Société Protectrice
des Animaux du Maroc
The Humane Society
of Morocco

Société Protectrice
des Animaux du Maroc

The Humane Society
of Morocco

Giving Away Your Dog?

Giving Away Your Dog? Reasons and Solutions

Steps To Take If You’re Unable to Keep Your Pet

It’s a big responsibility to have a dog, and sometimes life gets in the way. You might have to make serious and unexpected choices, such as giving up a beloved pet if you encounter obstacles in your life. There are many ways to avoid this, but if you’ve exhausted all of your options, please know you are not alone.

Consider contacting animal rescue groups, many of which will accept dogs under certain circumstances. If you cannot find a new home, foster arrangement, or rescue group, your last resort may be giving away a dog to a shelter or surrendering your pet to animal control. You should never abandon a dog even if you are having trouble finding another solution; it is traumatic and potentially very dangerous to your dog, as well as being illegal to do so under animal cruelty laws.

Here is a list of situations you may be experiencing and alternative options to consider before deciding to give your dog away.

I’m Moving and My New Place Does Not Allow Dogs

With diligence, it’s possible to find a pet-friendly residence. Though renting an apartment with a dog is not always easy, try to negotiate the conditions with potential landlords and be willing to spend a little extra money on a “pet deposit” to give your landlord peace of mind. If you absolutely must move right away and cannot find a place that allows your dog, talk to friends and family who may be willing to take care of your dog for an extended period while you search for other long-term arrangements.

I Am Having a Baby

Congratulations on your happy news! However, you don’t need to give up your dog because of the new baby. Growing up with a dog is a wonderful experience for children. Evidence suggests that early exposure to dogs can reduce the risk of some allergies in children.

Dogs and kids can be a great combination if handled correctly. It is essential that your dog is properly trained and exposed to babies and small children in safe ways before your baby is born. Then, be certain to introduce the baby to the dog gradually and with a clear plan. Plus, it’s important that you raise your children to respect dogs as well.

Make sure you include your dog in as many family events, outings, and gatherings as possible. If your dog knows their place in the family, you can have a safer, more peaceful family unit. Your dog and your kids must understand how to act appropriately around one another. If done right, growing up with a dog is one of the best gifts you can give to your child.

My Dog Has Health or Behavioral Issues That Are out of Control

Health problems and behavior issues with pets are frustrating and may require a long-term plan and the right resources to find a solution that will work for you. Here are some steps to explore:

  • Find a veterinarian who understands your difficult situation and ask for a referral to a specialist or get a second opinion if you need alternative treatment options.
  • Have your vet rule out health-related issues that may be causing behavior issues.
  • Find a reputable, certified trainer or behaviorist who uses positive reinforcement techniques to guide you in how to approach your dog’s behavior challenges. In some cases, you may need to work with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist in conjunction with a trainer, using medication as well as training to get the best results. It’s also helpful to educate yourself on dog training. However, if your dog has severe behavioral problems, professional help is going to be necessary.


Certain issues can be cured, or well-controlled, so you may not need to consider giving away your dog if you get the right support and can manage your pup’s condition. Some health or behavior issues can’t be resolved. In some severe cases, professionals may advise you that the most humane thing you can do is euthanize a pet who is suffering and cannot be helped.

I Cannot Afford My Dog Anymore

Financial struggles can happen to anyone, and understandably, affording your dog can become very difficult. Before resorting to giving your dog away, try to figure out the necessary costs of dog ownership, and then make a budget that includes your pet’s expenses. You may find that you can afford your dog after all, especially if you budget for their care each month.

If you are finding expenses such as food and/or basic veterinary care to be outside of your budget in the short term, consider preparing homemade food to your dog. It is cheaper and healthier than industrial dog food.

To lower long-term expenses, do everything you can to keep your dog healthy. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and preventive veterinary care all play major roles in keeping future costs down. Search for money-saving tips to help you pinch dirhams, such as the following:

  • Visit low-cost clinics for routine vaccinations. To find one, contact local animal associations, rescue groups or pet supply store for information.
  • Fundraise on social media for medical needs and other necessities.
  • Resist the urge to buy extras such as a new collar, dog bed, or bag of treats. Make your dog supplies when you can, offer your dog carrots or apples as snacks, and make homemade treats.
  • Continue giving ticks and flea prevention as treating these issues is more expensive than prevention.
  • Feed your pet a balanced dog food diet. You don’t have to invest in premium food or a diet labeled as holistic/natural. Instead, just make sure to feed dog food, not human food, that is balanced to meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs.
  • Sign up for pet insurance if you can budget for it. It can be a financial lifesaver if your pet has a serious accident or develops a chronic medical condition. This can be the difference between affording life-saving care for your pet and keeping your pet if it requires expensive medical care later in life.

