Pet Rehoming

We understand that making the decision to rehome your pet is difficult.

Denver Animal Protection's goal is to work with pet owners, empowering you to take an active role in determining the best outcome for your pets. We encourage all pet owners to consider other options for help or private rehoming prior to surrendering your pet to our shelter. While we never turn away a pet in need, we are also here to help you keep your pet. 

Owner Support

DAP and our partners are able to offer a variety of community resources to assist pet owners in keeping their pets. Resources include:

Tips to Find Pet Friendly Housing

  • Search online. Google websites, social media, local newspapers using key words “pet-friendly rentals.”
  • What to look for. Identify housing that lists restrictions on breed, weight, and number of pets. Some landlords are okay only with cats or dogs under a certain weight. Many require pets be spayed or neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations. If you own a restricted-breed dog like a pit bull, having your pet permitted through the city and county of Denver here will go a long way in influencing a rental company’s decision to allow your pet.
  • Offer to pay more. Tell a prospective landlord or resident manager you’re willing to pay an extra security deposit to cover damages your pet might make to the property. Most pet-friendly rentals will require a pet deposit and/or a monthly pet rent fee. Be sure you know the entire cost up front. Also, point out your pet is housetrained or litter-box trained and that you always clean up after your pet outdoors.
  • Promote your pet, yourself. Ask former landlords, obedience trainers, dog walkers, veterinarian, to write letters of recommendation that verifies you’re a responsible pet owner and your dog behaves well. Offer to bring your pet to meet the homeowner or property manager. A well-behaved pet speaks volumes.
  • Get it in writing. If your lease has a no-pets clause, verbal approval won’t be enough. The no-pets clause should be removed from the lease (or crossed out and initialed) before you sign it. Be sure it’s crossed out on your landlord’s copy, too.

Rehoming Support

The best outcome for your pet is to be placed into a new home directly from your home. No one is better equipped to find your pet a new home than you!  

Here are some helpful tools to get you started:

  • Post your pet on adoption sites, they will help you from start to finish! 
  • Prepare your pet for their new home.
    • Make sure they are current on their vaccinations.
    • Make sure they are spayed or neutered.
    • Microchip your pet if they don’t already have one.
    • Groom your pet so they look their best.
    • Organize a packet of all your pet's medical, microchip, behavior, grooming, and diet information. 
    • Provide their adopter with any care items you might have, such as a crate, leash, collar, food dishes, and special toys or bedding.
  • Tips on how to screen a potential adopter.
    • Prepare a list of screening questions.
    • Ask for pictures of their yard and doors to ensure they are safe and secure.
    • Learn about their pet history and what type of experience they have.
    • Meet them at a neutral location.
    • Inform the new adopter about everything you know about your pet. This will set them up for success and settling into their new home better.

Unable to rehome? We can help. 

DAP offers compassion and understanding to owners who relinquish their pets and a warm welcome to the animals that are being entrusted to our care.

If you are having difficulty keeping your animal, visit our Surrender Your Pet page for more information or call us at 720-913-1311. A Customer Care Associate will guide you through our process to discuss the best options for you and your pet. The more we know about your pet, the better we will be able to place them into the best home for them.

Items to bring with you and your pet:

  • Copy of your pet’s veterinary records
  • Current medications
  • Drivers license or state issued ID
  • Microchip information
  • License information
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