Surrendering Your Bullmastiff
We realize that sometimes life happens and you are faced with difficult choices. Thank you for taking steps to ensure the safety of your pet during this process. While we try to help as many dogs as we can, we are a completely foster based non-profit organization and rely solely on the generosity of our donors and the availability of our foster homes. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to honor every surrender request that we receive.
|
|
|
Things To Consider Before Surrendering Your Bullmastiff
Please ask yourself the following questions and review the information below before making a decision that will forever change the lives of your pet and family. If any of these describe your situation, please consider your options.
1. Do you feel guilty for not spending enough time with your Bullmastiff?
One of the most common reasons we receive for owners wanting to surrender their pet is that they do not have enough time for the dog. They think that they are doing the best thing for the dog by “giving them to someone who has more time for them so that they will have the home they deserve.” In reality, most dogs are more happy and better off remaining with their family in the home they already know, even if you are not able to spend the amount of time with them that you think you should.
2. Are you having behavioral issues with your Bullmastiff?
The other most common reason for owner surrenders is behavioral issues. We urge you to consider seeking the help of a positive reinforcement trainer or behavioral consultant in your area. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) website is a great source for this. Here is the link to their directory of certified CCPDT trainers and behaviorists. You can perform a search for your area and input how far you are willing to drive.
3. Are you moving, but can't take your Bullmastiff with you?
There are plenty of housing options that allow you and your family member to stay together. When looking for housing, please search for pet friendly accommodations. You can go online to realtor websites or websites such as Rent.com to search and filter pet friendly only housing, or use other sites such as Peoplewithpets.com or Rentalable.co If you are unable to find one, or if you have no choice in the decision of your housing, ask if you can pay a pet deposit. Some places will even let you spread this deposit across multiple payments so that it costs very little to do. It never hurts to ask, and you might be surprised by your landlord’s answer if you just ask and explain your situation to them.
Most importantly, give yourself (and us) enough time to prepare! Most people have at least some advance notice or warning that they will be moving. Use this time to explore all of the above options before reaching out to us. Do not wait until the last minute to make preparations for your pet! This is especially true if you think that you will need to surrender them. Foster homes fill up very quickly. Sometimes we have no choice but to place people on a waiting list because we have no open foster homes for the dog to go to. We also need time to: a) match the dog with an appropriate foster best suited for that dog's needs, b) make a transport plan to get the dog from you to its foster home (This requires having to work around multiple peoples schedules, and most of our volunteers are only able to transport on weekends due to work obligations) and, c) ensure that the dog has the necessary legal health clearance to be transported, and if not, to make arrangements to do so before we can take the dog.
Most importantly, give yourself (and us) enough time to prepare! Most people have at least some advance notice or warning that they will be moving. Use this time to explore all of the above options before reaching out to us. Do not wait until the last minute to make preparations for your pet! This is especially true if you think that you will need to surrender them. Foster homes fill up very quickly. Sometimes we have no choice but to place people on a waiting list because we have no open foster homes for the dog to go to. We also need time to: a) match the dog with an appropriate foster best suited for that dog's needs, b) make a transport plan to get the dog from you to its foster home (This requires having to work around multiple peoples schedules, and most of our volunteers are only able to transport on weekends due to work obligations) and, c) ensure that the dog has the necessary legal health clearance to be transported, and if not, to make arrangements to do so before we can take the dog.
4. Are you experiencing financial hardship?
The following groups are dedicated to assisting people who truly want to keep their pets but are experiencing financial hardships. They might be able to help you keep your family member.
This list is NOT an endorsement or recommendation for these organizations. Please do your research on them before asking for their help.
This list is NOT an endorsement or recommendation for these organizations. Please do your research on them before asking for their help.
Financial Services for Vet Care
Care Credit - a pet care credit card that can be used for routine veterinary appointments, emergency pet care, or speciality care
Red Rover Urgent Care Grants - for life threatening situations and emergencies
The Pet Fund - for non-basic, non-urgent care (cancer treatments, heart disease, etc)
The Pet Lifeline Project - for non-basic, non-urgent care (cancer treatments, heart disease, chronic conditions, endocrine diseases, diabetes, eye diseases, IBD, etc.)
Frankie’s Friends - for emergency care, and specialty veterinary care
Mosby Foundation - for non-routine veterinary care
Friends & Vets Helping Pets - funds treatments for curable (lifesaving, not life-prolong) diseases such as tumors, broken bones, ambulatory care, expensive medication, or post-surgical prosthetics such as a K-9 cart.
Bow Wow Buddies - for necessary medical treatments for certain serious conditions and emergency services.
Miranda’s People - cancer pets only
Live Like Roo - cancer pets only
The Joshua Lewis Animal Cancer Fund - cancer pets only
Red Rover Urgent Care Grants - for life threatening situations and emergencies
The Pet Fund - for non-basic, non-urgent care (cancer treatments, heart disease, etc)
The Pet Lifeline Project - for non-basic, non-urgent care (cancer treatments, heart disease, chronic conditions, endocrine diseases, diabetes, eye diseases, IBD, etc.)
Frankie’s Friends - for emergency care, and specialty veterinary care
Mosby Foundation - for non-routine veterinary care
Friends & Vets Helping Pets - funds treatments for curable (lifesaving, not life-prolong) diseases such as tumors, broken bones, ambulatory care, expensive medication, or post-surgical prosthetics such as a K-9 cart.
Bow Wow Buddies - for necessary medical treatments for certain serious conditions and emergency services.
Miranda’s People - cancer pets only
Live Like Roo - cancer pets only
The Joshua Lewis Animal Cancer Fund - cancer pets only
Financial Services for food, shelter, supplies, disaster relief, emergency sheltering, victims of domestic violence with pets, etc:
Regional Pet Financial Help Programs By State:
5. Did you get your Bullmastiff from a breeder?
Please contact the breeder before filling out our owner surrender form. Reputable breeders include a clause in their sales contract requiring the dog be returned to them if for any reason the buyer cannot keep the dog. If you have questions about this process, or do not know if your breeder is a reputable one, please email [email protected] for further advice.
6. Did you get your Bullmastiff from another rescue?
Please contact that organization and apprise them of your situation. Most rescue organizations require that the dog be returned to them in the event that it cannot remain with the adopter. It is often written into their adoption contracts.
If you have exhausted these options and still need our help, please fill out our owner surrender request form and we will get back to you in a timely manner. Please remember that surrendering your dog to our rescue is a permanent decision.
BRI Owner Surrender Request Form
Before completing the form below, please email a picture of the dog, your location, contact information, and the reason for surrender to [email protected]. If the dog is indeed a Bullmastiff, and if we are active in your location, we will ask you to complete the surrender request form. Contacts without picture, location and reason for surrender will not receive a response. Submitting an ownder surrender request form does not guarantee that your request will be granted. We reserve the right to decline requests.
Choose a version then download it and send the completed form and a recent photo to:[email protected]
|
| ||||