Tip
If you have a large veterinary bill, don’t give up! Some organizations or generous people may be able to help you afford the necessary care for your pet. You may be able to find help to reduce treatment costs by contacting various organizations that might be able to help.

I Have an Illness or Other Physical Limitation and Can No Longer Care for My Dog

It’s understandable why you might feel the need to give up your dog in this situation, but there may be other options. Your dog will most likely be a comfort to you during your illness, so it will be beneficial to keep them around if you can. Even if you need to enter an assisted living facility, there may be a way to keep your dog around. Consider these suggestions:

  • Turn to your family, friends, a pet sitting or boarding service that can help care for the dog if you will be temporarily unable to perform certain tasks like feeding and walking your dog. If you cannot afford boarding fees, reach out to organizations that may be able to offer you emergency assistance.
  • Find volunteers who offer to come and care for the pets of sick owners. Contact your local animal rescue groups for suggestions.
  • Research whether a nursing home or similar facility will consider helping you place your dog with family or friends or if your pet can visit or live with you. More and more care facilities understand the positive impact pets can have on residents.

Giving Up Your Dog FAQs

Get answers to giving away your dog common questions.

How much does it cost?

Giving up your dog to us is free. It won’t cost you a penny. If you’d like to donate to our work, we’d be very grateful, but it’s not required.

As a regulatory body, we will maintain registers of animal trainers throughout Morocco fulfilling accreditation criteria and belonging to approved member associations.

What will happen when I call?

When you contact us, we’ll ask a few questions about your dog and the reason they need a new home, to help us work out if a rehoming centre is the right place for your dog.

We understand what a difficult call this could be. Our staff will always listen without judgment and help you make the right decision for your dog. For some dogs, we may be able to help you manage the issue that has led to them needing a new home.

If we agree rehoming is the right thing to do, we will arrange an assessment.

What happens at an assessment?

We’ve put new safety measures in place to comply with all government guidelines. All assessments will take place outdoors, or in a large indoor space where we can maintain social distancing. Appointments will be staggered to limit the number of people at the centre at a time.

At the assessment, a member of our training and behaviour team will talk to you about your dog, their likes and dislikes and what they may need in a new home. We’ll usually take them for a short walk to see how they react around other dogs and people. All of this information helps us to see if your dog is going to be happy in kennels, and we’ll let you know straight away if were able to take your dog.

You’ll need to bring your dog’s veterinary history, vaccination card, microchip details and any favourite toys or bedding. This will help them to feel more comfortable during the assessment as well.

If we can take your dog, you may have to wait until we have a kennel available, which could take a few weeks. We’ll do everything we can to help you and your dog as quickly as possible.

If we can’t take your dog, we’ll advise you on other options. There’s more information below about why we wouldn’t be able to take a dog.

Is it safe to take dogs in at the moment?

We’ve put a range of safety measures in place to protect our staff and you. These include: protective clothing and equipment for staff, increased handwashing, using long leads to maintain social distance, and ensuring dogs are isolated when they come into the centre to minimise any possible contamination. Find out more about how we’re making sure our centers are COVID-secure.

Will you definitely take my dog?

We aim to find a new home for every dog that needs one. But in some situations, we may not be able to take your dog.

Our kennels are often full, and many dogs need special support and training from our staff to help them overcome their fears and worries. This limits the number of dogs we’re able to help at one time, so you may have to wait a while for a space to be available.

Some dogs just won’t cope with living in a kennel. If we think your dog will be unhappy in kennels, then we’ll talk to you about what options there are. We have a limited number of spaces in foster homes, so this might be an option.

If your dog is aggressive towards people, its very unlikely that a rehoming center is the right place for them. Please see below for more information about aggressive dogs.

I got my dog from you, will you take them back?

When you rehome one of our dogs, we commit to giving you advice and support for their lifetime. Our Post Adoption Support team is available 7 days a week to help with any behavioral concerns, big or small. So, if you think you may need to bring your dog back, please do get in touch with us on 06 44 64 59 18. If we decide together that returning your dog to us is the best thing to do, we will take them back into our care.

It’s an emergency, can you take my dog now?

We’ll do everything we can to help in an emergency. If we have kennel space free, we may be able to take a dog straight away. Don’t hesitate to give a call to discuss your situation on 06 44 64 59 18.

Can you look after my dog temporarily?

We are unable to offer temporary boarding at our centers as we need to prioritize our kennel space for dogs who are without a home and are most at risk of being put to sleep. If you need temporary boarding for your dog, we recommend contacting your Vet who may be able to recommend kennels local to you.

Will you take dogs from people who have COVID-19? Or have died from it?

We’ll consider every case individually, according to the need of the dog, and carry out a full risk assessment before we take any action.

