Surrendering your dog
Animatch’s primary focus is finding homes for adoptable dogs. The dogs who come into our care arrive from many situations: former breeding dogs, strays picked up by animal control, owner surrenders, and dogs removed due to neglect, abuse, seizures, death, or incarceration. Animatch steps in for dogs who have nowhere else to turn.
We understand that life changes can be stressful. New babies, moves, job changes, and promotions all require adjustments. However, frustration with rescues often comes when people expect them to absorb the impact of those changes. Before surrendering your dog, have you exhausted every reasonable option? Trainers, dog walkers, daycare, and patience during transitions — such as helping a dog adapt to condo living — can make a significant difference. Dogs are not attached to square footage; they are attached to their families.
If you purchased your dog from a reputable breeder, that breeder should be your first call. Responsible breeders will always take back their dogs. If you adopted from a rescue, return to that rescue. Ethical rescues stand behind their placements.
Animatch receives a large number of surrender requests, many involving serious behavioural issues, most commonly aggression toward people or other animals. These issues are often the result of inadequate training or guidance — for both dog and guardian. Dogs with untreated aggression cannot be safely or realistically rehomed without professional intervention, and that responsibility lies with the owner. Animatch is not equipped to rehabilitate dogs with aggressive tendencies who have little to no chance of successful adoption.
Animatch is a volunteer-based rescue and does not have a team of trainers or behaviourists on staff. Bringing a dog — especially a puppy — into your home comes with the responsibility to train, socialize, and guide that dog to become a safe, well-adjusted canine citizen.
If, after exhausting every reasonable option, you must rehome your dog yourself, never advertise your dog as "Free to a Good Home." A dog is not a disposable item, and giving one away for free can place them at significant risk. Dogs offered at no cost may end up in the hands of backyard breeders, puppy mills, or people with less-than-honourable intentions.
If your dog has not been sterilized, have the procedure done before rehoming. A dog that has not been spayed or neutered is especially vulnerable to being exploited for breeding. It is also reasonable to ask an adoption fee. The fee is not about making money—it helps ensure that the prospective owner is willing and able to make a financial commitment to your dog's care. Someone who cannot afford a modest adoption fee may also struggle to provide proper food, veterinary care, and other necessities in the years ahead.
We will continue to help as many dogs as possible, but the reality is that many dogs fall through the cracks because rescues cannot take on behavioural cases created through neglect or lack of training. That burden does not belong to rescues. Having a dog in your life is more than feeding and letting them outside — your dog is counting on you to teach them how to live in our world.
