Giving Up Your Dog: A Compassionate Guide
Thank you for reaching out and for considering rescue to help secure your dog’s future. Paws Help charity is foster based (no kennels), what means every one of our dogs lives in a loving foster home before they found their forever homes. Please be aware that we have limited capacity – especially for medium to large dogs – but we’ll do our best to assist every dog in need..
As always, we will give priority to urgent crisis cases and continue to support the owners of dogs who were previously adopted from us.
GETTING HELP
We understand that life can change unexpectedly, and you may find yourself unable to care for your dog. At Paws Help charity, we appreciate how difficult and upsetting this decision can be. You will never be judged for doing what you believe is best for your dog, and we will do everything within our power to assist you.
If you feel overwhelmed, please never consider abandoning your dog. Not only is it deeply distressing for them, but it also places them in grave danger – whether through illness, injury or accident.
1. PAUSE AND REFLECT
- Explore every alternative. If your dog faces health issues, please consult your veterinary surgeon. For behavioural concerns, first rule out any medical causes—many problems, such as house-soiling, stem from untreated infections—and then seek help from a qualified, force-free behaviourist. Please reach us and we can advice non-profit vet clinics network or other vet clinics with affordable costs, also can advice about fundraising and other to support you. We will be also happy to provide some helpful materials to deal with behaviour issues and make you better understand you dog and so avoid those issues.
- Consider support services. A reliable dog walker, pet sitter or day-care may be all that’s needed if your routine has changed.
- Ask family or friends. Before approaching any rescue, check whether a trusted friend or relative might offer a permanent home.
- If you got your dog from the other rescue – you must contact them in first turn, as all responsible rescues provide their dogs with life-long back up and are responsible for dog rehoming.
2. GATHER ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
- Basic details: Size, age, breed (if known), sex and neutering status.
- Health history: You’ll need to show us any veterinary records you have, including vaccinations and inform us about known medical conditions and any treatments.
- Behavioural background: Training, socialisation with people, children, dogs or cats, and any reactive behaviours.
- Visuals: Recent photographs and short videos to illustrate your dog’s temperament and appearance.
3. COMPLETE OUR SURRENDER FORM & AGREEMENT
- Fill in the Paws Help Surrender Form, providing full and honest details—medical and behavioural disclosures will never prevent your dog from joining our programme; they simply help us find the right match.
- The form incorporates a legally binding Ownership Transfer Agreement. By submitting it, you confirm all information is accurate and understand that ownership transfers to Paws Help the moment we take physical possession. Until then, you remain fully responsible for your dog’s welfare.
4. SUBMIT AND ARRANGE DROP-OFF
- Once you’ve completed the form and agreement, please contact us either by email or via WhatsApp at https://wa.me/447932590993
- We will carefully review the information about your dog and assess our capacity to help.
- If we are able to help, we will then arrange a suitable date, time, and location for you to bring your dog to us. In exceptional circumstances, we may help arrange transport for your dog’s collection—but you would need to cover any associated costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why shouldn’t I rehome my dog privately?
A: Sadly, dogs advertised “free to a good home” can fall into unsafe hands, facing neglect or abandonment. By surrendering through rescue charity, you ensure your dog is placed only in carefully vetted, loving homes.
Q: What if I can no longer keep my Paws Help Dog?
A: We offer a lifetime rescue backup to all dogs who have been homed through us, no matter how long ago it was and we’ll always prioritise them and make room for them as soon as we can. Please make contact with us. We never require a surrender fee on dogs previously adopted from Paws.
Q: What does “foster-based” mean?
A: Unlike kennelled shelters, each Paws Help dog resides in a dedicated foster home before getting rehomed. This family environment reduces stress, allows tailored care and gives us genuine insight into each dog’s character before adoption. But same time this also limits our capacity.
Q: I have a medium/large dog - do you have space?
A: Our capacity varies. Please submit the surrender form with full details; while we may have limited availability for larger dogs, we will keep you informed of our situation and discuss possibilities.
Q: Do you charge a fee to surrender my dog?
A: As a public-funded charity, we rely entirely on donations to cover veterinary treatment, foster care and neutering or spaying. To help defray these costs, we kindly ask for a contribution – typically between £50 and £150, depending on your dog’s size, spay/neuter status and health needs.
Q: Will you keep me updated about my dog?
A: We understand that parting with your dog is often one of the most emotional and difficult decisions you’ll ever make, and it’s natural to want to know how they’re doing. However, once a dog has been officially signed over to Paws Help charity, we do not routinely provide updates on their progress or new home.
This is not out of coldness or indifference – quite the opposite. Our priority is always dog’s welfare.
In some circumstances, we may be able to provide a one-off update upon request – but this cannot be guaranteed. Personal details of adopters or fosters will, however, remain strictly confidential.
Q: What happens after I hand over my dog?
A: Once your dog arrives in our care, their new foster family will settle them in, rescue will undertake all necessary veterinary checks and begin the process of finding them a forever home. You can rest assured that we’ll continue to support them – and their adopters – for life.
Q: Will you support the adopter of my dog long-term?
A: Yes. Every adopted dog enjoys lifetime rescue back-up and dual microchip registration, ensuring they can never be sold, abandoned or euthanised unnecessarily.
Thank you for choosing a responsible, loving future for your dog. By surrendering through Paws Help charity, you give your companion the best possible chance of finding a warm, secure forever home – and we commit to caring for them, every step of the way.