I want to give up an aggressive dog. Can you help?

We aim to find a new home for every dog that needs one, and we take in all kinds of dogs. We have an experienced behavioural team, but there’s a limit to the number of dogs with behavioural issues that we can take at one time.

In our centres, dogs usually share kennels. If your dog isn’t keen on other dogs, you may need to wait until a kennel is free just for them. If your dog really doesn’t like other dogs and reacts aggressively, then a rehoming centre may not be the best place for them. If we think your dog will be unhappy in kennels, then we’ll talk to you about what options there are. We have a limited number of spaces in foster homes, so this might be an option.

If your dog is aggressive towards people, it is very unlikely that a rehoming centre is the right place for them. We have a duty of care towards our staff, volunteers and adopters, so we may not be able to take them at all. In these situations, we can offer advice on how you can manage your dog’s behaviour and may recommend that you speak to your vet for a referral to a behavior expert.

What will happen to my dog once they’re in your care?

All dogs receive a full health check, and using the information you’ve provided, we’ll tailor their care to suit their needs. All dogs will have nutritious meals, daily exercise, appropriate toys, and plenty of attention from our staff. If a dog has behavioral issues, our behavior experts will thoroughly assess them and create a training plan for them.

If we think your dog will be unhappy in kennels, or they become unsettled once they’re with us, then we may be able to place them in a temporary foster home.

We’ll also start the search for a new home that perfectly suits their needs.

How long will the dog be with you before they are rehomed?

On average, it takes about a month for a dog to find a new home; but some will find a home within days, while some will be with us much longer. We’ll look after them for as long as it takes.

Will you put my dog to sleep if you can’t find a home?

We never put a healthy dog to sleep. If we can’t find a dog a new home, or there are reasons why they can’t be rehomed, they will always have a home with us. Dogs who need very specific home environments that may take a long time to find, like some of our sponsor dogs, are very happy staying with us.

Will I be able to find out what happens to my dog?

While your dog is in our care, you’re very welcome to contact us to see how they’re doing.

Once a dog has found a new home, unfortunately, we can’t give you updates or the adopter’s details. This is due to data protection and because, from our experience, we know it can be upsetting for everyone involved.

Can I visit my dog after I’ve given them up?

We don’t recommend visiting a dog once they’re in our care. Seeing you could be very distressing for them and equally distressing for you. So we ask you not to visit the rehoming center after giving up your dog. But you’re very welcome to get in touch with us to see how they’re doing.

Once a dog has found a new home, unfortunately, we can’t give you updates or the adopter’s details. This is for data protection reasons and because, from our experience, we know it can be upsetting for everyone involved.

What if I change my mind?

If you think you might have made the wrong decision, get in touch with us straight away. We can talk about why you wanted to rehome your dog in the first place and what’s changed. We’ll help you make the right decision for you and your dog.

We’ll always act in the best interests of the dog. If we think you are going to struggle to look after them, then we’ll be honest with you about that and we may not return your dog. When you give your dog to us, you sign a legal document that makes us their official owner, and we take our legal duty of care to the dog very seriously. We always do our best to avoid this situation by talking this through with you in the initial assessment.

Once a dog has been adopted by a new family, there’s nothing we can do to get them back, as legal ownership of the dog has been transferred to the adopter.

Giving up a dog can be upsetting and can be like going through a grieving process. If you’re struggling with accepting the decision you’ve made, then we’d urge you to talk to someone. Some organizations can help you deal with your loss.

I'm thinking about selling my dog or giving them to a friend

Selling or rehoming your dog via an online advertising platform has risks. You may not always know who is taking your dog, where they’re going, how they will be treated, or that they will be cared for and loved. If we can take your dog, we’ll look after them for as long as they need us, with our staff and volunteers loving them like their own.

Another benefit of giving your dog to us is the expert behavioral and veterinary care we can offer. If you need to rehome your dog due to behavioral issues, we will create a training plan to help them overcome the problem. Without that expert care, someone else may find themselves in the same situation as you and unable to cope.

If you’re thinking about selling because you’re worried your dog won’t cope well in kennels, then a foster home may well be an option. We’ll discuss this at the assessment and if we decide that kennels aren’t right for your dog, or even if they become unsettled later, we can find them the perfect foster family to live with instead. There they can enjoy all the comforts they’re used to, while we find them a new forever home.

I don’t live near a Humane Society of Morocco center. Can I go somewhere else?

We accept dogs from all over Morocco, you don’t need to be near one of our centers. Give us a call on 06 44 64 59 18 and we’ll do everything we can to help.

If you can’t come to one of our centers, look for an alternative rehoming organization that is a member of the Moroccan Animal Protection Associations, so that you know they meet the minimum animal welfare standards required by law and will take good care of your dog.

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