[Zedsdead]

Im at a loss of how to decide, cope with or deal with the heartbreaking decision about my dog.
I rescued him when he was 4 months old and had been with my partner 8 months or so. In the next year, i fell pregnant. During my pregnancy my partner became abusive. Emotionally, financially and sometimes physical.
4 years later I am trying to leave. I moved 2 hours away from our home to stay with my parents. He followed. Now I am faced with going to stay at a shelter as my parents are dysfunctional and my children and I are being treated not so nice.
I cannot take my dog with me to the womens shelter, i cannot find a home to rent that allows pets and is affordable, and the community housing I face maybe having to stay in, don't allow pets either.

I'm ashamed. I feel overwhelming guilt. I regret rescuing him and not being able to provide his forever home. I know i cannot see the future, I never saw this coming to me and my kids.. but i cant help the guilt.
Im also scared of the backlash and judgement from the community if i try to find a new home for him. I know right now I don't want to take him to a shelter.. hes timid and can be afraid of certain men (probably because of the abuse) .. im worried that will affect his chance at finding a home.
I love this dog like my children. I feel he needs me, especially after the abuse. I also feel my children need me to be able to find a home for us to live and be able to provide for them. This decision feels impossible???

Has anybody ever rehomed a pet? How did you work through the decision and emotions that came with this?
Anybody have any advice on the safest way to rehome an animal?

Thanks in advance

In the area I live in (Florida), it is a well known fact that smaller dogs are adopted quite quickly from shelters (not so for larger dogs or if the dog is in seriously bad health, ie requires large vet bills). So if you have a smaller dog, perhaps that might ease your mind. Don't know that much about it but I have relatives who have rescued dogs via various organizations on the internet that find good homes for abused dogs so maybe there is an organization out there that can help you. Also, have you called and asked the shelter if they have any suggestions. From my point of view, the most important thing is that you and your children are not abused. Of course I don't want to see a pet abused either but your children have to come first.....

Did you mention you may have to stay a while in a shelter? I am sure you aren't the first to experience this dilemma. The shelter might even have a name of a community resourse that might be able to help you.

I had to rehome my father's dog. After my mother passed he moved to a Condo on the understanding he could take both his small dogs. That wasn't to be so.

I first advertised. I got a great deal of interest and even met with a few people but I just never felt quite right. I ended up relinquishing the dog to the local SPCA. They were very kind to me - and to my father's dog. On the form I was able to write what sort of placement I felt was ideal for the dog. I got a call the next day to say they had found a home - with another small dog and no children as I had wished.

[misscath007]

I had to rehome my cat when my dad and I had to move to a house that only accepted one pet(my dog). I brought her to a no kill shelter with the provision that she be rehomed within a certain time frame. Since she was young, they said she had a good chance of being adopted. I was not able to check to see if she was adopted. I felt a lot of guilt as I had her for 4 years. I did try to find her a home on my own first. I hope that your dog finds a home.

[Zedsdead]

Well thanks guys for the feedback. Im really torn on the Issue.. he is like a child to me and after everything we have been through i just dont want to let him go in fear he won't sit well with another family..

Hes a med-large breed. Black lab x Staffordshire bull terrier. He is a beautiful dog and follows commands well. But he is extremely timid

I'm just at a loss... I want to hold on to him so im going to try find somewhere he can stay with me.. if i cant then il just be heartbroken!

[Nammu]

I second calling the shelter and asking there. When I went into a shelture for that same reason they had an organization that helped recomed pets. Labs are pretty popular and a trained pet can find a home quickly. But yeah, he would be like your child it's a terrible delima to be in.

[Artchic528]

Being that he's a staffy mix, he'll have huge prejudices against him. I would look into local organizations that will ensure he will find another good home.

[Thunder Bow]

Be resourceful and find a place that allows dogs.

[Zedsdead]

Yes that is what I fear, being his mixed breed he will face hardship due to his looks. The fact that he's timid also makes it harder. Basically the reason I don't want to put him into a shelter.
Im going to just keep trying to look for somewhere that will allow me to take him, or some kind of foster home until I'm out of the shelter ..
Thanks for all the replies.

[Zedsdead]

Originally Posted by Thunder Bow

Be resourceful and find a place that allows dogs.

As a single mother of 3 children trying to flee abuse. The resources available to me, are not pet friendly.

[MickeyCheeky]

Wish you good luck! I've never had a dog, but it must hurt a lot. Just hope the best for him, remember that it's not your fault if all of this happened. Big hugs.