Can I trust the SPCA?

make sure she’s spayed first. They are more likely to attempt adoption if the animal is spayed.

Have you tried craigs list? I see people offering free pets to a good home all the time there.

Trust their services… in what way? If we know what you are trusting them to do, perhaps we can make better answers.

Most community shelters will spay/neuter an animal before it is placed for adoption.
Dogs will be evaluated for temperament and socialization as well as how they get along with kids and other dogs. Also housebreaking will be a determining factor.
The older the dog that is not house trained the more chance of problems in that area.

Her chances of being adopted are contingent on how crowded the shelter is, and how social she is, as well as how long they keep animals depending on the crowding factor.

The more adoptable animals will trump the less adoptable animals.

Every shelters protocol is different so you need to research the policies of the different shelters in your area.

My local county animal services keeps animals for a long time, they do their best to not have to euthanize, but, this is a sad fact of the over population issues with cats and dogs, especially this time of year at the peak of breeding season.

You can try running an ad on a site like craigslist and screen potential adoptees, maybe go to their home, see where the dog will be living, ask if they plan on making her an indoor/outdoor dog, if they can afford upkeep and health care.

If you choose to give her to a private party I would tell them that if it is not working out you would like to know so you can help place her again.

If you are asking for a guarantee that she will not be put to sleep by surrendering her to a shelter, well, there is no guarantee, this is why spaying and neutering is so important.

Good luck and I am sorry you have to let her go.

Be cautious of giving away pets on Craigslist or in the paper. You don’t want the dog to end up in a laboratory.

I know that the quality of SPCA services in Canada varies by city – maybe they’re better in the US (I’m assuming you’re American). There are bound to be local no-kill rescue groups in your town – might be worth looking into.

Craigslist is often used by sellers who see pets as disposable and who want to make a quick buck off an animal, and people who look for animals on there can be hoarders, fighters, or also think of them as disposable. It’s often people who didn’t think the situation through. I read a lot of listings like “I’ve had this great dog for 4 years, but now we’re having a baby and it’s too much work. You can have it for a $200 re-homing fee!” Many of the people who acquire their animals on there think that mindset is ok. Disgusting.

The people at the SPCA are not saints, of course, but they have a long history of animal welfare. I think your pup would be better off in the hands of the SPCA or similar organization than Craigslist.

@jca
@quiddidyquestions

I agree, but, I have adopted a few pets off of C’List and they have a great home.
I am the perfect candidate, single, middle aged woman, with plenty of cash for all the animals needs and 5 acres to romp on.
Last year I ran an ad on C’List for a teenage or one-two year old kitten as a companion for me and my one yr. old female cat. I had so many responses, it was hard to choose and I felt so bad that I couldn’t take more than one.

Actually it turned out the opposite of what you guys are worried about, my kitten “Marley” came down with FIP and I just had to euthanize him a month ago tomorrow after spending over $800 on diagnosis and treatments which failed becuase it is a terminal condition.

Now I am back to square one, but waiting a few months before considering adopting again to make sure the virus is not lingering. :-(

@Coloma There’s definitely some great people using CL, but I am always initially more skeptical of people who go that route with their animals.

@quiddidyquestions

I agree. There is a local guy around here that advertises to pick up unwanted farm animals, chickens, geese, ducks, goats, etc. for ‘good home’, but, he eats everything and sells them again at auctions.

He is on the red flag list in my rural community.

I would never give a pet away free. It is a sad but true fact that if folks do not have a vested interest in their critter, it has a lot less value. But even charging a fair amount of money is no guarantee that the dog will find its forever home because SPCA’s and pounds are full of expensive pure bred dogs.

It is the responsibility you took upon yourself when you acquired the pet, to see that it has a good and satisfactory life. If indeed you must divest yourself of this pet, then it is imperative that you find a good home. It is your responsibility to investigate prospective adopters. A dog deserves to live with its family, do not place it with someone who will put it in the back yard and throw food at it once a day. Do not place it in a home where the mother is not in full agreement with getting a dog, she is the ultimate keeper of the pet.

And don’t delude yourself into thinking it will be adopted because it is cute, each day thousands of “cute” dogs are euthanized in the USA and many more over the rest of the world.

Don’t mean to be harsh, it is simply the truth about real life for abandoned animals.

What do you mean by trust them? Trust them to find the puppy a home? There’s no guarantee of that. Trust them not to euthanize? Only if it’s a no-kill shelter.

Contact the vet clinics in the area and ask then for recommendations for rescue organizations.

Here is a site that will help you find a no-kill shelter or rescue organization near you.

Well in my case, after losing my 15 month old kitty last month to FIP, my vet told me stay away from a lot of the cat rescues because of this issue.
Overcrowding and the spread of the Corona virus. Sooo, it;s gonna be a gamble finding a new kitty again, most likely through my shelter.

Trust your vet or your local no kill rescue shelter. If your dog is a pure breed, possibly there is a no kill rescue organization or group in your area willing to take her in.

If you call your vet, they may know of a client that is looking for a dog in your area. I often call my vet first. All of the rest of my animals “came to me” through private adoptions or rescues.