Re-Homing Assistance Program
Sometimes situations arise beyond our control and we aren't able to keep the animals to whom we'd promised a forever home. If you find yourself in this situation, CCHS would like to help you re-home your animal rather than leaving you no other option but to surrender it to a public shelter.
For community members throughout the Bay Area, CCHS offers a Re-Homing Assistance Program. If you're unable to keep your animal long-term but can keep him or her during the time it takes to find a new home (typically a few weeks to a few months, depending on the animal), this program allows you to post a picture and biography of your animal on our website, as well as other large animal advertising sites (for example, Petfinder.com, AdoptAPet.com, etc.) to network your animal's adoptability. There are two options in the Re-Homing Program:
- For a one-time $25.00 fee ($30.00 for non-Contra Costa County residents), CCHS will list your animal on all applicable websites, listing you as the contact person for further information on the animal. You pre-screen potential adopters with criteria provided to you, set up adoption meetings, and determine who adopts your animal. You keep the adoption fee for the animal.
- For a one-time $50.00 fee ($55.00 for non-Contra Costa County residents), CCHS will list your animal on all applicable websites and will pre-screen any potential adopters using CCHS’s standard adoption application and then by conducting a phone interview. If the potential adopter seems to meet the criteria you are looking for in an adoptive home, we will pass their information along to you. You will then set up adoption meetings and determine who adopts your animal. You keep the adoption fee for the animal.
To qualify for the Re-Homing Assistance Program, your animal must meet the following requirements:
- As required by California State Law, your animal must be spayed or neutered in order for us to assist in the adoption referral.
- Your animal must be current on vaccines. This includes Rabies and DHLPP (or DHPP) for dogs and Rabies and FVRCP for cats. A current FeLV/FIV test is recommended for all cats allowed outdoors, though not required.
- If your animal has engaged in any physically threatening behavior (defined in Section 416-12.402 or 416-12.404 of the County Animal Control Ordinance), s/he will not be eligible for our program.
- You must be able to continue to house your animal while being advertised - preferably a minimum of one month.
Changing human companions can be very stressful for animals. Therefore, our first inclination is to ask you to look at the situation differently: is there any adjustment you may be able to make to allow you to keep the animal? If the concern is behavioral, have you spoken to or worked with a behaviorist or trainer? If you have to move, have you looked into housing that allows animals? Have you contacted any breed-specific rescue groups? Have you asked friends, family, neighbors or trusted co-workers to adopt your animal?
Please note that this is a referral service only and CCHS acts simply as a third-party resource for those looking to re-home their animals. Descriptions of the animals available through CCHS's Re-Homing Assistance Program are provided by the animals' guardian. Re-Homing Assistance Program animals have not been personally evaluated by a CCHS staff member. Please call (925) 279-2247, ext. 304 for more details or email us at CCHSrehoming@aol.com. Our re-homing coordinator will respond to your inquiry within 48 hours.
To view the current animals up for adoption, including animals in our Re-Homing Assistance Program, visit the Adoption Gallery for cats/kittens or dogs/puppies.
