2. Giving up your dog – our process

What to expect if you give up your dog

We know that life can change and that might mean you can no longer care for your dog.

This is a tough decision – and we won’t judge you for needing to find your dog a new home. Asking us for help is the most responsible thing you can do for them.

Adult greyhound dog, outside, in a field, on a sunny day.

Giving up your dog – what happens when I get in touch?

1
Contact us

We understand what a difficult call this might be. Our staff will listen without judgment and help you make the right decision for your dog. We may be able to give you advice on managing the issue that has led to you considering rehoming. 

2
Your assessment call

Someone from your nearest rehoming team will call you to talk through all your options. We'll listen without judgment and help you make the right decision for your dog. 

If we agree that rehoming your dog is the right thing to do, we’ll ask you to fill in our …

3
Your assessment meeting

If we decide together that giving up your dog is best for both of you, we’ll arrange a meeting.

When you meet the rehoming team, we’ll ask you more about your dog’s likes and dislikes. We’ll usually take them for a short walk to see how they react around other dogs …

4
Bring your dog to us

We’ll organise a time for you to bring your dog into our care.

You’ll need to sign some paperwork to officially transfer the dog across to us. We’ll take good care of them from there.

Talk to our team for friendly advice.

If you are struggling and need to give up your dog, or if you want to speak to someone for advice, we are just a phone call away.

Call us on 0300 303 2188

or

Have you explored the alternative options available before giving up your dog?

Dogs Trust staff member placing a yellow Dogs Trust collar on a black greyhound dog

How much does it cost to give up a dog?

Giving up your dog to Dogs Trust is free. It won't cost you a penny. If you'd like to donate to support our work, we'd be grateful, but it's not required. 

Will you definitely take my dog?

Our aim is to find a new home for every dog that needs one. But in some situations, we may not be able to take your dog.  

Our kennels are often full, and many dogs need special support and training from our staff to help them overcome their fears and worries. This limits …

...

I want to give up an aggressive dog. Can you help?

Our aim is to find a new home for every dog that needs one, and we take in all kinds of dogs. As we have an experienced behavioural team, we can support dogs with specific needs. However, there is a limit to the number of dogs with behavioural issues that we can take at any one …

...

Would you take back a dog adopted from Dogs Trust?

We’ll always take back a dog adopted from us, whatever the reason and however long it is since you first adopted from us. If you’re experiencing problems with your dog’s behaviour, we’d first recommend that you contact us for support on 0300 303 3738.   

If the problem isn’t …

...

Dog advice

How to get your dog's focus and attention
Basics
How to get your dog's focus and attention
How to prepare your dog for visitors
Training at home
How to prepare your dog for visitors
How to find a good dog walker
Outside the home
How to find a good dog walker
Emergency Fund
Health and wellbeing
Emergency Fund
Finding behaviour and training support
Understanding your dog
Finding behaviour and training support
How to stop your dog barking
Prevent unwanted behaviours
How to stop your dog barking