Rehoming & Help
Paws4ever’s Adoption Center rescues pets from local county shelters, rather than taking surrenders directly from the public. However, we are here to support all pet owners with resources and support. If you are in need of pet care and behavior help, or are considering rehoming your pet, this page has resources that can help.
If your pet was adopted from Paws4ever and you are considering returning your pet, please contact our Adoption Center directly at (919)-241-8438 ext. 103 or adopt@paws4ever.org
Re-Homing Your Pet
We understand that giving up a pet is a heart-wrenching decision. We know you want what is best for your pet and we want that too. To save more animals’ lives and keep pets out of shelters, we encourage you to try to rehome your pet yourself before surrendering to a shelter or a rescue. Use the guidance provided below to help you through this process. You know your pet better than anyone else and are best suited for finding your pet a home that fits all of his/her needs. And shelters, despite all their efforts, are still stressful places for animals, which can lead to anxiety, aggression, and illness. You are your pet’s best option for finding him or her a new home!
Paws4ever has a page of Community Pets Available For Adoption on our website to promote pets who are being rehomed directly by their owners. When you have reviewed the following resources, use our Rehome by Adopt-A-Pet link to set up a profile for your pet that will appear both on our webpage and on the Adopt-A-Pet website. Use code: RCXHAQTL2U8AD8Z to reduce your posting fee to $1. Please email rehome@adoptapet.com with any additional questions regarding using Adopt-a-Pet.
Platforms and guidance to safely and successfully rehome your pet on your own:
- Rehome Orange County (Rehome OC) for Orange and Chatham Counties in NC
- Rehome by Adopt a Pet
- Petfinder Rehoming Guide
- Rehome with Home to Home
Get Your Pet Prepared for Rehoming:
- For your pets safety, we strongly suggest that you spay or neuter your pet prior to rehoming. To do this, Google “low cost spay and neuter near me”.
- Take photos and videos that show your pet’s personality
- Write a short biography about your pet. What makes him/her special? What does he/she like to do? Is he/she house/litter box trained? Does he/she like kids, other animals? Does he/she have any medical conditions?
ASPCA recommendations for how to write a bio:
Rehoming Best Practices:
- Create flyers and social media posts with photos and videos of your pet along with a biography.
- Share with friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors, and ask them to share with their friends and family
- Hang flyers at local veterinarians, dog daycares and boarding facilities, groomers, and pet stores.
- Check out your local county animal services site for rehoming resources for county residents – not to place your pet with them but to get help rehoming or other resources.
Note: if your pet was adopted from Paws4ever and you are considering returning them, please contact our Adoption Center at (919) 241-8438 or adopt@paws4ever.org.
If you are looking to rehome your pet due to behavior issues, moving, or finances, you are not alone. Many of these struggles can be overcome with support. Check out the following resources to help you keep your pet.
What do I do if I’ve found a pet?
If you find an animal, you must notify county shelters in the area surrounding where the pet was found. There may be a worried family looking for them, and county shelters can help to reunite lost pets with their owners. There is a required 72-hour stray hold period before the animal can be adopted.
Please keep in mind that stray animals may have diseases that are harmful to you and your personal pets, and that scared animals may react by scratching or biting. County animal services staff have the training to handle and care for each pet properly – for your safety and the safety of the animal, please allow the county shelter staff to guide you through this process.
Next Steps for Helping the Pet You Found:
Reporting an animal to a county shelter does not mean that you can no longer help the pet that you found. In fact, there are many ways you can continue to serve as an advocate for this pet.
- If possible, take the pet to a local shelter or veterinarian to scan them for a microchip/I.D.
- Some counties will allow you to foster the pet while waiting for the pet’s owner to claim him/her.
- You might be able to take him/her to a veterinarian for an assessment and vaccinations.
- You can search for the pet’s owner by posting flyers around the area where the pet was found (and spreading out over several miles), alerting local vet offices and sharing on social media.
- If you don’t plan to adopt after the stray hold period is over, go ahead and begin searching for a potential adopter whether the pet is in your care or at the county shelter.
Be sure to check out the rehoming section of this page for tips on how to help find an adopter.
Lost a pet?
If you have lost your pet, there are simple steps to take to begin searching for them. Report & share! Enlist the help of friends and neighbors, and don’t forget to check your surroundings frequently. Taking these actions can be the ultimate step toward bringing your beloved pet back home. Stay hopeful and persistent – many pets are found and reunited through these very efforts.
Start the Search for Your Pet:
- Search the physical location that your pet went missing. Research shows that 80% of lost pets are found within a mile of where they live or where they were lost.
- Call your local animal shelter to see if anyone else has found your pet and reported them as found. If not, the shelter will be able to register your pet as missing and keep an eye out if someone does find your pet.
- Register your pet on PetCo Love Lost’s website (petcolove.org/lost) and report them as missing. This will enter them into a wider database and alert you if someone registers them as found.
- Post flyers around your neighborhood and surrounding areas. Make sure to use clear pictures of your pet and include your contact information.
- Utilize online resources. Check local Facebook group pages and lost & found Facebook group pages. Post about your missing pet using clear pictures and descriptions.
What are my local county shelters?
