Here at Paws Darwin we would rather work with you to support you keeping your pet if possible. Please contact us for hints and tips or come along to one of our dog training sessions for assistance. We can also offer behavioural advice for cats.
We do understand that sometimes, sadly, there are circumstances under which we are no longer able to keep our pets. These can be very difficult and challenging times.
If you wish to surrender your pet to Paws please complete and submit the relevant form below. A member of our team will be in contact with you to advise if we can accept your surrender.
For any dogs you wish to surrender we will ask that you bring them to one of our training sessions first so we can conduct a temperament assessment. Further information on sessions and times is available under our ‘Train at PAWS Darwin’ section.
Some Common Myths that Cause Surrender
We are moving and we don’t have a big yard anymore!
if you surrender your dog they are going to live in the shelter in a small yard for a period of time. If you are moving further afield ie interstate then make facility for your pets, we know that defence and other organisations make allowance for people with pets. If you know you are moving in 12 months time and you don’t want to take the pet with you then foster instead! Win win for everyone.
We are too busy for our dog!
Your dog loves you, he would rather live with you than strangers, many dogs who are rehomed develop severe separation anxiety and can even get depression. This is something we see often. No matter how busy you are your pets still loves you best.
Its too expensive to care for my pet now!
Did you know that PAWS Darwin Community Vet offers support for people with ageing or sick pets and can help you to do the best you can by your pet.
Including free information on food and care that will help you keep your pet where it belongs- with you.
Allergies
Allergies are an issue to us all and some of us working at the shelter have severe allergies to the animals here, We understand, there are solutions to help with allergies, ask us about how we can help you to reduce the allergy impact from your pet. – Severe life threatening allergies are cause for surrender.
Behaviour
Behaviour can often be solved through training and training doesn’t have to be expensive, by desexing you pets, making sure they are well socialised and teaching manner to your pets in a way they can understand you can reduce the need for surrender. If you cant manage your dog, or your dog is aggressive, Shelter is going to exasperate the reactive behaviour. PAWS Darwin offers a rage of behaviour training and can even give guidance on cat behaviours.
Personal problems.
We all go through problems sometimes, and yes there are times when surrender feels like the only option. But at the end of the day surrendering your pet is losing one more great thing out of your life and your pet may actually give you the comfort and support you need to help you to the next step. If you are in crisis and need help to manage for a short while, talk to PAWS Darwin about crisis care and how we can help you.
Pets shed hair.
If only pets didn’t shed, but they do and when you took that pet home it was a shedder then, even very short coated animals shed. Poodles are hyper allergic which can be helpful, Think of it this way a few dog or cat hairs helps to identify you as a pet owner and maybe you’ll make new friends. Pets do bring people together.
Dogs Bark too much
Yes they do… sometimes, get some training to help you to communicate with your dog on what you want from him.
Pets chew things
Your pets will chew on things, partly because they are teething and partly because it helps to reduce stress and anxiety, just like smoking does for some people, teach your dog to be calm when you are not there. Train him to chew on a Kong or other appropriate toy, maybe even crate train him. You guessed it PAWS Darwin Train team can help you with that.
Inappropriate toileting.
If your cat or dog toilets where it shouldn’t, and you have had a vet check to ensure that your pet is ok, then you need to work out what is causing the animal stress and how you can fix that in your environment. You may think their is no stress but it could be something that happens when you are at work, keep a diary of everything that happens in a day that the cat or dog toilets where it shouldn’t, ensure the pet has appropriate litter trays or access to toilet outside, even dirty litter trays can cause cats to be stressed and toilet elsewhere, if you have multiple animals make sure that one pet isn’t blocking the other from the toilet tray. They can be sneaky!