suffering for any number of reasons. If the behavior is so severe that management is the only viable option, the dog may suffer deficits to having enrichment, exercise, social, and sometimes even medical needs met appropriately.
Psychological discomfort is a quality of life issue in and of itself, albeit more “invisible” than physical discomfort. If the dog is chronically stressed on a daily basis, even with further intervention, it may be determined that emotional wellbeing is compromised.
Quality of life for the humans is suffering and placing severe restrictions on lifestyle such as the ability to have guests over, leave the dog home alone, or finding pet care in emergency situations or otherwise. This can lead to feelings of isolation.
If the behavior is contributing to mental health issues, then emotional quality of life for the humans is also very important.
Rehoming has been considered, but the family feels there is a strong likelihood that behavioral euthanasia may still be an outcome in a new environment and may decide to let their dog go peacefully, surrounded by familiar people, instead.
The behavior is so severe or unpredictable that it is determined that the dog is not safe to rehome.
Without the option of rehoming, it is determined that staying in the home puts unnecessary risk on the household.
The size, age, and health of the dog complicates ongoing or future prognoses and safety.
No matter the path you choose to take, I hope that you are surrounded by a team of professionals that is kind, caring, and empathetic.
Written by: Jessie Kasper IAABC-ADT, FDM, FFCP, PNCC
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Additional resources that we love regarding behavioral euthanasia can be found below:
Considering behavioral euthanasia:
In-home euthanasia options:
After behavioral euthanasia support for adults:
After behavioral euthanasia resources for kids:
Book: Because of Flowers & Dancers by Sara Brackenridge, a Licensed Social Worker
Coloring Book: My Pet Died: A Coloring Book for Grieving Children by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Book: When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Support Group: Family & Children's Pet Loss Support Group
