At DIBS, we are foster home based, so while we have experience fostering, we are by no means professional trainers. We have kids and dogs and cats and families and jobs – just like you do! We generally don’t accept dogs with behavioural issues, due to the skillset of our foster base. We are just regular volunteers living regular lives. Most rehoming requests are due to not enough training, the wrong kind of training or lack of consistency with training in the home.
If you are looking to rehome your existing dog due to serious issues, we may not be a match. If you “need the dog gone by Friday”, we may not be a match. However, if your dog has needs beyond what you can provide, we understand and we can help. Adoptions and re-homing, when done right, don’t happen instantly.
Ideal scenario for rehoming:
- You know the dog best, so we ask that the dog stays with you, until a home is found. In theory, you act as the foster parent
- Vetting should be complete – spay/neuter and vaccinations are to be completely up to date. Have the records accessible, as you will want to transfer them to the new owner. If not up to date, you will need to complete this prior to adoption.
- If you have a trainer, they should be able to provide a training summary/report, which will be beneficial to the next owner.
- Requirements of original owner (in addition to the detail above)
- Full bio, disclosing all info. There is someone out there for every dog and being honest in the bio will ensure the next home is the forever home. This is the form that our foster parents use for bio information: https://dibsrescue.com/dog-bios-for-fosters-to-complete/ or you can email to contact@dibsrescue.com (take a look at the form, so you know some of the info needed for the bio)
- Photos and videos – we love to keep the pictures coming, as it has the biggest draw for potential adopters
- Review and input on applications
- Availability for meet and greets and phone calls with the applicant
- Your dog will not be an official DIBS dog, but our team of volunteers (social media, application team, screeners) will work together like we do for one of our DIBS pups
- Applicants will apply via our standard application and follow our application process/steps: https://dibsrescue.com/application/
- Adoption fees and contracts will be between you and the potential adopter. We ask that a fee be part of your commentary throughout the process. “Free dogs” lead to many horrific situations and while you may not want a fee for your pup as you just want the best home, do know, the best home will be willing to pay for your dog. A free dog can end up as a bait dog, disposable, or worse (sadly, we have heard it all)
- You will not need to have a discussion re: fees until the adopter is approved. Up until that time, their assumption will be that the the adoption fee is $750 (minimum). Most owner surrender families will lower this adoption fee, as the goal is a good family, not the money. A good family is not going to be bothered with the idea of a $750 adoption fee.
- DIBS asks for a minimum donation of $250 to help you with this process (keep this in mind when you negotiate your adoption fee)
We know you are making a difficult decision: let’s all make the best of it!
******
Note, when we do have foster homes available, or additional vetting would need to be done, we may not be able to follow the steps above.