For many people, rehoming a pet can be emotionally upsetting. Dorchester Paws staff and volunteers recognize this may be a very difficult time for you and your family. We are here to assist you through Supported Self Rehoming.

What is Supported Self Rehoming:

This program was designed to keep your animal from ever entering the shelter, which helps us manage our intake. Dorchester Paws will provide advertisement of your pet through our website and rescue networks, as well as help provide you with food and get your animal up to date on all necessary vaccinations and vet work. In order to qualify you must be willing to keep your pet in your home for a minimum of  two weeks to give the program time to work. After two weeks an intake date will be set to admit your animal into our shelter.

Why We Can NOT just Take in Your Animal:

Dorchester Paws is here for the truly homeless and unowned animals. Our shelter has limited space. Not to mentioned shelters are stressful. The shelter setting, no matter how nice, can bring on stress-related problems. Anxiety, aggression, and even illness are common, and these natural reactions may make adoption difficult or impossible. Believe it or not, you are your pet’s best option for finding a new home. Some people think shelters or rescue groups would be best for placing your pet because we have experience, facilities, screening guidelines, etc. However, an individual, particularly one who knows the animal, can focus all their efforts on that pet, provide the most information to prospective adopters and best determine the appropriateness of a new home.

Step one is to fill out our Animal Rehome Application:

(Click below to get started)

The Process: 

1.  Your pet will be uploaded to our website with your email address as the primary contact. YOU are responsible for communicating with all potential adopters.
2. Post your pet on local Facebook pages, as well as the following websites:
   1. Re-Home With Love
   2. From One Good Home To Another
   3. Adopt-A-Pet
3. Once an adopter is found, an appointment will be set to bring your animal in to get them updated on vet care.
4. Dorchester Paws will require you and the new adopter to fill out a transfer of ownership form.

If no adopter is found by a minimum of two weeks, Dorchester Paws may select to intake your animal into our shelter should they pass our medical and behavior examination.

Transfer of Ownership Fees:

• $125 per animal

This fee will be applied towards getting your animal up to date on vet care and altered. This fee may be paid by either the previous or new owner.

What Will Happen to My Pet After Transfer of Ownership to either a New Adopter or Dorchester Paws?

Your pet will be compassionately cared for during their stay at Dorchester Paws. A further behavioral and medical exam will be performed to identify the animal’s adoptability into a new home. When you surrender your pet, you are giving up all legal ownership rights to the animal. These rights and responsibility are transferred to Dorchester Paws. We take this responsibility very seriously.

If you have any questions regarding owner surrenders, please contact admissions@dorchesterpaws.org. We will respond to your email as soon as possible, but please allow 24-78 hours for responses. Please do not abandon an animal outside our gates, you will be fined. If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances please email us and see how we may be able to help.

Our priority and responsibility is to the homeless animals of Dorchester County, because of this we schedule owner surrenders on a space available basis.