Rehoming or giving up your dog

Adur & Worthing Councils are not a rehoming charity and we cannot accept dogs that people wish to surrender.

Has your dog been aggressive or caused an injury to a person or another animal? First have him/her checked at a vet, as they may have an illness that is causing them pain or other stress and you are unaware. Getting the right treatment may be the fix you need. But If you pass your dog on, do not hide these facts. If you pass the dog on and it causes further injury there may be consequences.

We understand that sometimes giving up (rehoming) your dog may be the correct thing for you, but what can you do? Depending on the reason for the need to surrender your dog, the following may help:

• Family: Do you have a friend or relative who knows the dog that may be able to take it on?
• Charities: There are many charities in the UK who may take your dog and provide them with a new home. We suggest searching for breed-specific charities first as they have more knowledge about your individual dog's needs. They are usually very busy, so do expect a delay before they can reply and a longer delay before they finally accept a dog. Remember, they are mostly run by volunteers and they do not have to take your dog. Below is a list of websites for some local rescue centres that you can contact:
  • Wadars Animal Rescue Centre, Ferring, Worthing
  • Dogs Trust, Shoreham-by-Sea
  • RSPCA, Brighton
  • RSPCA, Mount Noddy, Chichester (Sussex West Branch)
  • Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, Ringmer
  • Clymping Dog Sanctuary, Ford/Arundel
  • Arundawn Dog Rescue, near Horsham
  • Holbrook Animal Rescue, Horsham
  • Kit Wilson Trust for Animal Welfare, Hadlow Down, Uckfield
  • See also other:
    • National and breed specific dog rescue charities (122KB)
• Private boarding: If your need is temporary, you could pay to use a private boarding kennel or home boarder from one of the many excellent licensed providers in Sussex. Be aware that they book well in advance and the costs can mount up quickly. You can view the licensed boarding businesses in Adur and Worthing by looking at our public register:
  Licence register - then select 'animal licensing' as the 'licence description' - then click search - then scroll down to see 'dog day care', 'dog home boarding' and 'dog kennels'
  Other local authorities should have registers for their areas too.
• Selling: You may wish to sell your dog. There are various online selling platforms for animals. You should ensure the person you are selling your dog to is the right person to care for your dog.
• Euthanasia: Depending on the reason you are rehoming your dog, you may need to consider euthanasia. Talk to your vet to discuss whether this is a suitable option for your dog.

DO NOT expect your local vet to accept your dog. They already have a collection of injured or sick animals to look after and they will not take ownership of your dog.

See also:

• Giving up a pet you're unable to care for - on the RSPCA website
• Considering giving up your dog - on the Dogs Trust website
• Giving up my pet for adoption - on the Blue Cross website

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