Find Responsible Buyers With Our Pet Rehoming Checklist
There are many reasons why Preloved members post an advert for pets. Whether you're a registered and licensed breeder with a new litter, or someone facing considerable difficulties, you need to be confident that the potential new owner's going to meet it's needs. Please read our Pet Rehoming Checklist here to learn more.
Surrender, Don't Sell
Before you even consider rehoming your pet privately, please contact your local rescue shelters.
There is no shame in admitting help is needed, and Registered rescue shelters such as Dogs Trust and Cats Protection will never judge an owner for surrendering an animal into their care. They understand things don't always go according to plan and that this heartbreaking decision was made to safeguard the animal’s future.
Rescues are best suited to find new homes for your pet. They're trained to meet the needs of the animal while it's in their care, and experienced in finding them the most suitable new homes.
Pet Rehoming Checklist: Rehoming A Pet Responsibly
If you're unable to find a place in a rescue shelter, or if you're finding homes for a new planned or accidental litter it's necessary to know what to look for in a would-be buyer.
- Make sure the pet you're rehoming is old enough to leave
- Have all of the necessary paperwork available, depending on the animal's age, such as microchip documentation and vaccination cards.
Be sure to find a buyer who has had their identity verified. Preloved offers our members free verification through a secure partner, Yoti . This means their passport or driving licence has been checked securely, using video facial recognition software.- In order to find more potential buyers, giving you more options when it comes to rehoming your pet, be sure to verify your own identity on Preloved. This gives buyers who are concerned about online scams some peace of mind.
- All adverts on Preloved can be edited by sellers to allow for safer online payments.
Powered by Trustap , this allows buyers and sellers to deal with strangers online with peace of mind that their money is in the hands of the world’s most secure payment processing system, Stripe.
- Invite potential owners to your home. NEVER accept an initiation to meet them in a public place, i.e. motorway service stations.
- This gives them chance to learn more about you, the animal, your home, and to look for signs of potential allergies.
- In the case of young cats and dogs it allows them to see the animal interacting with Mum, a legal requirement!
Meeting a potential buyer in person gives you chance to see how they interact with the anima/s - and to ask plenty of questions. Remember, this isn’t a ‘first come, first served’ situation. NEVER feel obligated to hand your animal over if you're not comfortable.
- Have they got experience with the species / breed?
- What hours they work?
- Will the animal spend extended periods of time alone?
- Are there children in the home?
- Is their home suitable for the animal?
- Have they made provisions for who will care for the animal in their absence, eg holidays?
Important Information To Share With Potential Buyers
- Be honest about your animal, both in your advert description and in any communication with a buyer. This should include temperament, details about its parents, its species / breed, sex, medical history and whether it would be suited to a home with children and other animals, etc.
- Share any health matters and show corresponding documentation.
- Tell the potential owners about the animal's experiences so far, eg if they've been around other animals or children, been outdoors (vaccines permitting), etc.
- If they haven’t owned an animal before, make sure they’re fully aware of the costs involved, including food, standard health care, insurance, veterinary bills, bedding, boarding. It all adds up!
- Be sure to confirm who the pet will be for. No animal should be given as a surprise gift, nor should it be the sole responsibility of a child.
Completing The Rehoming Process
As a seller, it’s important to consider preparing a written agreement for the new owner to sign.
Documents such as
Pet Rehoming Checklist: Further Information To Help You Rehome A Pet Responsibly