Burlington Animal Services
215 Stone Quarry Road Haw River, NC 27258 P: (336) 578-1386
Animal Protection Society of Caswell County
836 County Home Road Yanceyville, NC 27379 P: (336) 694-4921
Chatham County Animal Shelter
725 Renaissance Drive Pittsboro, NC 27312 P: (919) 542-7203
Animal Protection Society of Durham
2117 East Club Boulevard Durham, NC 27704 P: (919) 560-0640
Guilford County Animal Shelter
4525 West Wendover Avenue Greensboro, NC 27409 P: (336) 297-5020
Orange County Animal Service
1601 Eubanks Road Chapel Hill, NC P: (919) 942-PETS (7387)
Wake County Animal Center
820 Beacon Lake Drive Raleigh, NC 27610 P: (919) 212-PETS (7387)
Pet Behavior Help
Paws4ever Training
Contact our Trainers for Advice
We know how frustrating it can be to handle pet behavioral issues on top of dealing with the business of everyday life. Are you in need of behavioral guidance from our certified trainers? There are many issues that can be resolved with just a few easy tips! Reach out to our training team for behavior resources at train@paws4ever.org or at 919-241-8438 Ext. 102.
Dog Training Classes and Private Lessons
For more support from the Paws4ever Dog Training Program, we offer private training lessons and group training classes to help you and your pet through behavior issues and to help you reach your training goals. We have options for a variety of dog ages and training levels. If you have a new puppy, be sure to check out our puppy day camp and puppy classes! Our professional dog training instructors use only science-based positive reinforcement methods to help you and your dog achieve your goals.
Dog Training Scholarships
The regular price of our dog training classes are $135-$150 per 5-week group class or $100 per 1-hour private lesson. If you are in need of training for your dog and are unable to afford our regular rates, you may request a Dog Training Scholarship. A scholarship can provide up to a 5-week group class and 2-3 private lessons.
Common Pet Behavior Issues
if your dog barks at the mail carrier or pull son the leash, you’re not alone! Many behavior issues are so common that we made videos to walk you through how to handle them. Check out these resources!
Provide Mental Stimulation
Many pet behavior issues arise when pets are bored or in need of mental stimulation. Just like people, pets can become bored or anxious when they aren’t mentally stimulated in their environment. Enrichment activities help to promote healthy minds and bodies! In addition to making sure your pet gets playtime and walks as appropriate, providing your pet with enrichment treats and brain games can give their mental health a boost and prevent boredom behaviors.
Enrichment Treats and Mealtime Fun
Try feeling some meals in a Kong Wobbler or a slow feeder, or try one of these DIY enrichment treat ideas at home!
For an easy treat puzzle to make at home, reuse carboard boxes, tubes, paper bags, and packing materials to hide treats in for your pet to find. Frozen treats, like peanut butter smeared on a Nylabone and frozen for dogs or some wet food and low-sodium broth ice cubes for cats.
Enrichment Ideas for Dogs
Enrichment Ideas for Cats
Enrichment Treats Cookbook
Training Games
A great way to keep your pet’s mind active is by playing training games! Try these simple games to teach your dog or cat a new training trick (yes, you can train cats too)!
Remember to consistently reward ANY calm and/or desirable behavior with a high value treat – this will help them to know what choices they have!
Moving With a Pet
Finding a new home and moving with a pet can include some extra obstacles. if you are looking to rent, this guide can help you through the process of navigating your home search and working with landlords so that you can keep your pet. Your local animal services might also offer options to help you house your animal short-term until you find a home that allows your pet(s). Also, if you are in a time crunch, you can ask a friend or family member, or a boarding facility to temporarily house your pet(s) until you can find a new home for them. If you are being deployed in the military and need care for your pet(s) while you’re away, check out Pets for Patriots, Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pets, and Dogs on Deployment.
Assistance
Pet Food & Supply Assistance
Paws4ever’s Pet Pantry can temporarily supply food, toys, litter, and other resources to owners who have fallen on hard times. Please email care@paws4ever.org for more information.
Veterinary Care Assistance
Paws4ever is able to offer financial aid for some veterinary bills. This program relies on generous donations from our community, and available funds may vary. Veterinary care through this program is available with our partnered veterinarians only. Please visit our Veterinary Assistance page to read FAQs about the program and then call us at 919.241.8438 ext. 117 to discuss your pets’ needs.
You can also visit your local county animal services website to find veterinary services and resources available to you as a resident of that county. If your animal has immediate medical needs, check out Care Credit, it’s a credit card specifically for animal care and there is no interest if paid in 6 months. It’s quick and easy to apply online. You can also call vet clinics directly to inquire about payment plans. There are also numerous resources and services to pet owners who may need help paying for pet related services and medical needs:
Waggle.org: Crowdfunding & Donations to Help With Your Vet Bills
Animal Resource Friends
Beyond Fences
RedRover
STARelief
Dylan’s Hearts
For The Love Of Alex Inc
The Onyx & Breezy Foundation
Care Credit
Alamance County Rabies Clinics
Paws 4 A Cure
GoFundMe
The Pet Fund
Brown Dog Foundation
VIP Pet Care
VetCo